National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

January 13, 2009

Send a Message to President-elect Barack Obama:

Stand Up for the Human Rights, Safety and 

Well-Being of Immigrant Communities

 

Dear friends and partners for immigrant rights: 

While these are indeed exciting and hopeful times, our world, it seems, is under siege everywhere. As we prepare for the new Obama Administration, we already know that change will not come easy. If we want to see any real change in immigration policy, we will have to organize and make our voices heard.

Just this past week, outgoing Attorney General Michael Mukasey issued a new ruling that further guts the right of immigrants to legal representation. This is one more reason to take action and sign the Open Letter to President-Elect Obama - today! Let's demand that the new President support the human rights, safety and well-being of immigrant communities.

Beginning on January 20, 2009, we will call on the new Administration to end the cycle of punishment and abuse against immigrant communities, by stopping raids and suspending detentions and deportations.

We will also ask him to:

Support a legalization program without burdensome barriers for immigrant workers and their families;

Uphold family reunification as a core principle for U.S. immigration policy;

Restore and preserve due process rights, to ensure equality before the law for all persons, regardless of immigration or citizenship status;

End the criminalization of immigrants, including problematic employment verification requirements, local police collaboration in immigration enforcement, and indefinite and mandatory detention;

Roll back and end the militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border.

You can sign onto the letter here.

We are and can be a more powerful voice for progressive change in U.S. immigration policy, ushering in a new era of rights and justice for immigrant and refugee communities. To do this, we need committed people like you to join us, to raise our voices together. 

We encourage you to sign onto the letter, and to tell your friends, family and colleagues by January 15. Spread the word!

-- NNIRR

P.S. We appreciate your support during these difficult economic times. Please contribute what you can to help us organize for change. And join NNIRR to stay informed of issues and actions you can take to support immigrant rights. We look forward to working with you in the coming months, to make this a real and positive change for immigrant communities.