A Million Voices for the Legalization of Hardworking Immigrant Families
Launch Date May 15
Washington, DC — In 30 cities across the nation today, local and national labor, religious, ethnic, community, and immigrant organizations announced A Million Voices for Legalization, an unprecedented grassroots campaign designed to urge the White House and Congress to move forward on immigration reform that rewards work.
Over the summer, the broad-based coalition will work together to gather a million postcards before the November elections to show America’s political leaders that there is still broad support for immigration policies that give hard-working, tax-paying immigrants already in the United States the opportunity to earn legal status. The UFW is also sponsoring similar proposals in the House and Senate covering undocumented agricultural workers and their family members.
“It is time for politicians to do more than talk the talk. It’s time to walk the walk,” said UFW President Arturo Rodriguez. “Immigrants work hard, pay taxes, and contribute to our country. Our immigration policies should reward work by enabling workers to earn legal immigration status.”
According to a recent study by U.C.L.A. immigrants contribute more than $440 billion dollars to our economy. Undocumented immigrants fill scores of vital jobs that would otherwise go vacant.
A partial list of organizations participating on the campaign include the National Council of La Raza, the Service Employees International Union, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, United Farm Workers, the National Immigration Forum, the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union, Industrial Areas Foundation, the National Legalization Movement, the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Laborers International, and many others
Thirty cities nationwide launched the campaign today, including: Washington, D.C., Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, NYC, Salinas, Chicago, Sacramento, San Jose, San Diego, Portland, Seattle, Las Vegas, Houston, Rio Grand Valley, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, San Antonio, Fresno, Phoenix, Yakima Valley, Albany, Tallahassee, San Bernardino/Riverside, St. Louis, MO, Oxnard, El Paso, and Dallas.