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San Francisco Immigrant Legal & Education Network Opposes Immigration Bill S. 1639
(San Francisco, CA) -- Relief over the defeat of Senate compromise bill (S.1348) was short lived for members of the San Francisco Immigrant Legal & Education Network (SFILEN) after learning that a new immigration bill, S. 1639, is scheduled to be introduced in the Senate early this week.
"The Senate's proposal is a disingenuous attempt to improve this
country's immigration policy and proactively discriminates against our
communities," says Christina Wong of Chinese for Affirmative Action,
and a SFILEN member.
"It is a flawed bill that will not get any better given the Senate
leadership seeking to restrict debate and amendments. It is both - lack
of a democratic process and substance," explains Gen Fujioka of Asian
Law Caucus. "We have to oppose it."
Encouraged by a $4.4 billion funding earmarked for border enforcement
by President Bush to persuade Republicans to negotiate with Democrats,
immigrant rights advocates are working hard to educate members on the
harmful and unjust bill before discussions are expected to wrap up as
early as Friday, June 29th.
"As progressives we need to make it known that this bill could create a
worse situation for all immigrants. Arabs, for example, have been
waiting to reunite with their families and under this measure, could be
denied equal access to merit based visas which favors high income,
highly educated immigrants from predominantly English speaking
countries," said Lily Haskell of the Arab American Legal Services,
whose organization provides services to a growing Arab community in San
Francisco.
Similar to bill S. 1348, new bill S. 1639 proposes reducing the number
of people eligible for Z visa. Amendments waiting in the wings for
debate include imposing "roots tests" for undocumented immigrants,
which include unrealistic criteria that require home ownership, English
proficiency, and family ties before applying for a Z visa.
Under S. 1639 not only does it makes it difficult for undocumented
immigrants to obtain a Z visa, but once approved many will be denied
the opportunity to acquire a green card.
"We have heard a number of concerns from our members - many of whom are
undocumented. They feel that the requirements that are being placed on
immigrants are unfair and unrealistic," according to Antonio Diaz of
People Organized to Demand Environmental & Economic Rights.
Other communities, often left out of the immigration debate, will feel
the impact as well. The latest proposals for immigration reform will
only further divide our country and our communities.
"Thousands of Filipinos fleeing economic hardship in the Philippines
will stay underground as they seek to reunite with, and support their
loved ones. Moving away from a family-based immigration system to a
punitive, guest worker and security-focused system has repeatedly
failed in Congress and will continue to fail," said Terry Valen of the
Filipino Community Center.
Eric Quezada, Executive Director of Dolores Street Community Services,
whose organization provides neighborhood-based shelter, housing,
advocacy and support for working-poor men says: "Our communities need
and deserve legalization equality without criminalization, touchback,
and cumbersome bureaucracy. As progressives, we must continue to fight
for just and humane policy that recognizes the contributions of all
immigrants, regardless of status."
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The San Francisco Immigrant Legal & Education Network (SFILEN) is
comprised of the Asian Law Caucus, the Asian Pacific Islander Legal
Outreach, the American Arab Legal Services, Bay Area Immigrant Rights
Coalition, CARECEN, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Dolores Street
Community Services, Filipino Community Center, La Raza Community
Resource Center, La Raza Centro Legal, Mujeres Unidas y Activas and
PODER. For more information, contact Carolyn Tran at 415-282-6209 ext
15.
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