For Immediate Release // Excuse cross-posting
Date: February 20, 2015
Contact: SG Sarmiento, 202-746-2099, sgsarmiento@ndlon.org
A Welcome Sign that President to Hear from Undocumented Immigrants
(New Orleans, LA)—For at least the second time this year, President Obama will engage in dialogue with immigrants directly impacted by his DAPA and DACA policies. Today, the White House and Telemundo announced a town hall scheduled for next week in Miami, Florida. In response, Salvador G. Sarmiento, Legislative Affairs Director for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) issued the following statement:
“It is a welcome sign that the President is inviting the participation of undocumented immigrants into discussions about policies affecting their lives. The essence of citizenship is political equality, and that means participation in shaping laws that advance a shared prosperity.
“For too long, immigrant worker voices have been shut out of the immigration reform debate. The damaging consequences of this exclusion are on full display in Judge Hanen’s poorly reasoned decision, which dehumanizes immigrants and ignores the urgent need for relief faced by millions of people. The decision by the President to elevate the voices of people most impacted by inaction is a good one. Immigrants who have labored for equality will not be silenced by one bad—and temporary—district court decision. Immigrants fighting for their rights should remain confident that they are on the winning side of history.
“As details of the town hall are made available, we hope and expect that the voice of undocumented workers will be part of the discussion. Specifically, we think it is important that people both included by the DAPA policy and those who are excluded be part of the discussion. We look forward to working with the White House and Telemundo to make this happen.”
** NDLON lawyers also available to provide comment in response to news of the President’s request for a stay in the Texas case.
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PS- Circulating this excellent report from MSBNC profiling immigrant community in New Orleans – http://www.msnbc.com/ronan-farrow-daily/watch/faces-of-the-undocumented-immigration-battle-400501827671