UMX Gives Props to Rep. Gutierrez for Taking Proactive and Humane Stance on Immigration Reform

ONE REFRESHING EXCEPTION to the sort of dynamic I posted on in Proud and Selfish vs. Idealist and Hypocritical , where all moves from “Liberals” and Democrats present as reactionary and timid  is a move made by Rep. Gutierrez (D-IL) on the immigration front yesterday (Citizenship Day). While I can’t put myself 100% behind the proposed bill or comment on all angles until I know the specifics, I heartily applaud his action of getting the ball moving on this issue in which the dialogue is only degrading in its chaotic momentum and inattention except by voices from the Right.

PRESS ADVISORY
From Make the Road New York

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, September 17, 2009

Contact: Javier H. Valdes, 917-679-2971

Make the Road Applauds Rep. Gutierrez for Taking the Lead on Immigration Reform Legislation

WASHINGTON — Today, Dora Chalarca, a leader of Make the Road New York spoke at the Citizenship Day celebration in Washington, DC in front of hundreds of immigrant leaders and representatives from Congress urging them to push for comprehensive immigration reform this year. Shortly thereafter, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) announced that he would introduce comprehensive immigration reform this fall.

Rep. Gutierrez played a pivotal role in the Familias Unidas interfaith tour earlier this year that introduced families separated from loved ones by our broken immigration system to his colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and House Democratic Leadership, and helped build compassion and support for immigration reform.

Make the Road New York and its 7500 members are eager to support a bill that fixes our broken immigration and work with Rep. Gutierrez and Rep. Nydia Velazquez in taking bold action to break through the years-long stalemate on Capitol Hill.

We expect the Gutierrez to a introduce progressive immigration bill which will create:

• A pathway to citizenship that keeps families together;
•Elimination of the family immigration backlogs that keep people waiting years and decades for legal entry;
•A system to modernize the process by which visas are allocated so that they reflect actual economic needs;
• Protection of worker rights for immigrants and native-born workers;
• Restoration of basic due process rights and protection of basic rights and liberties;
• Enforcement that respects these rights and restores confidence in the immigration system; and Effective and innovative immigrant integration programs.

While a great deal of attention has been focused on health care reform, the urgent need for immigration reform has not diminished. If anything, the acrimony, deception and scapegoating of immigrants in the health care debate has underscored the need for a comprehensive solution to fix our broken immigration system. Immigrants, faith leaders, businesses, labor unions, progressive groups, and a broad coalition across the political spectrum support solutions to our current immigration mess.

We will have to see what these bullet points boil down to (and I’m pretty sure in this current age and system, unfortunate compromises to humane reform will undoubtedly take place—as Mala pointed out yesterday, the Hispanic Congressional Caucus made compromises even before the process began) but at least in the present moment, someone is stepping up and unwilling to simply watch the Joe Wilsons of the world dominate the conversation on immigration. And it’s about time. I am, of course, especially interested to see what is to be done with the horrific mess that DHS is leveling on the Latino/a community in the form of it’s “Enforcement Agenda.”

Saying immigration is a priority for this Administration or this Congress is not the same as seeing tangible action, and the longer we wait, the more every single piece of legislation we debate will be obstructed by our failure to pass comprehensive reform.

—Rep. Gutierrez, September 17, 2009

Perhaps Congressman Gutierrez feels a bit stung by the White House’s inaction. On the media call yesterday (the notes of which informed some of this post and the screenshot of some you can see above) Gutierrez sounded a bit…put out. That’s good. We need more of this. Disappointed in what his vote was turning into, given current White House inaction (and action of the unhelpful kind). We do nobody any favors except the corrupt entrenched political inertias that harm gente when we make excuses for “representation” that does not represent.

For now, I say let’s get behind at least this one bold move (that has the backing of many other voices behind him). We can always (and will always) push for the most humane and modern (meaning “enlightened” not “with 40% more sugar in the can”) immigration policy possible, even so. But where there is a spark, the flame needs wind to grow. So let’s go!