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UFCW International President Perrone: “Mr. Trump’s Circus Aside, we Need a Serious Debate on Immigration Reform”

Today in the Washington Post, UFCW International President Marc Perrone, in a letter to the editor, wrote about how it’s time to focus on real ideas for immigration reform:

“The circus surrounding Donald Trump and his presidential campaign paralyzes our country, preventing it from having a constructive debate about immigration [“Trump driving migrant debate,” front page, Aug. 18].

We can’t solve our country’s immigration crisis by focusing on the antics and destructive proposals of a political campaign based on eccentric, misguided and insular views. Hard-working people are exploited every day at the hands of our outdated immigration system. Instead of addressing the causes of a broken system, candidates such as Mr. Trump turn a blind eye to the abuse that workers and their families face.

Let’s have a serious debate, not one defined by sound bites and divisive rhetoric. Let’s begin by taking a comprehensive approach to immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Mr. Trump may not want this, but reasonable Americans understand that this is the path to a better and more united country.”

UFCW and LCLAA Bring Groundbreaking Immigration Program to Miami

Workers, the labor movement, and allies continue organizing immigrant workers to file and fight for deferred actions on immigration and increased worker protections

UFCW Executive Vice President Esther Lopez, accompanied by the LCLAA board, addresses the press at LCLAA's regional conference.

(Miami, Fla., Friday, June 12th) – In the wake of the ongoing legal battle that has suspended President Obama’s executive actions on immigration, workers and labor leaders are gathering in Miami over the weekend to build immigrant worker power by mobilizing workers to apply and fight for deferred action. At an event today, workers and labor leaders sent a strong message to local officials and the 2016 presidential election candidates: it is not enough to grant hard working aspiring Americans temporary relief. It’s time to finally fix our broken immigration system.

“We know the lawsuit is a political stunt—an effort to scare away immigrant workers from applying for DAPA. But our movement is as strong and organized as I can ever remember it. Together, we will fight for DAPA. We will fight for DACA. And we will fight for comprehensive immigration reform,” said Esther López, Executive Vice President of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW). López was joined by Héctor E. Sánchez, Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), and María Asunción Bilbao of United Families in calling elected officials to take immediate action to protect immigrant workers from precarious working conditions and to improve living standards for all workers.

“The court’s unnecessary delay in keeping families whole is not holding our movement from preparing our community for deferred action. We hold strong optimism that the court will ultimately rule to move forward with the implementation of DAPA. We are in Miami today to ensure those who will benefit from deferred action are ready to apply on the first day DAPA is implemented,” said Sanchez.

“Unfortunately, our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, supported a lawsuit stopping DAPA,” said Bilbao. “I want to ask all elected officials and presidential candidates to support immigrant families. Support programs like DAPA and DACA so that families like mine can get the protection they need.”

The UFCW has partnered with LCLAA to bring its groundbreaking immigration program to Miami as part of LCLAA’s Regional Conference, which is aimed at advancing Latino and labor issues. From coast to coast, UFCW local unions have hosted workshops to help members determine whether they qualify for deferred action, gather necessary documentation, prescreen their applications, and answer important legal questions. The immigration training and workshop clinic will take place on Sunday, June 14th at Miami Dade Community College –Wolfson Campus.

Los trabajadores inmigrantes siguen bajo riesgo

via http://www.laopinion.com/los-trabajadores-inmigrantes-siguen-bajo-riesgo

El tema de inmigración será un tema candente en la prolongada carrera hacia las elecciones presidenciales del 2016. Pero mientras los candidatos continúan planteando sus posturas sobre la inmigración y la reforma migratoria, es necesario recordar el alto costo de la inacción.

Se suponía que millones de inmigrantes a través de los Estados Unidos podrían empezar a presentar sus solicitudes por la acción ejecutiva del presidente Obama sobre inmigración, conocida como DAPA. Esta acción ejecutiva hubiera brindado un beneficio migratorio a más de cinco millones de trabajadores indocumentados, sus familias y sus comunidades. Sin embargo, los inmigrantes se encuentran nuevamentefuera del sistema migratorio a razón de una demanda, liderada por gobernadores y fiscales anti inmigrantes, que detuvo la entrada en vigor de DAPA.

El Sindicato Internacional de Trabajadores de la Industria de Alimentos y del Comercio (UFCW) conoce de primera mano la devastación causada por nuestro sistema de inmigración. Desde las redadas en las plantas empacadoras de carne efectuadas por ICE, al trabajador viviendo bajo la amenaza de ser deportado, nuestros miembros y las comunidades inmigrantes han sidosometidos a los peligros de la inacción por parte de los políticos en Washington. En el trabajo y en sus casas, a hombres y mujeres inmigrantes les han sido negados las protecciones más básicas para que puedan vivir y trabajar sin temor.

Aunque el fallo del Tribunal  de Apelaciones del 5to Circuito en Nueva Orleans mantiene la suspensión contra DAPA; continuaremos nuestra lucha por una solución real y permanente. Nos aseguraremos de que todos los trabajadores estén listos a solicitar o a luchar por DAPA. En vista de las posturas políticas y legales que hemos visto en el Congreso y en las cortes, debemos seguir organizándonos para amplificar nuestros llamados por una reforma migratoria justa, humana y comprehensiva.

