VA Immigration Reform Press Event Jan 2010

IN VIRGINIA, DIVERSE POLITICAL, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS GATHER TO SHOW THAT CONGRESS MUST REFORM IMMIGRATION NOW FOR VIRGINIAS FUTURE.

WHAT: Press Conference at the Virginia General Assembly Building
WHEN: Thursday, January 14 at 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: House Briefing Room in the General Assembly Building, first floor 910 Capitol Street Richmond, VA 23219
WHO: State and Local Elected Officials
U.S. Veterans from Iraq
Virginia State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Virginia Catholic Conference
Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations
Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ
Community Outreach Ministries of Trinity Baptist Church
Legal Aid Justice Center
American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia
Tenants and Workers United
Virginia Organizing Project
African Community Network of Virginia
Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Hampton Roads Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Immigration & Human Rights Law Group
Virginia Interfaith Center for Justice
Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Asian Foundation
Virginia Poverty Law Center
The Richmond Crusade for Voters

Richmond, VA- This Thursday, leaders spanning rural and urban Virginia will hold a press conference urging rapid reform of the broken immigration system when legislators return to Washington in January. The Virginia launch is being held in coordination with events across the United States and is the closing piece of a three day regional sweep through Maryland, DC, and Virginia.

A week before Christmas, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for Americas Security Act and Prosperity (CIR A.S.A.P. HR 4312) was introduced in the House of Representatives. Nearing 100 cosponsors, it is expected to be joined at the end of January by complementary legislation in the Senate in a bipartisan effort lead by Senator Charles E. Schumer.

Virginia is facing critical challenges that are exacerbated by the broken immigration system, said Arlington County Board Member and President of the National Association of Hispanic County Officials J. Walter Tejada. Congress must create a system where unauthorized immigrants living in our local communities can register, pay taxes, contribute even more than they do now, said Tejada.

The Virginia launch, like events across the country, will reflect the broad support that comprehensive reform garners in the business and labor community, among elected leaders, faith leaders, and civil rights leaders. And in a year when most eyes are turned toward the economy, a spate of recent research reports illustrate that immigration reform by raising wages for all Americans and increasing the tax base for local, state, and federal governments, is a critical element of economic recovery. That economic message is particularly felt in Virginia where immigrants compose more than 13% of the workforce and Latino and Asian-owned businesses have sales of more than 10 billion dollars annually. According to research by the Richmond-based Commonwealth Institute, in just one year even unauthorized immigrants paid between $119 and $142 million dollars in employment taxes and national research has shown that when those immigrants are required to regularize their status their tax contributions only increase.

Thursdays press conference at the State Capitol closes a regional sweep that includes a faith-led event in Central Maryland on Tuesday and a youth-led effort in Washington DC on Wednesday. In Richmond, legislators, community and civil rights leaders, and directly impacted veterans will be available for interview.

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[Environmentanalizer]

He is right on a big way. Knows about the future of immigrants and establishes a good statement that will educate people along the US. Immigration reform is important for everybody and will help this country's economy . Please work for this!!

[brhottie143]

Is anything approved yet ? When are things going to start CHANGING! They've been saying this for months now and in the mean time, immigrants keep on getting deported and having to leave their kids behind. Illegal students are being kept from attending colleges due to their illegal status. Not only in Virginia, but IN ALL OF THE UNITED STATES. More than half of these people are HARD WORKING and willing to contribute to this country and help our economy get back to its feet.

[catndryer]

We've got more mexicans than we will ever need.

Send cruise ships to Kenya, Viet Nam, Indonesia.............they have lots of non-mexicans who are just as needy and will be even happier to do the jobs we don't want to do. Help these people immigrate here.

No More Mexicans.

America is a melting pot.......not a chile bowl.

[andy42ish]

ill miss usa

[andy42ish]

immigration needs to be enforeced

[andy42ish]

i hate to say it but if immigration dont stop usa will be a diffrent horriable dangerous place and that would be the end of beautiful united states of america

[WhatCanIsay100]

Its a thousand,million,billion and a trillion people.Bye Bye american dream third world country coming.This will help america by legalizing 12 million people right-wrong!!

[Sleeko11]

@brhottie143 They don't have to leave their kids behind. They can go with them. Illegals should not get a free education. I work hard too and thanks to, too many people competing for too few jobs, I'm getting paid less and less. Yet, I still have to pay to educate my children. The average immigrant family of 5 makes approx. $40K/yr. In LA, it costs $9811/student/yr, for a public education. Tell again, how they contribute, to the economy. By supplying cheap labor to Wall Street?.... Do the math!

