Thursday
Apr022009
Jewish groups back comprehensive immigration reform
by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
This afternoon on Capitol Hill, two influential Jewish organizations announced the merging of campaigns stating that immigration raids are not a substitute for immigration reform.
Gideon Aronoff, the President and CEO of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society said that the campaigns, “The Progress by Passover" and “We Are Strangers, Too” support comprehensive immigration reform.
“This campaign will seek to further engage the Jewish community around the country in increased advocacy and increased direct service for newcomers in our communities,” stated Aronoff, and that the collaboration is “just the beginning.”
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) said that the high cost of becoming a naturalized citizen and harsh immigration laws unnecessarily separate families.
“This can’t be done piecemeal,” Schakowsky said. “We need to do it as part of comprehensive immigration reform. I believe that now we are poised to do just that.”
Schakowsky said there should be enforcement of reasonable immigration laws and that the U.S. should allow law abiding illegal immigrants, who are willing to pay fees and learn English, a clear path toward citizenship.
Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) agreed, stating that the support of comprehensive immigration reform comes from the Jewish community because they understand that “the system is broken.” Nadler said that not only do documented and undocumented aliens live in fear of improper law enforcement, so do American citizens.
“It is time to bring people out of the shadows, to unite families, and to provide simple due process of law in accordance with American traditions. It is time to reaffirm our nation as one which welcomes immigrants as it is so wonderfully symbolized by the Statue of Liberty in my district,” Nadler said.
This afternoon on Capitol Hill, two influential Jewish organizations announced the merging of campaigns stating that immigration raids are not a substitute for immigration reform.
Gideon Aronoff, the President and CEO of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society said that the campaigns, “The Progress by Passover" and “We Are Strangers, Too” support comprehensive immigration reform.
“This campaign will seek to further engage the Jewish community around the country in increased advocacy and increased direct service for newcomers in our communities,” stated Aronoff, and that the collaboration is “just the beginning.”
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) said that the high cost of becoming a naturalized citizen and harsh immigration laws unnecessarily separate families.
“This can’t be done piecemeal,” Schakowsky said. “We need to do it as part of comprehensive immigration reform. I believe that now we are poised to do just that.”
Schakowsky said there should be enforcement of reasonable immigration laws and that the U.S. should allow law abiding illegal immigrants, who are willing to pay fees and learn English, a clear path toward citizenship.
Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) agreed, stating that the support of comprehensive immigration reform comes from the Jewish community because they understand that “the system is broken.” Nadler said that not only do documented and undocumented aliens live in fear of improper law enforcement, so do American citizens.
“It is time to bring people out of the shadows, to unite families, and to provide simple due process of law in accordance with American traditions. It is time to reaffirm our nation as one which welcomes immigrants as it is so wonderfully symbolized by the Statue of Liberty in my district,” Nadler said.
tagged 
Capitol Hill, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Gideon Aronoff, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Jewish, Statue of Liberty, The Progress by Passover, Too, We Are Strangers, citizenship, comprehensive immigration reform, documented, immigration laws, immigration raids, immigration reform, law enforcement, undocumented aliens in News/Commentary
Capitol Hill, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Gideon Aronoff, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Jewish, Statue of Liberty, The Progress by Passover, Too, We Are Strangers, citizenship, comprehensive immigration reform, documented, immigration laws, immigration raids, immigration reform, law enforcement, undocumented aliens in News/Commentary
Reader Comments (1)
I came here as a child with a valid visa which expired. I attended middle - through - high school, attended college and payed taxes. I am illegal, not a criminal, but illegal and do not have a right to be here. I am 38 years old. This country is all I know. My parents and I are illegal and my brother is in the process of getting legals status through his marriage. Help us. I never took anything from anyone. Everything I did, I earned it. I had good grades and payed my way through college. I payed taxes. Help me and my family to stay here. My immigration attorney states he can't do anything unless I am caught and deported. I want to be a legal resident and I want to become a productive, American citizen. My grandparents were victims of WW2, and they would like my Mom and her kids to become legal, if they were alive today.