ACLU: Gang of 8 Bill Important First Step, Needs Improvement
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CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org
WASHINGTON – “The immigration reform bill has the potential to be a historic advance for the civil rights and liberties of immigrants and all Americans,” said Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU. “The bill would allow millions of immigrants who contribute immeasurably to the vitality of this country to step forward on the road to citizenship.
“While this legislation is certainly a breakthrough, it will have to be improved to address severe obstacles for many aspiring citizens. The roadmap to citizenship should not exclude people based on minor crimes or people who can’t afford hefty fines. The bill needlessly expands wasteful border spending at a time when border communities are safe, enforcement resources are at record levels, and prior benchmarks have been met. Furthermore, the mandate to use job-killing, costly and privacy-invasive employment verification (E-verify) raises significant civil liberties concerns. The ACLU will fight every step of the way to ensure that immigration reform achieves citizenship and a fundamentally fair immigration system without harming anyone’s civil rights and liberties.”
ACLU and Immigration. As President Obama and Congress take up immigration reform, the ACLU has developed a framework and urges policymakers to promote the priorities contained therein in any proposals. The framework is available at: aclu.org/immigrants-rights/aclu-framework-immigration-reform
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