Statement from SEIU President Andy Stern Calling for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Statement from SEIU President Andy Stern Calling for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

WASHINGTON - January 19 - For generations, our immigrant grandparents, parents and today’s new immigrants have come to our shores expecting to work hard, pay taxes, and have their work valued and rewarded. We boast appropriately to the world about the promise of the American Dream.

“Today’s immigrants and their families who help build, clean, feed and care for our country share that Dream. Because they know that in America, we believe that it’s the contribution you make that matters, not what country you are originally from.

“Unfortunately, today our immigration system is broken and needs to be fixed. The problem is not immigrants or immigration but our laws.

“The current system is outdated and unenforceable and we’ve lost control of our borders. There is no path to citizenship for those who work hard, pay taxes and want a chance to obtain the American Dream.

“Our laws provide few orderly, legal channels to work in this country. This drives many immigrants and their families into treacherous pathways to this country and then into the underground economy.

“An underground economy – where workers have little protection and work for substandard pay in hazardous conditions – undermines standards for all workers in this country and breeds division in workplaces and in our communities.”

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