Washington, DC – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., welcomed the introduction of the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act. These comprehensive immigration reform bills, introduced by Senators Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and John McCain (R-AZ) and by Reps. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), would allow for the orderly and legal immigration of needed workers, reunite American families, provide for stronger enforcement of labor and immigration laws, and make our nation more secure.

“The Latino community has been waiting a long time for comprehensive immigration reform legislation,” stated Janet Murguia, NCLR President and CEO. “We look forward to working with leaders from both parties to make immigration reform a reality.”

“We have known for years that our nation’s immigration system is broken,” continued Murguia. “Because there are no legal channels for needed and wanted workers to come to the U.S., immigrants continue to risk their lives crossing the border in hopes of making a better life for themselves and their families. Their hard work has made them essential to many U.S. industries. At the same time, these workers are vulnerable and easily exploitable; they live in the shadows, fearful of being caught. This situation is not good for American families, the economy, or security. It is time to replace our chaotic, dangerous borders with orderly, safe, and legal immigration flows.”

This proposal allows persons who have been living and working in the U.S., who pay their taxes, learn English, and otherwise obey the law, to earn permanent legal status over time. Furthermore, the bill includes measures to allow family members of Americans who have been trapped in long visa backlogs to reunite more quickly with their loved ones in the U.S. Finally, recognizing that undocumented immigration will continue unless legal channels for needed workers are created, this proposal creates a worker visa program for those who might seek to come to the U.S. in the future.

“It is our profound hope that this element of the proposal will replace the current undocumented migrant stream with an orderly, safe, fair, and above all legal process that will fully protect the rights of both immigrant workers and the U.S. workforce that they will join,” said Murguia. The proposed legislation also reimburses states for costs associated with the presence of undocumented immigrants, creates a new employment verification system, imposes stiffer penalties on employers who violate labor laws, and creates a comprehensive plan to enhance border security.

“We are grateful for the bipartisan leadership of the sponsors of this proposal,” concluded Murguia. “As Senators McCain and Kennedy have pointed out many times, the status quo is unacceptable. We need real solutions – constructive, workable, and sensible – to this problem as soon as possible. We share their commitment to doing whatever it takes to reform our broken immigration system in a way that best serves the national interest.”

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