[Sleeko11]

@Environmentanalizer I also see you use "environment" in your handle. The greatest threat to the environment is over population. 100% of the US population growth, in the last 40 years, has been from immigration and the children, thereof. Our parks, forests, watersheds, wetlands, infrastructure, pretty much everything is being gobbled up by rampant population growth. And you call yourself an environmentalist. Wake up and smell the coffee, man. Get a clue.

[Sleeko11]

@Environmentanalizer We tried it in 1986. It was a dismal failure. Not again.

[Sleeko11]

Another pandering asshat... As soon as one of those "immigrants' runs against him.... he's unemployed. Look to California.

[ernfrn40]

They need to fix their own country. Why does America have to keep giving hand outs when we are in such dire turmoil. We have our own issues, job loss, homelessness, violence, healthcare, higher population. These illegals just add fuel to the fire and they have their own country. They need to pull together as a nation and make it better..America is changing and I am not sure i am proud of this country anymore

[MrNightwings74]

Let this video be a model of how many races can come together for a cause as civilized people. This is an inspiring video i wish i lived in VA

[poiuytrewq6641]

Deport & Report Illegal Aliens Immigrants in your area!!!

Call Police I.C.E. (Immigration Customs & Enforcement): 1-866-347-2423

[poiuytrewq6641]

Deport & Report Illegal Aliens Immigrants in your area!!!

Call Police I.C.E. (Immigration Customes Enforcement): 1-866-347-2423

[hochentis]

@marlenehrr Give amnesty to everyone means give amnesty to Mexicans only. You're racially biased. According to the news reform is hardly to be implemented bc of increasing unemployment rate (about 10%). Also, extended SSC, education, medicare, welfare etc can cause great burden to current taxpayers. You think US taxpayers are willing to pay illegal alien's those benefits?

[hochentis]

@marlenehrr Gee why not let everyone who applied citizenship from the third world country come to US. They all want to but they don't have the chance to cross the southern border like Mexicans do. It's totally fair that way. Those applied legally deserve the acceptance of first come first serve. No body has problem with getting back in the line and do it legally. No one can deny African refugees are more in need.

[marlenehrr]

@hochentis Well i dont see why u all come here in the first place. Then go back where u came from. And no i'm not Illegal dumb ass. This is my home. But i care about others that are more in need. i hope they give amnesty to everyone or at least disolve this non sense, ridiculous law.

[hochentis]

@marlenehrr My ppl are legal and many of them want abandon their American citizenship bc America is about encounter its economic downfall. Are you an illegal? You do realize America can go down like Roman, Spanish, and British empires right? Every superpower has its peek and downfall according to historical pattern. With that amnesty, which invites more illegal and even annex mexico, US will soon become a third world country. It will keep up ws the competition.

[marlenehrr]

@hochentis Ya? well an amnesty will help ur people become citizens too. To hell with u communist. I will vote for an amensty.

[hochentis]

@marlenehrr A referendum is needed in order to let all Americans decide not Washington.

Without surprise, majority of pll will vote for no amnesty. To hell ws you socialists

[marlenehrr]

@hochentis i'm not changing no topic. I bet ur one of them. I just think its unfair that u point fingers but dont notice what others do. This is the most ridiculous law i've heard. Hitler must be so proud!

[hochentis]

@marlenehrr Quit changing the topic... we are talking about equal opportunity of immigration here. The issue is Mexicans are being racist for urging US gov't to grant them immigration preference and ignoring the legal process simply by short-cutting the legal applicants. Nothing is free in this world and you got to earn it yourself. If there's social injustice, no one can change it bc we play by the rule winner takes all and losers get none.

[marlenehrr]

@hochentis really? well u know visas expire sooner or later right? When they do, they become illegals. I met a few that's how i know. I pay attention to my surrounding. I'm glad u preffer to get blown up in pieces. I'm going to enjoy it.

[hochentis]

@marlenehrr OK best solution is to have US to open up all the borders not just toward latinos only. That way it will be easy for me to adopt some dying African orphans in the future. And then, several decades later, US becomes a third world country lose its superpower status due to failing Math and Science and losing attraction of worldwide talents. I'm sure you'll be very happy to see communist China take over world dominance. (sarcasm)