Hudson Valley Public Relations

For immediate release

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Press contacts:

Milan Bhatt, Worker Justice Center of NY: (609) 947-9532

Kat Fisher, Citizen Action of New York: (845) 637-0174

Betsy Palmieri, Hudson Valley Community Coalition: (914) 329-1588

Jessica Ramos, 32BJ Service Employees International Union: (347) 837-1547   

*Press Release*

Hudson Valley groups respond to Senate introduction of bipartisan immigration reform bill.

The introduction today of a bipartisan immigration reform bill by the Senate Gang of Eight is an historic step towards creating real and humane comprehensive immigration reform. The Senate bill represents not only the bipartisan Congressional support for reform, but also the years of organizing, voter registration and community building undertaken by countless individuals and groups all over the country, including many here in the Hudson Valley.  Our groups are members of the New Yorkers for Real Immigration Reform Campaign, the largest and most diverse statewide coalition of immigrant groups in the nation.

Immigrant, labor and community leaders from across the Hudson Valley also responded to the bill:

“We believe today’s introduction of a Senate bill is a critical step toward the passage of a meaningful immigration reform deal.   We will continue to fight hard to ensure that the final package provides fair and sensible legalization provisions, strong workplace protections, and adequate wage levels for all workers” said Milan Bhatt, co-executive director of the Worker Justice Center of New York.”

"This bill is a positive step in the fight to provide 11 million aspiring Americans with a path to citizenship," said Kat Fisher, community organizer with Citizen Action of New York. "It is encouraging that the bill includes provisions to ensure due process, human and civil rights, and family unification. Our community will continue to mobilize until a strong immigration reform bill is signed into law."

“The Senate bill is a good start, and we respect the hard work put into it by the Gang of Eight including our own Senator Schumer, who faced heavy pressure from both sides to come out with a bipartisan bill,” said Betsy Palmieri, executive director of the Hudson Valley Community Coalition.

“There is no doubt today’s immigrants are tomorrow’s voters,” said John Santos, vice president and 32BJ Hudson Valley director. “They’re also tomorrow’s professionals and entrepreneurs if we help them get this bill passed. It can mean the end of the second class workforce that is bringing wages down for everyone, and the beginning of a stronger economy.”

Summary Overview of Bill Provisions (not comprehensive):

The bill provides for:

·         A path to citizenship for the undocumented. For most immigrants, the path will take thirteen years—ten years under the new status of “Registered Provisional Immigrant” (RPI), after which they can apply for lawful permanent resident status (LPR, or a “green card”); after three years as an LPR, they can apply for US citizenship.

·         Certain immigrants (namely, farm workers and many of those who came to the U.S. before the age of 16) will have an accelerated path. These individuals will only have to stay in RPI status for five years before applying for LPR status, at which time they will be immediately eligible for US citizenship.

·         Work authorization and travel outside the US. Under RPI status, immigrants will be authorized to work and allowed to travel outside the U.S.

·         “Border Triggers.”  Certain conditions pertaining to border security must be met before RPI’s can apply for LPR status.

·         Eligibility requirements to apply for legalization. These include passing background checks, establishing continuous physical presence in the U.S.; and arrival in the US no later than December 31, 2011. Immigrants who have final orders of removal, or who have previously reentered the U.S. after deportation, are eligible to apply for RPI status.

·         Bars to legalization. Individuals with certain criminal convictions may be ineligible for legalization.

·         Fines and fees.  Applicants must pay $2000 in fines and additional processing fees.

·         Family unification for certain deportees.  Certain immigrants previously deported for non-criminal grounds and who have a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse, parent, or child, as well as DREAM-Act eligible individuals, are eligible to apply for a waiver to reenter the United States in order to apply for legal status.

·         Creation of a merit-based visa system in the fifth year after enactment. This system will award points to individuals based on their education, employment, length of residence in the U.S. and other considerations.

The bill includes provisions of concern to the New Yorkers for Real Immigration Reform campaign, including:

·         Border triggers as a condition for a path to citizenship.

·         Prolonged period of provisional status.

·         Arbitrary cut-off dates, other obstacles, and further limitations on who will be eligible for legalization and a path to citizenship.

·         Eventual elimination of the U.S. citizen sibling visa category and diversity visas.

·         Shift away from a family-based immigration system to a new merit-based visa system.

·         Cap on age for adult married children visa category. Adult married children can only be sponsored by their parents if they are under age 31.

·         No provision for family visas for same-sex partners. The campaign is calling for an amendment to include this provision.

·         Billions of additional enforcement dollars.

·         Mandatory electronic employment verification program. The program would be phased in over a period of five years until it includes all U.S employers. It would include new due process and privacy protections.

There are aspects of this bill that need improvement in order to be called truly comprehensive and to uphold our country’s founding principles. And families in the Hudson Valley are still being torn apart by deportations.  We urge the President to invoke a moratorium on deportations while this legislation is being debated.  But we look forward to working with our elected officials here in New York to keep moving this bill forward.  We won’t stop until we pass a compassionate, comprehensive immigration bill that keeps families together and protects civil and human rights for all Americans.

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