For Latinos in 2010, the Word is Accountability – It’s Time to Get Immigration Reform Done

Today the White House is holding a meeting with community-based organizations who are focused on achieving immigration solutions. Later in the day, President Obama will meet with Senators Charles Schumer (D–NY) and Lindsey Graham (R–SC) to discuss their plans for bipartisan immigration reform legislation. The following is a statement from Clarissa Martínez De Castro, Director of Immigration and National Campaigns at NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States:

“For the president, the pressure is on and the need is great. Latino voters are demanding accountability. We want to see concrete action and a commitment to moving forward on legislation before the November elections—and not just another meeting to discuss the issue or check the box saying that the president is serious about immigration reform.

“We must do everything we can to get our economy back on track, and doing so includes passing immigration reform that levels the playing field for all workers and restores dignity and the rule of law to our system. The president has acknowledged that we must fix our broken immigration system, and he promised, to do so, but we have not seen much action to accompany his words. It is significant that he is putting a series of immigration-related meetings on his schedule this week, but these need to result in actually advancing bipartisan legislation.

“If the president and Congress move forward, immigration reform would be a prime motivator of Latino civic participation this fall. The millions of Latinos who voted for the first time in 2008, and those who went through the arduous citizenship process to get that privilege, need to see that participating in the democratic process means something. Many had the expectation that their vote would help speed up the day when we got serious immigration reform enacted and now their patience is wearing thin. We must not lose momentum or let the Latino community’s unprecedented civic engagement wither. As we look toward November, we don’t care what party people vote for, but we do care that people vote and see that their vote has meaning and leads to action. Therefore, both parties have much to gain by advancing immigration reform and solving this vexing national problem that has special significance for Latino voters.

“Now is the time for elected officials in both parties to stand up and be counted. Our nation has waited more than 20 years for a solution to our broken immigration system, and the entire Latino community is paying the price. Our leaders know what needs to be done, and it’s time for them to demonstrate they have the courage and commitment to do it. And we know that voters, including Latino voters watching this issue closely, will hold them accountable, whether for avoidance or for obstruction. From a policy, political, and moral perspective, the time to act is now.””

Leave a Reply