The Leadership Conference is working diligently to see that Tom Perez is confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Labor. Perez is an eminently qualified public servant and consensus builder who has dedicated his career to ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly and have the opportunity to succeed. He has served with integrity and distinction at the local, state and national level, compiling an outstanding record of achievement.
Immigration
Immigration policy affects all aspects of society. Regardless of status, immigrants have always played a central role in the life and growth of our nation. Immigrants contribute $10 billion a year to this country's economic growth. Unfortunately, in the wake of September 11 terrorist attacks, immigrants in the United States have increasingly been targets of discrimination and suspicion. Our country must be defended, but one must not forget this nation's commitment to the ideals of equality and freedom for all peoples.
U.S. Immigration Policy Discriminates against Same-Sex PartnersMarch 23, 2009 - Posted by The Leadership Conference Under current law, U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents can sponsor their spouses or fiancés for legal residency to the U.S. However, gay and lesbian U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents cannot. There are nearly 40,000 binational, same-sex couples living in the U.S., according to census data. However, the current policy often tears these couples apart once the visa of one expires or forces many couples who do not want to be separated to leave the country. In addition, many same-sex couples live apart because one partner is not permitted to live in or even travel to the United States. Since 1965, the priority of U.S. immigration policy has been to make it possible for families to be reunited here in the U.S. The U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 ended earlier policies that prioritized immigrants from Europe and replaced them with a system that prioritized family immigration. Since 1965, between 50 and 70 percent of the visas that have been given out have gone to family members of U.S. citizens and legal residents. The Uniting American Families Act, introduced last month in Congress, would give gay and lesbian U.S. citizens and permanent residents the right to sponsor their foreign-born permanent partners for legal residency in the U.S. The act does not provide any other benefits and all other immigration requirements must be met. Nineteen other countries have passed similar laws already. America's Voice Petition Urges Justice Department Investigation into Anti-Immigrant Arizona Sheriff ArpaioFebruary 26, 2009 - Posted by Cathy Montoya America's Voice, a national immigration reform organization, has created a petition calling on the Department of Justice to investigate the actions of Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz. Newspapers Show Support for Civil RightsFebruary 23, 2009 - Posted by Tyler Lewis Civil rights issues were all over the editorial pages this weekend. Here are just a few highlights:
Arizona Sheriff Humiliates Undocumented Immigrants during Transfer; Civil Rights Groups Call for Federal InvestigationFebruary 11, 2009 - Posted by The Leadership Conference On February 4, Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio humiliated 200 undocumented immigrant inmates by marching them from the Durango Jail in Phoenix to a jail facility known as "Tent City" in full view of the public and television cameras. |
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