Urges Congress to follow up with a bipartisan, humane and fair comprehensive immigration reform.
New Brunswick, NJ. (November 20, 2014).-The Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey (LLANJ) applauds President Barack Obama for issuing an Executive Order on immigration and to prevent that millions of immigrants are deported.
"This is a historic day for a large segment of the population in the United States," said LLANJ President Martin Perez, Esq. "The President's decision, despite being controversial for both sides of the immigration debate, is a step in the right direction toward definitively resolving one of today's greatest challenges for our country. We hope this is the starting point that will be followed by a positive congressional debate in which both parties reach a definitive, fair and comprehensive immigration reform."
For his part, Mahonrry Hidalgo, co-chair of the Alliance's Immigration Committee said: "The news of this executive order reaches the families of millions of American citizens, mostly children and young people, as a long-awaited gift." "Thanks to this action many of our American-born children and youth can live without the fear and constant threat of being separated from their parents." The executive order announced by President Obama, will protect from deportation, among others, parents of US citizens and parents and spouses of lawful permanent residents. Hidalgo continued, "When these political disputes are viewed from a human point of view, especially as seen through the eyes of our children, joy or sadness lies balancing on a president's pen." "Hopefully legislators, Democrat and Republican, also want to become the heroes of these children and young people. After all, one day soon, they will judge these legislators according to their actions today, with their votes tomorrow "concluded Mr. Hidalgo.
With this Executive Order potentially bringing relief to about five million people, more is needed that speaks to the nearly seven million people who will continue living in the shadows. Recognizing that this issue affects all Americans, the Alliance calls upon leadership at all government levels to embrace this move and to help expedite its implementation by all available means.
Oscar Barbosa, immigration lawyer and member of the Immigration Committee of the Alliance expressed concerns "about unauthorized notaries practicing law and potential fraud being committed in the heat of the presidential announcement." "Keep in mind" continued Barbosa, "that unfortunately, only a percentage of the immigrant community will benefit from this decree, which will create a lot of misinformation and opportunities for fraud by unscrupulous people." He also urged local governments to "protect communities across the state from this very common type of practice" he concluded. The immigration committee has met in the past with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs to address this issue and plans to follow up.
More on llanj.org