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.