Nuestro sistema de inmigración penaliza a los trabajadores y sus familias, dejándolos vulnerables a la explotación laboral. Este sistema perpetúa el silencio y la incertidumbre en las vidas de tantas personas que solo quieren hacer una vida mejor para sí mismos y sus familias. DAPA es solo un paso para que los trabajadores puedan reclamar sus derechos. Pero su demora en implementación es otra muestra de por qué necesitamos un camino claro y justo a la ciudadanía.

No nos quedaremos de brazos cruzados mientras los políticos siguen con sus juegos de espera. Nos enorgullece la diversidad de nuestros miembros y seguiremos luchando juntos con los trabajadores y comunidades inmigrantes para asegurarnos de que ningún trabajador sufra de los peligros del purgatorio legal.

UFCW International President Marc Perrone and Executive Vice President Esther López on “Fulfilling America’s Promise for Immigrants”

DSC_0116Over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, an op-ed penned by UFCW International President Marc Perrone and Executive Vice President Esther López was published inThe Hill. Titled “Fulfilling America’s Promise for Immigrants,” the piece talks about the urgent need to reform our broken immigration system. You can read the full text of the op-ed below:

“For most, the Fourth of July is about celebrating America. It’s a day to spend with family, enjoy great food and fireworks. For immigrant workers, their families and communities, the Fourth of July is about celebrating the promise of America. It is about a getting a fair shot and realizing the American dream, the same dream that has motivated so many to take unimaginable risks to become part of our great country.

From Albert Einstein to Mother Jones, immigrant workers from all over the world have contributed to the social fabric of America and made this country what it is. Yet the newest generation of immigrants continues to wait for our elected officials to wake up, do what’s right and provide the protection they desperately need to contribute their share. President Obama’s executive action on immigration was one small step forward, but it was only a minimal response to a real crisis that has only grown under his watch. Republican Congressional leaders have refused to hear the calls for change and remain fixated on broken policies and political rhetoric that only serve to perpetuate this crisis.

The fact is the American people, immigrants and their families deserve much better than the deafening silence of our elected officials or the feigns of exasperation that nothing more can be done.

Looking ahead, the 2016 presidential elections offer all of us a real opportunity to change the narrative and discourse of inaction surrounding immigration. It offers us a chance to question our leaders, especially those running for president, on where they stand. Do they truly believe granting hard-working aspiring Americans temporary relief is enough? What are their specific policies that will give real hope to millions of immigrant workers and their families? Will they publicly commit to solving this issue within their first hundred days or not? For the sake of millions of families, we must be willing to demand real and substantive answers to these questions now.

As potential presidential candidates continue to stake out their position on immigration and immigration reform, the stakes have never been higher for hard-working families to demand more from each of them — regardless of party. Millions of aspiring Americans remain in limbo and in danger of deportation because of our outdated immigration policies and the politicians that turn a blind eye to exploitative labor practices that drive down wages, benefits and working conditions for all workers.

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) has seen firsthand the devastation caused by our broken immigration system. From Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in meatpacking plants to the endless threat of deportation, immigrant communities across the United States have suffered from an ideology of indifference that has pervaded our political system. This must change, and it must change now.

Working together to achieve real reform, we can empower all workers to chase the American dream; but we can’t do so if elected leaders continue to ignore this issue. Creating the better America we believe in demands that our leaders embrace the solemn responsibility they have to fulfill America’s amazing immigrant promise. Comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship is one bold step in making the American dream a reality and fulfilling America’s immigrant promise. This July 4, let us declare our independence from political indifference and demand our elected leaders, and especially those running for president, live up to a higher standard of leadership. Let us solve this problem now, not later. Because when we do, millions of families and this nation will be better because of it.”

Talking Points in Response to Ruling in State of Texas v. United States of America

  • Early this morning, a district court judge in Brownsville, Texas, issued a preliminary injunction that temporarily blocks the implementation of President Obama’s deferred action programs.
  • This is a minor setback, not a defeat.
  • The UFCW is moving forward regardless of today’s ruling and will continue to make sure our members are ready to apply for work permits.
  • The goal remains the same—to ensure UFCW members are first in line when the application process for deferred action begins.
  • We will continue to hold workshops designed to help UFCW members get their documents in order and have their legal questions answered.
  • This lawsuit is a political stunt by anti-immigrant Attorneys General and Governors to scare away immigrant workers from applying for deferred action.
  • The best way to fight back is to continue getting ready for these programs and to immediately apply when the time comes.
  • We are confident that the court system will reject this lawsuit since it has no legal merit and only wastes taxpayer dollars, disenfranchises immigrant workers and families, and robs much needed revenue from state economies.
  • The Supreme Court and Congress have made clear that the federal government can set priorities in enforcing our immigration law. For 50 years, presidents of both parties have used this authority.
  • President Obama has already indicated that the Justice Department will challenge this ruling in the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
  • In the end, we are confident that thousands of UFCW members and their families will be able to come forward and get right by the law.