LOS ANGELES – Asian American groups are pushing hard to fight for a family-friendly immigration system in the comprehensive immigration reform bill.
During a conference call on Monday, officials from the Asian American Justice Center applauded Senator Mazie Hirono’s amendments to the legislation to protect the family-based immigration system.
“We are grateful to Sen. Hirono for continuing to fight for families of all ethnic groups and faiths,” said Mee Moua, president and executive director of the AAJC, a member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, in a statement.
“Sen. Hirono’s amendment to reinstate the visa categories for siblings and adult married children of all ages enhances opportunities for immigrants to start a business, raise and provide for their children, establish roots in our communities and become active participants in our society.”
As it stands, the current bill introduced on April 17 either removes or limits certain family based-immigration petitions.
Formally known as the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, the legislation which provides a pathway to the 11 million undocumented people living in the US is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where they are going over 300 amendments filed to the bill.
AAJC officials said it’s important for the Asian American community to contact their local officials about the importance of keeping the family based-immigration system intact.
According to the AAJC, about one-third of all Asian Americans have immigrated to the US through family-based petitions.
“As an immigrant who came to this country as a young girl, I know how important it is to support immigrant families in order for them to succeed once they are here.That’s why I have proposed a number of amendments to the Gang of Eight’s bill that enable immigrants to build a support network of family and access social safety nets. Immigration can be a great economic tool but only if we set up immigrants for success and stability once they have arrived,” said Hirono.
If the bill passes as is, it would mean the elimination of sibling-based visas and married adult children over the age of 30.
AAJC officials said they will monitor and work with the Senate Judiciary Committee “to ensure all families are protected through the amendment process” and “on a bill that effectively reduces the family-visa backlogs, and protects and enables all immigration families to achieve the American Dream.”
The committee has already adopted one of Hirono’s amendments called “Protect Family Values at the Border Act” that would stop families from being torn apart at the border by allowing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to consider keeping families together during removal.
Current law requires all men intercepted at the border to be transferred to a separate location, while their families are sent back across the border “with no idea where their husband or father is.”
The webinar and teleconference comes at a time when many Democrats and other politicians are reaching out to the Asian American community to ease their worries over family-based immigration in the current bill.
On May 10, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) — one of the eight co-authors of the Senate bill — and Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) — one of the eight lawmakers crafting a separate House bill — told Asian American leaders and groups that they are making family unity a top priority, according to The Hill.
“I am here to pledge to you that, as the chairman of the Democratic Caucus, as a negotiator on this immigration reform [bill], there is no true, complete fix to our immigration system until … everyone who is signed up to have their loved one, immediate relative, come into this country – whether a citizen or lawful permanent resident – has a chance to bring that family member to America,” The Hill quoted Becerra as saying during a crowd gathering for the annual Capitol Hill conference of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek May 15-17, 2013 Sec. A pg.1)
