THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF
COMMUNICATIONS
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
(212)
788-7116
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
January 8, 2008
Thousands to Gather Saturday to Highlight Impact on
Families Separated by Immigration System
NEW YORK, NY – Council
Member Melissa Mark-Viverito, joined by Bishop Miguel Alvarez of the
Confraternidad de Lideres Counciliares (CONLICO), Rev. Gabriel Salguero of the
Latino Leadership Circle and Rev. Raymond Rivera of the Latino Pastoral Action
Center announced a large-scale community meeting aimed at drawing attention to
families who must live the fear of deportation due to our nation’s broken
immigration system. Leaders discussed the growing movement of Hispanic
Evangelicals that are calling for immigration reform across the country, and
highlighted a January 10th event in New York City where thousands of U.S.
citizens will gather to hear testimonies, pray and sign petitions asking for
comprehensive immigration reform. Similar events have taken place in Chicago, IL
on December 6 and 7, 2008, and another event will take place in Albuquerque, NM
on January 17, 2009. Joining today’s event were Council Members Kendall Stewart,
Chair of the Immigration Committee, Majority Leader Joel Rivera, Council Member
Diana Reyna, Council Member Robert Jackson, Council Member Inez Dickens, Council
Member Miguel Martinez, Council Member Mathieu Eugene and Council Member John
Liu along with Assembly Members Jose Rivera and Nelson Castro.
“Immigrants have played an integral role in the economic
development and livelihood of our city and all across the nation said Council
Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “The current immigration system has torn families
apart which goes against the very grain of achieving the American dream. I urge
New Yorkers affected by immigration to attend this meeting will give them the
opportunity to have their voices heard and ask President-elect Barack Obama make
immigration reform a top priority”
“Far too often we hear of stories of raids involving
hard working immigrants trying to make a living for themselves and their
families only to then face deportation and separation from their loved ones,”
said Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. “Broken immigration laws have only
hindered those who are looking for a better life here in the United States.
Saturday’s meeting we will hear from those afflicted by these laws in hopes that
the new President will take charge and reform them.”
The event that will be held on Saturday, January
10th at Igelsia La Sinagoga in East Harlem will bring together more than 2,000
members of the local religious community, including numerous family members of
undocumented immigrants. Religious leaders and policymakers will call on
President-elect Obama to champion comprehensive immigration reform legislation
during his first year and to end the raids that have targeted immigrant workers
and families.
The campaign to stop the separation of families, which
formed in 2007 after the arrest of Elvira Arellano has moved to a new level in
recent weeks and now spearheads the drive for an immediate moratorium and
immigration reform in the first hundred days of the new Congress and the new
President.
For more information on the meeting and how the public
can participate please call the District Office of Council Member Melissa
Mark-Viverito at (212) 828-9800.
|
