SEIU Secretary Treasurer Hector Figueroa; Gabriela Villareal, Immigration Policy Coordinator at New York Immigration Coalition; and  AFL-CIO National Workers' Center Coordinator Eddie Acosta, stressed the importance of collaboration between the AFL-CIO and SEIU for immigration reform.

"This partnership has given new strength to the immigration reform movement," said Figueroa. The two federations, which represent more than 12 million workers, agreed on a five-point proposal that would lay the foundation of a comprehensive strategy to press for just and effective immigration reform.     Hector Figueroa, Gabriela Villareal, Eddie Acosta

The proposal calls for:  (1) an independent commission to assess and manage future flows, based on labor market shortages that are determined on the basis of actual need; (2) a secure and effective worker authorization mechanism; (3) rational operational control of the border; (4) adjustment of status for the current undocumented population; and (5) improvement, not expansion, of temporary worker programs, limited to temporary or seasonal, not permanent, jobs.

Ethnic press journalists however voiced specific concerns regarding H1B visas holders who have lost their jobs due to the recession and now find themselves out of status, an issue left mainly unanswered. As well, questions regarding the timing for this initiative came up; with people losing jobs would Congress give undocumented immigrants the support they need. 

While Acosta brushed aside the economic fears, saying the reform will strengthen the economy as millions of undocumented workers will be brought into the tax base, he agreed that selling the reform to the law makers will be challenging. He stressed the need for the labor federations and immigrant groups to lobby and generate enough momentum for the passage of these reforms.

Villareal stated the government currently spends $95 a day per person on the 300,000 undocumented immigrants in detention centers. Also the cost to deport the 12 million undocumented immigrants would reach $2.4 billion. These resources can be put to better use if undocumented immigrants were brought into the mainstream. She said such an exercise would not only contribute to the government revenue but also end exploitation of the workers. She said      

 AFL-CIO's Acosta speaks with journalists.

advocacy groups will work with the labor movement and stressed the need for reaching out to communities to incorporate their concerns in the strategy for immigration reform.

New York Immigration Coalition and over 20 labor unions and community organizations will hold a rally on May 1^st from 1:30-3:30 p.m., in Madison Square Park.

For more information or to reach attending journalists, please contact Jehangir Khattak at: nycomm@indypressny.org, or 212 279-1442.

Jehangir Khattak, NYCMA