For Immediate Release // Excuse Cross-Posting
Contact: B. Loewe, NDLON, 773.791.4668, bloewe@ndlong.org
Immigrant and LGBTQ Organization Applaud Congressional
Support of Inclusion in Immigration Relief
Washington DC – On Monday, Representatives Jared Polis, Raul Grijalva, David Cicilline, and Zoe Lofgren sent letter to the President calling for executive action that protects LGBT immigrants. The letter, signed by forty-four members of Congress, was well received by Immigrant and LBGTQ organizations:
“Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement echoes the demand of the Congress members Polis, Grijalva, Cicilline and Lofgren to pressure President Obama to pass an administrative relief to stop the deportation of LGBTQ undocumented immigrants and undocumented people across the country. We must continue to organize and add pressure to the president in order to get the most expansive administrative relief possible and ensure the trans and queer undocumented community is included,” Jorge Gutierrez, Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement.
“We welcome Congressional support for the inclusion of protections for undocumented LGBTQ immigrants in executive immigration action and more voices pressing the President to act. There’s no excuse for the president to delay policies he himself admits are inhumane. He has the authority to enact expansive relief that includes LGBTQ immigrants who may not have family ties but are as equally deserving as anyone else,” Tania Unzueta, National Day Laborer Organizing Network.
“Southerners On New Ground is thrilled that Congressional leaders are not only taking into account the acute impact of President Obama’s deportation policies on LGBTQ communities, but are urging him to reconsider the life and death consequences into his own political calculations and those of the Democratic Party. Our communities cannot afford to wait for this election cycle to have reprieve from the daily violence, isolation and fear many face inside of detention centers, and the anguish that thousands face with the ongoing threat of deportation,” Paulina Helm-Hernandez, Southerners On New Ground.
The letter for protections of LGBTQ immigrants follows a request from 42 Representatives for President Obama to meet directly with undocumented families affected by his policies. The Blue Ribbon Commission, a group of current and formerly undocumented people, issued its 14 recommendations for executive action on immigration last April and have requested a meeting to present them to the President.
Groups will be picketing at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus gala on Thursday urging the President to expand relief immediately. The picket will take place at 6:00 PM at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (801 Mount Vernon PI NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20001).
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