Diverse Immigration Coalition Calls on Senate for Comprehensive Immigration Reform that Addresses the Real Issues

In opposition to the House bill, the Essential Workers Immigrant Coalition (EWIC), a group of business leaders, immigrant advocates, religious leaders and union leaders united and held a press conference in Washington, D.C. on January 19 , 2006 to discuss real comprehensive immigration reform measures. Speakers included: Thomas Donohue, President & CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Andy Stern, President, Service Employees International Union; Mark Franken, Director of Migration Department, US Conference of Catholic Bishops; Terry O’Sullivan, President of Laborers International; and Kelley C. Rice-Schild, Owner, Executive Director, Floridian Nursing Home, Inc. and Member, Board of Governors, American Healthcare Association. “It is encouraging to see divergent organizations coming together to support a total reform of our broken immigration system,” stated Laura Reiff, an immigration attorney at Greenberg Traurig and EWIC co-chair.

EWIC was disappointed by the passage of the potentially devastating House bill (H.R. 4437). This bill is detrimental to the business community imposing new, unreasonable fines even for paperwork violations; requiring all employers to verify employees' work eligibility through what has up to now been an unreliable pilot program; and declaring existing undocumented workers "aggravated felons." We now look forward to Senate action on what we expect to be a more comprehensive bill, which would fix the underlying dysfunctional immigration system while also enhancing border security and interior enforcement. To access the full press release, click here.