FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 12, 2007
CONTACT: Marisa McNee 917-733-2351

Immigration Reality Check: New Report Finds Nation's Most Prominent Anti-Immigration Group Has History of Hate and Extremism

Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) Added to List of Hate Groups Operating in the United States

(Washington, DC) - Yesterday the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an organization known internationally for legal victories against white supremacists and its tracking of hate groups, released a new report highlighting the troubling history of one of the nation's most prominent anti-immigration groups. According to the report, FAIR has ties to known racist groups and has repeatedly engaged in questionable practices:

• FAIR is the creation of a man who operates a publishing company also listed as a hate groups for its anti-Latino and White Supremacist writings, who compared immigrants to "bacteria;"
• FAIR has employed members of white supremacist groups in key positions;
• FAIR has promoted racist conspiracy theories; and
• FAIR has accepted more than $1 million from the Pioneer Fund, a racist foundation devoted to eugenics and to proving a connection between race and IQ.

As a result of these findings, SPLC has added FAIR to the list of hate groups operating in the United States.

"The findings are particularly alarming given the amount of exposure and credibility afforded to FAIR by some elected officials and media outlets," said Clarissa Martinez, campaign manager for the Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. "It is unacceptable for members of Congress and the media to legitimize a hate group bent on manipulating Americans' concerns over our broken immigration system to advance its own goals and derail real solutions to this issue."

According to the SPLC, a 40% increase in the number of hate groups since 2000 can be attributed to the anti-immigrant fervor that is sweeping the country - largely fueled by groups like FAIR and conservative talk radio. The recently released annual Federal Bureau of Investigation Hate Crimes Statistics Report found that the number of victims of anti-Hispanic crimes jumped 25%, and almost two-thirds of all ethnic-based hate crimes in 2006 were committed against Hispanics.

"The evidence is clear and should be of concern to all Americans. The demonizing and dehumanizing language injected by some groups and elected officials in the immigration debate is meant to lead us away from addressing this problem and is leading to direct and documented attacks on the Latino community," said Martinez. "America is a better country than that - we believe in constructive debate, demand real solutions, and reject extremist rhetoric and groups seeking to manipulate our concerns. It's time for Congress and the President to lead on the issue of immigration and reject the politics of hate."