News Joint Statement of the Asian American Community on the Defeat of the Senate's Proposed Elimination of Family Reunification Categories Issued in San Francisco on June 28, 2007 80-20 Initiative, Inc. The United States Senate today suspended action on an immigration bill that would have devastated immigrant families' ability to reunite. Since 1965, the law has recognized the importance and integrity of families and has given citizens the right to sponsor a limited number of family members' immigration, in most cases after a lengthy waiting period. But S. 1639 would have stripped American citizens of their ability to sponsor any child who has reached age 21, as well as any siblings. The same proposal also sought to introduce a lengthy waiting period for citizens sponsoring their own parents. Not only would the plan have eliminated most of the existing categories of family reunification, it would have unfairly done so retroactively by canceling sponsorship applications that American citizens have already filed and paid for. This proposal (part of the so-called "grand bargain" on immigration reform) did not go through the normal Senate committee process. It originated in the White House in March as part of a massive rewriting of U.S. immigration laws, and was fleshed out in closed-door negotiations in May by a small group of Republican and Democratic senators. The plan to eliminate most categories of family reunification spurred many calls to action over the past six weeks, and we thank every member of the community who responded by contacting their senators. Active participation in the political process is the ultimate American value, and we are proud that so many raised their united voices on an issue so vital to the future of our community. Unity in the Asian community is of utmost importance. We also thank those in the media that took the time to give detailed coverage of the harsh effects this bill would have had. We believe that the bill as written would have needlessly sacrificed the rights of millions of American citizens and that the basic framework of the proposal was deeply flawed. Thus the bill was unacceptable and was properly rejected following the failure and blockage of amendments to restore family reunion categories. Democracy is still at work in the United States. We believe that immigration reform efforts are important, but that the
basic structure of this bill must be scrapped and a fresh approach taken
in any future efforts. We strongly urge legislators to steer clear of
eliminating family immigration categories, and we will not forget those
in Congress of either party who vote to deny Americans our cherished right
to reunite with our families. We urge all Americans to remain on guard
against the revival of this inhumane, unjust, and anti-family proposal,
and we ask that you act for the betterment of American families and our
country itself by remaining engaged in the political process. |