National Launch of the Reform Immigration for America Campaign

WHAT: PRESS CONFERENCE announcing the launch of a national campaign uniting business, labor, religious, civil rights, and immigrant leaders under a broad umbrella for immigration reform
WHEN: Wednesday, June 3, 2009; 9:30 a.m., EST
WHERE: National Press Club
1st Amendment Room
529 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC
WHO: Ali Noorani, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum, Moderator
Angelica Salas, Executive Director, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA)
Eliseo Medina, Executive Vice President, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Hilary O. Shelton, Director, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Washington Bureau, (NAACP)
Janet Murguía, President and CEO, National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
John Podesta, President and CEO, Center for American Progress
John J. Sweeney, President, AFL-CIO
Karen Narasaki, President and Executive Director, Asian American Justice Center (AAJC)
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC)
Robert J. Dolibois, Executive Vice President, American Nursery & Landscape Association, Co-Chair, Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform
William McNary, President, USAction
WHY: Leaders playing a central role in promoting immigration reform, including NCLR (National Council of La Raza), will officially launch the Reform Immigration FOR America Campaign. This groundbreaking, momentum-building effort organizes supporters of immigration reform into a stronger, more effective, and politically savvy national campaign which will help support President Obama and ensure that his promises of addressing comprehensive immigration reform become legislative reality.

The press conference announcing the Reform Immigration FOR America Campaign is part of a weeklong series of events, including more than 30 local campaign launch press events in 20 states (June 1), a national summit in Washington, DC bringing together 700 grassroots advocates representing more than 35 states (June 3–5), and a National Town Hall Meeting on Capitol Hill (June 4) on immigration reform.

For more information on the Reform Immigration FOR America Campaign, please visit www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org or www.reformamigratoriaproamerica.org or www.nclr.org“

• Immigration Reform: The Phone Call Heard Around the Country – On the call were Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill.; Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y.; and Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz. Immigrant rights advocates from various parts of the country also spoke.
• AFL-CIO Letter to Clinton Opposing Honduran Elections
• CAUSA: Comprehensive Immigration Reform Needed To Keep Country Secure, Administration Committed to Reform says Napolitano
• CAUSA: Lou Dobbs Departure Brings us Closer to Rational Debate on Immigration Reform
• NCLR TO CELEBRATE LAUNCH OF SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ’S BOOK, GROWING AMERICAN ROOTS
• DOBBS’S DECISION TO RESIGN IS A STEP FORWARD FOR FAIRNESS, ACCURACY, AND BALANCE ON CABLE NEWS
• LANDMARK HOUSE HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL IS GOOD FOR LATINOS, SENATE NEEDS TO COMPLETE THE TASK AND BUILD ON THE HOUSE EFFORT, SAYS NCLR
• An immigrants’ rights group has launched a campaign to educate workers about their rights and encourage local employers to treat them fairly. – Connecticut
• Mexican-born immigrant rights activist Jorge Mujica plans to challenge incumbent Rep. Dan Lipinski in next year’s Democratic primary for Illinois’ 3rd congressional district.
• Immigrant Jail Tests U.S. View of Legal Access – City Bar Justice Center is calling for all immigrant detainees to be provided with counsel.
• American Rights at Work – Immigration Study Finds Enforcement Has Undermined Workers’ Rights
• Passage of Hate Crimes Bill Signals a New Day for Justice, Says NCLR
• National Council of La Raza: Groundbreaking Forum on Latino Children Offers Solutions to the Challenges Faced by this Growing Community
• Rep. Crowley and Members of Congress to President: We Need Immigration Reform Now
• HEALTH CARE BILL OVERCOMES EXTREMIST POLITICS, BUT STILL NEEDS IMPROVEMENT, SAYS NCLR
• 5 Former Census Directors Warn that Vitter Amendment would Severely Damage 2010 Census, Cost Billions – would add a new question on citizenship and immigration status to the 2010 census.
• SEIU Members Join Thousands at U.S. Capitol to Renew Push for Comprehensive Immigration Reform – Joined by legislators, thousands of workers, families and clergy call for an end to divisive, costly immigration policies that separate families, harm all workers
• NCLR Supports Legislation to Strengthen Dual-Language Education for Low-Income Students
• NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía Named one of “Washingtonian’s 100 Most Powerful Women”
• NCLR Applauds the Inclusion of Faith Leaders at a A Senate Hearing on Comprehensive Immigration Reform