Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition
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PRESS STATEMENT: State of the Union: All Talk No Action?

1/23/2007 9:29 pm - In tonight’s State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush called for comprehensive immigration reform that emphasizes border security, enforcement and temporary worker program. The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) joins organizations and leaders across the country who are tired of immigration reform speeches and who demand prompt action from a new Congress.

PRESS STATEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 23, 2007

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ali Noorani, Executive Director, MIRA

Cell phone: (617) 835-1402

Shu Ohno, MIRA

(617) 350-5480 x204

State of the Union: All Talk No Action?

Boston, MA –In tonight’s State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush called for comprehensive immigration reform that emphasizes border security, enforcement and temporary worker program. The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) joins organizations and leaders across the country who are tired of immigration reform speeches and who demand prompt action from a new Congress.

"Tonight the President failed to realize that immigrant communities are literally being torn apart by the policies of his Administration," stated Ali Noorani, Executive Director of MIRA. "Recent raids on low income immigrant workers have left children without parents, tables without food and communities without leaders. Our country is not safer because a meat packer has been taken from his family. We don’t need another speech on immigration reform, we need action that allows immigrant families to remain together."

"The dramatic increase in resources spent on Border Patrols, National Guardsmen, high-tech surveillance, and fences along our border is an indication of the President’s desire to stay the course of an enforcement-only approach. He is simply throwing good money after bad," Noorani continued.

"The Temporary Worker Program proposed by the President would merely create a second-class of workers who would be left vulnerable to exploitation. All workers in America, immigrants and citizens alike must be able to enjoy the opportunities that wage and labor protections afford. Furthermore, any worker program must include a path to permanent residency for all immigrants. To ignore the fact that an immigrant may come to America, work hard, start a family, improve his or her community and want to become a citizen is incredibly short-sighted."

Noorani concluded, "Millions stand ready to mobilize for justice. While President Bush and Congressional leaders have expressed sincere intentions this year, immigrant communities are taking nothing for granted. We are preparing to work harder than ever to ensure that President Bush lives up to his promise and that the new Congress performs differently from the old one."

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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.
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