ACCESS Calls for Immigration Debate To Move Forward in the Senate

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ACCESS Calls for Immigration Debate To Move Forward in the Senate

Senator Stabenow and Senator Levin:
“We need your leadership on comprehensive immigration reform”


Dearborn, Michigan, May 15, 2007 – Today, the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) called on Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin to support comprehensive immigration reform and allow the debate in the Senate to go forward. The Senate is expected to begin debate on immigration tomorrow, but some Senate Republicans have suggested they will block the debate from going forward if last year’s Senate-passed bill is introduced.

“A majority of American’s support comprehensive immigration reform, including a path to earned citizenship, and the country is tired of waiting for Congress to do its job” said Noel Saleh, ACCESS Board President. “We expect Senators Stabenow and Levin to take the lead on this issue and help pass bipartisan legislation that balances stronger border security with common sense reform — including due process protections, family reunification, respect for worker rights and a pathway to citizenship.”

Public opinion polls continue to show majority support for immigration solutions that include enhanced border security, workplace and employer enforcement, earned legalization for undocumented immigrants with a path to citizenship, and expanded visas for future immigrant workers and families. In April a CNN poll (April 10-12, 2007) found that 77% of the American people support legislation that would allow “illegal immigrants already living in the United States for a number of years to stay in this country and apply for U.S. citizenship if they had a job and paid back taxes." Similarly, a USA Today/Gallup poll (April 12-15, 2007) found that 78% of those polled favored immigration reform that would allow immigrants in the U.S. illegally to apply for citizenship if requirements are met.

“Today we are urging Senators Stabenow and Levin to allow the debate to go forward in the Senate so that we can have a solution to our broken and outdated immigration system,” continued Taleb Salhab, ACCESS National Outreach Director. “Senator Reid has said he will bring last year’s bill to the floor if the senators involved in ongoing negotiations do not reach agreement by Wednesday. We are calling on our Michigan Senators to allow the debate on immigration reform to go forward. The American people want this problem solved with a workable, comprehensive approach to immigration reform.”

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