Arturo S. Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers of America, issued the following statement after President Barack Obama delivered his fifth State of the Union address at the White House last night.
“United Farm Workers is pleased to see that fixing our broken immigration system remains a top priority for President Obama’s administration. During his fifth State of the Union address, President Obama once again called on Congress to pass immigration reform for the 11 million new immigrants who aspire to call America their home once and for all.
The President correctly said: “… if we are serious about economic growth, it is time to heed the call of business leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders, and law enforcement – and fix our broken immigration system. Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have acted. I know that members of both parties in the House want to do the same. Independent economists say immigration reform will grow our economy and shrink our deficits by almost $1 trillion in the next two decades. And for good reason: when people come here to fulfill their dreams – to study, invent, and contribute to our culture – they make our country a more attractive place for businesses to locate and create jobs for everyone. So let’s get immigration reform done this year. ”
The UFW joins President Obama in recognizing that farm workers, who feed our nation, and many other undocumented immigrants have earned the opportunity to have access to an immigration system that allows them to come out of the shadows and brings long overdue recognition to the contributions they make to America through their hard-work and sacrifice.
Last year, we got closer than ever to achieving immigration reform. Last June, the Senate passed the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, or S. 744. The proposal called for a roadmap to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the country and included special agricultural provisions, negotiated by the United Farm Workers and major grower associations. A few months later, a bi-partisan group of lawmakers introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, also known as H.R. 15. The House bill also included the agricultural provisions. Both bills are still pending a vote in the House.
Unfortunately, despite the President’s expressed support and the Senate passing a bi-partisan comprehensive immigration reform bill, the House Republican leadership still refused to act on pending legislation and at the same time failed to present their own immigration reform plan. In fact, many House Republicans, such as Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R.Wash.) who delivered the official Republican response to the President’s State of the Union speech last night, agree that something must be done. But how can we fix our broken immigration system if the House Republican leadership refuses to take a stand and instead, just keeps saying "no" or "not now"?
Hours before the President’s State of the Union address, dozens of farm worker and supporters, led by the UFW, rallied outside Rep. McMorris Rodgers’ district office in Walla Walla, Wash. asking her to take leadership on immigration reform. The state of Washington depends heavily on farm workers’ labor.
The President is willing to do his job and the Senate has done its job, but now the House needs to do its job and act on immigration reform.”
###
The UFW, UFW Foundation, Campesina Radio Network, and the Cesar Chavez Foundation have been actively involved in pushing for comprehensive immigration reform through its ‘Con La Union de Campesinos Tendremos Papeles’ (With the United Farm Workers, we will get our papers) nationwide campaign. Last year, we coordinated marches in different states and cities in California organizing thousands of farm workers and supporters, brought more than 100 farm workers to the nation’s Capitol to lobby for immigration reform, delivered cantaloupes to members of Congress who were critical or reluctant to take up the issue, engaged in civil disobedience and got arrested, delivered more than 8,000 signatures asking for immigration reform to the office of Congressman Kevin McCarthy, the third ranking House Republican, and staged dozens of demonstrations, sit-ins and vigils outside McCarthy’s office in Bakersfield. To get involved, visit our website at www.ufw.org or call a UFW office in your area.