UFW Pres. Rodriguez & Mexican Consul Gen. Madrazo at festival to push major drive for immigration reform rewarding work

United Farm Workers President Arturo Rodriguez and Mexican Consul General Jorge Madrazo on Sunday will join farm workers, their families and community supporters for a day of music, food and speeches from state and local leaders as part of a nationwide drive to put immigration reform back on the agenda this fall for President Bush and Congress.

It is part of a U.S. campaign aimed at delivering hundreds of thousands of post cards to the nation’s capital urging America‘s political leaders to "support immigration policies that reward work by giving hard-working, tax-paying immigrants already in the United States the opportunity to earn legal status." Post cards will be signed and collected at Sunday’s event for shipment to Washington, D.C. before the Nov. 5 elections.

A broad-based coalition is pushing legislation enabling undocumented workers and their families presently in this country to earn legal status by continuing to perform "vital" tasks in key industries such as agriculture. Campaign organizers note that immigrant workers harvest the crops, care for the sick and elderly, help raise children and clean office buildings and homes. A recent UCLA study cited more than $440 billion a year generated for the U.S. economy from immigrants.

"Our goal is to send a clear and strong message to President Bush and lawmakers from both parties that immigration reform is a pressing issue for millions of American voters," Rodriguez states.

UFW National Vice President Guadalupe Gamboa points out that in addition to providing workers for the state’s tree fruit industry, Mexico is the number one purchaser of exported Washington state apples. Last year, Mexico accounted for nearly 10 million boxes of apples and contributed $120 million to the central Washington economy. "We need to reward the contributions of immigrant workers by providing the means for these hard-working, tax-paying people to gain legal status," Gamboa says.

Who:   UFW President Arturo Rodriguez, Mexican Consul General Jorge Madrazo, farm worker families, community supporters, political and labor leaders.

What:  Farm Worker Legalization Festival championing the nationwide campaign to win legal status for immigrant workers.

When:  1-7 p.m., Sunday, July 28, 2002.

Where: Hund Park (corner of Government & Main Sts.), Mattawa, Washington.

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