El PASOANS REKINDLE THE FIGHT FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM

Contact:
Louie Gilot
Communications Director
Border Network for Human Rights
(915) 274-0541
louiegilot@gmail.com


Press conference Saturday, October 10, 2009

El PASOANS REKINDLE THE FIGHT FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM

Two Dozen Community Members to Travel to Washington, D.C. in Nationwide Effort

El Paso, TX – October 8, 2009 – The promising strides toward immigration reform in 2006 and 2007 came to an abrupt stop as legislation reached a dead end in Congress and the public’s attention turned to other matters. Next week, hundreds of pro-immigrant advocates and community members from around the country will work to renew the dormant movement with a series of legislative visits to elected officials and a rally in Washington, D.C.

The border will be represented in this trip by 22 El Pasoans, ordinary members of the community, who will fly to the nation’s capital Monday (10/12) to take part in what will be the first major push for immigration reform in months. Among them are Jose Gonzalez, a gardener in Montana Vista, and Sandra Montoya, a restaurant worker in Las Cruces. They will join a total delegation of 80 Texans members of the Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance. They will sleep in a church and set off early Tuesday morning to visit the offices of the state’s 32 Congressional members and two Senators in prearranged meetings meant to educate the officials about the need for immigration reform. Groups like the Border Network and others are organizing the trip.

“It’s important that Texas be a full-fledged player in the negotiations over immigration reform. They need to be much more involved than they have been. They owe it to their constituencies,” said Fernando Garcia, executive director of the Border Network for Human Rights. “In addition, border communities must have a voice in this debate because the consequences of an immigration reform will be felt acutely by border communities.”

The delegation will also deliver copies of a petition signed by 20,000 Texans to the Texas senators, asking them to support an immigration reform that provides a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants of sound moral standing; keeps families together; respects civil liberties and civil rights; makes the community safer; establish a responsible and accountable border policy; develops a practical system for future workers; addresses the root causes of migration, and supports immigrant integration.

PRESS CONFERENCE

A press conference will take place Saturday during a training session at the Border Network offices to prepare community members for their legislative meetings. Members of the press will be able to speak with trip participants and take footage of their training session.

Please join us Saturday, October 10, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at 2115 N. Piedras.

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If you’d like more information about this topic or need help reaching Border Network officials please call Louie Gilot at (915) 274-0541, or email Louie at louiegilot@gmail.com.

More information on the Border Network for Human Rights: This organization, founded in 1998, is one of the leading immigration reform and human rights advocacy organization in the United States. Based in El Paso, the BNHR counts about 3,500 members in El Paso and Southern New Mexico.

More information about the Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance (RITA): This alliance is a multi-sector, statewide network dedicated to building support for a sensible immigration policy.

More information about the Reform Immigration For America campaign: This campaign connects people from communities across the country who are ready to work together towards achieving the 279 votes needed to win just and humane comprehensive immigration reform legislation: 218 votes in the House of Representatives, 60 votes in the Senate, and one signature from the President, www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org