Jewish groups back comprehensive immigration reform

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

This afternoon on Capitol Hill, two influential Jewish organizations announced the merging of campaigns stating that immigration raids are not a substitute for immigration reform.

Gideon Aronoff, the President and CEO of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society said that the campaigns, “The Progress by Passover” and “We Are Strangers, Too” support comprehensive immigration reform.

“This campaign will seek to further engage the Jewish community around the country in increased advocacy and increased direct service for newcomers in our communities,” stated Aronoff, and that the collaboration is “just the beginning.”

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) said that the high cost of becoming a naturalized citizen and harsh immigration laws unnecessarily separate families.

“This can’t be done piecemeal,” Schakowsky said. “We need to do it as part of comprehensive immigration reform. I believe that now we are poised to do just that.”

Schakowsky said there should be enforcement of reasonable immigration laws and that the U.S. should allow law abiding illegal immigrants, who are willing to pay fees and learn English, a clear path toward citizenship.

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) agreed, stating that the support of comprehensive immigration reform comes from the Jewish community because they understand that “the system is broken.” Nadler said that not only do documented and undocumented aliens live in fear of improper law enforcement, so do American citizens.

“It is time to bring people out of the shadows, to unite families, and to provide simple due process of law in accordance with American traditions. It is time to reaffirm our nation as one which welcomes immigrants as it is so wonderfully symbolized by the Statue of Liberty in my district,” Nadler said.