Some in IL See New Hope for Immigration Reform After Inauguration
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January 21, 2009
Chicago, IL –They say it’s a brand new day for America as President Barack Obama begins his first full day in office. Members of the immigrant community and leaders from the Chicago area are joining the thousands marching in Washington, D.C. today in support of immigration reform.
Mehrdad Azemun with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights says they're calling for a moratorium on raids and deportations.
"Immigrant communities and those in solidarity with them have been living in a state of great fear. We need to make sure that for the betterment, not only of immigrant communities but for all the communities, the administration ceases that kind of activity."
Azemun adds the economy would benefit from fair immigration policy changes.
"We need Congress to pass just and humane immigration reform to bring all immigrant workers out of the shadows, to create a path to citizenship so that immigrant communities can be integrated into the economy."
Obama has made the case for an immigration reform plan that provides millions of undocumented immigrants with a path to citizenship. Opponents of such reform say that with so many Americans out of work, now is not the time to legalize millions of unauthorized workers.