NEWS
PRESS CONFERENCE - NOVEMBER 1, 2007
Reports issued on Treatment of Vulnerable Populations During October Firestorms
San Diego, CA - In response to the inadequate protection of vulnerable populations during the fires, the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium in conjunction with the American Civil Liberties, Justice Overcoming Boundaries and American Friends Service Committee held a joint press conference to release two reports.
In perhaps the largest natural disaster the San Diego region has ever seen, we put our emergency response system to the test. Our system was successful in alerting vast segments of the population to danger and in saving countless lives and homes. It also provided emergency shelter, food, and water to thousands of evacuees. But our response, and human compassion, fell short in some of our most vulnerable populations including certain immigrant populations.
PRESS RELEASE and PRESS CONFERENCE - JUNE 19, 2007
New poll shows majority support for earned legalization in San Diego County
San Diego, CA - In a strong showing of unity and representing a wide spectrum of constituent organizations and individuals numbering in the tens of thousands, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, Immigrant Rights Consortium of San Diego County and interfaith leaders will hold a joint press conference on Tuesday, June 19, at 10:30 a.m. to release the poll of 600 randomly-sampled likely voters in San Diego County that tested opinions on comprehensive immigration reform and related questions.
According to the poll, two-thirds of San Diego County voters reject the enforcement-only approach advocated by the Immigration Reform Caucus and agree that "It's impractical to talk about sending back the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. A more practical approach is needed that recognizes that most of these immigrants will stay in the U.S. no matter what."
Despite being perceived as the bedrock of restrictionist sentiments, San Diego County voters overwhelmingly support reform that not only includes earned legalization, but also includes a guest worker program, family visa reform, employment visa reform, and border enforcement measures that facilitate the cross-border flow of goods and services. Three-quarters of voters support provisions allowing undocumented youth to gain legal status if they receive a high school degree and stay out of trouble. In contrast, the majority of San Diego voters oppose the building of a wall the entire length of the border.
At a time when negotiations surrounding comprehensive reform seem to have stalled and rhetoric threatens reform, the groups gathered for the press conference call on our senators and members of Congress to put politics aside, prioritize immigration reform, and pursue humane and workable solutions.
PRESS RELEASE and PRESS CONFERENCE - JUNE 7, 2007
New Immigrant Rights Consortium Urges Comprehensive Reform
Launches website to educate and inform public debate
San Diego, CA - In the midst of heated national debate over immigration reform, more than twenty-five faith, labor, legal, and community organizations have come together as the Immigrant Rights Consortium (IRC) of San Diego County to urge Congress to support humane and workable comprehensive reform. In a press conference to be held today, the new consortium will publicly announce its formation and launch its website.
"Our immigration system is broken," said Andrea Guerrero, Chair of the IRC. "It separates families for decades and fails to address the need for essential workers in this country." The new consortium will educate the public about immigrants and support immigrants in San Diego County in their path to become new Americans. "The more invested our newcomers are in San Diego, the more they contribute to our economy, our safety, and our well-being," said Ashley Walker, Executive Director of the City of San Diego Human Relations Commission. "Right now, in San Diego, families and businesses are suffering from the long visa backlogs," said Ginger Jacobs of the American Immigration Lawyers Association of San Diego.
The Immigrant Rights Consortium, comprising faith, labor, legal, and community leaders, believes that an enforcement-only approach will not work. Reform must be comprehensive. It must reunite families, protect workers, provide a path to citizenship, and extend constitutional protections to all. "We want to send a message to our senators and representatives that we cannot wait. We need reform now," said Estela de los Rios from the Center for Social Advocacy. "Without reform, San Diego families and businesses cannot move forward," said Peter Zschiesche, Executive Director of the Employee Rights Center.
