Last January 20, immigration officials burst into the home of Honduran mother Gloria López, 38, who was living in Atlanta with her children, one-year-old Marvin and 17-year-old Jenny. The officers handcuffed López in front of the children, called a family friend to take care of the youngsters, took the woman away, and on Wednesday they deported her.
This account was offered yesterday by Natalia Fernández, López’ mother, during a press conference held at the Alianza Dominicana (Dominican Alliance) organization to announce the launch of the national “Families United” campaign by the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC).
According to the information provided, Ms. López’ case reflects the current need in the United States for a kind of immigration reform that would avoid separating families. To address this issue, NALACC launched the “Families United” campaign in simultaneous press conferences in several states, declaring the need for “real and lasting solutions of the problems with present immigration law.”
Among NALACC’s aims are:
1. A program of realistic and generous permanent residency for those who are now forced to live outside the legal immigration framework.
2. The adoption of a six-month maximum limit for the resolution of all petitions for permanent residence.
3. The creation of a national program for the political, economic and social integration of immigrant communities into United States society.
4. The establishment of legal and secure systems to manage the future influx of immigrants.
City Council Member Miguel Martínez announced that the council has designated $10 million for an initiative to offer services and resources to resolve immigrants’ needs in relation to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, such as the residency petition process.
City Council Member Margarita López called President George W. Bush’s immigration policies “hypocritical,” pointing out that if this country “wants to maintain its economic hegemony in the world, it should not destroy immigrant families, for it is they who keep this country’s economy running, by taking the jobs others refuse to do.”
