It’s encouraging to see the framework for comprehensive immigration reform released today by a bipartisan group of senators. This, together with President Barack Obama’s speech tomorrow in Las Vegas, gives me hope that lawmakers will move rapidly to pass fair and compassionate reform legislation.
The principles unveiled by the group of eight senators confirm that now is the time for Congress to pass immigration reform. We at LIRS look forward to working with Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress as they come together, for the well-being of our nation, to answer the president’s call to build an immigration system that works for America. The principles put forward today, if enacted into law, would provide a workable process for migrants to continue contributing to the United States.
To spread the word, we’ve sent out a press release today urging our elected officials to make the needed change a reality. Here are some of the highlights of the release, “LIRS Welcomes New Bipartisan Immigration Framework, Awaits Obama Speech.”
Rev. Bart Day, Executive Director of National Mission of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and LIRS board member:
The principles the senators have agreed upon represent a good starting place for Democrats and Republicans to come together to create a reformed immigration system that better serves families and the common good. LIRS and our broad national network of social ministry organizations, congregations, and church leaders are committed to working with Congress and the president to ensure that immigration reform will be just and protect vulnerable migrants.
Bishop Julian Gordy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Southeastern Synod:
Today, we applaud the bipartisan approach to delivering the framework for compassionate immigration reform, including an emphasis on a roadmap to citizenship for undocumented migrants, the importance of family unity, and acknowledgement that oversight and safeguards are necessary components. For too long, our families and communities have felt the harmful consequences of federal inaction on immigration reform.
LIRS Director for Advocacy Brittney Nystrom:
LIRS and Lutherans all over America look forward to helping advance the vision for immigration reform laid out in bipartisan principles today, and we wholeheartedly agree on the need for a roadmap to citizenship for undocumented migrants and an improvement of the immigration process for families. We note that some of the enforcement measures outlined in the principles would also impact communities and families. LIRS will strive to advance a process that protects family unity, secures migrants’ rights, and treats everyone with dignity and fairness.
LIRS calls for comprehensive immigration reform that reflects American values by:
- Providing a roadmap to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and their families
- Ensuring humane and just immigration enforcement, specifically by reducing use of detention
- Safeguarding families from separation and ensuring sufficient visas for families seeking to reunite
- Promoting integration of those fleeing persecution and of other vulnerable migrants
- Protecting U.S. citizen and migrant workers
Thank you for reading up on this latest development in the battle for comprehensive immigration reform, and for all that you do to Stand for Welcome!
Image credits: Tango Desktop Project, Diliff