Fair Immigration Reform Movement Meets with Obama Transition Team to Discuss Reform, Moratorium on Raids

A good sign: one of Obama's seven working groups is addressing immigration issues. Find out more about Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar here: http://feetin2worlds.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/immigration-advocates-look...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Contact: Mary Moreno, (202) 306-7951 , mmoreno@communitychange.org

Fair Immigration Reform Movement Meets with Obama Transition Team to Discuss Reform, Moratorium on Raids

Obama's immigration policy working group hears activists concerns, stories of raids' effects and proposed solutions

WASHINGTON – Representatives of the Fair Immigration Reform Movement met with Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, co-chair of President-elect Barack Obama's immigration policy working group, to ask for support of just and humane immigration reform legislation, an immediate moratorium on raids and proactive efforts to help immigrants integrate. This meeting preceded a larger gathering between 2,500 grassroots community leaders, key Obama advisers and members of Congress at "Realizing the Promise: A Forum on Community, Faith & Democracy" where immigration and other important issues were discussed..

The immigration policy meeting took place last Thursday at Obama's transition headquarters. Obama had pledged to tackle immigration if elected, and activists are encouraged that one of his seven working groups is dealing with immigration.

"Mr. Cuellar did seem very interested in the plight of families and communities affected by raids," said Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA de Maryland. "We have a long road ahead of us in achieving immigration reform that works for all families and supports our shared economic prosperity, but having the incoming administration's attention is definitely a positive development."

The eight FIRM representatives presented Cuellar with testimonials from families torn apart by raids, and laid out details of an immigration policy proposal that includes a pathway to earned citizenship for the 12 million undocumented workers living in the shadows. They also asked for an immediate moratorium on the raids and proactive measures to help immigrants integrate.

Last week's meeting was just the beginning of immigrant rights groups working with Cuellar and the transition team on a solution to fix our broken immigration system that will benefit the immigrant community and our country.

"This is a new day in America, and there is a new hope in our communities, but we're not relying on hope alone," said Marissa Graciosa, immigration campaign coordinator for FIRM. "We are going to work hard, and remain steadfast in our drive to create a better America for everyone."

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FIRM (Fair Immigration Reform Movement) is a coalition of grassroots community organizations nationwide, including statewide immigrant rights coalitions, organizing networks, faith-based groups, and low-income and other networks organized around ethnicity or national origin, working on behalf of comprehensive immigration reform and immigrant rights. FIRM is convened by the Center for Community Change.