PRESS STATEMENT
July 20, 2005

For Immediate Release

Contact: Ali Noorani

(617) 350-5480 ext. 201
(617) 835-1402 (cell)

Senators Cornyn and Kyl Propose Unrealistic Solution to Immigration Reform

Boston, MA – Yesterday, Senators Cornyn and Kyl joined the immigration reform debate with a broad, unwieldy immigration reform proposal.  As drafted, the bill pours dollars into immigration enforcement, expands the availability of unrealistic two-year term guest worker visas, and requires the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. to pay a fine and leave the country before becoming eligible for the short-term guest worker visas.
 
While the immigrant community welcomes the Senators’ proposal as an acknowledgement of the need for reform, the summary of the bill describes a surprisingly unrealistic approach. 
 
Instead of valuing the important contribution of all immigrants to communities across the country, the Cornyn-Kyl legislation refuses to acknowledge the tremendous backlog facing immigrant families trying to move through the naturalization process.  Furthermore, the proposal pushes undocumented immigrants further underground, doing nothing to improve our national security. 
 
“Senators Cornyn and Kyl have put forward an unrealistic and unworkable immigration reform plan,” said Ali Noorani, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition.  “The Cornyn-Kyl proposal only serves to tear apart families, reduce national security and spend an incredible amount of taxpayer dollars.”
 
Noorani continued, “Rather than the expensive, faulty plan proposed by Senators Cornyn and Kyl, the entire nation would be better served by a plan that reduces the naturalization backlog facing immigrant families, creates strong worker protection measures, meets the needs of U.S. employers, identifies and welcomes undocumented immigrants as future citizens, and adds value to our national security system.  Legislation proposed earlier this year by Senators McCain and Kennedy, the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act of 2005, is a workable solution that is good for our communities and great for our country.  We urge the President to find his voice, and support bi-partisan legislation that is comprehensive, realistic, and fixes the broken system once and for all.”
 
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MIRA works to advocate for the rights and opportunities of immigrants and refugees. In partnership with its members, MIRA advances this mission through education, training, leadership development, organizing, policy analysis and advocacy.