April 10, 2013
Thousands of immigrants, advocates, and allies will meet today in Washington D.C. to call for fair and inclusive immigration reform. As a transnational organization dedicated to the defense and promotion of migrant rights in the U.S., Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc. (CDM) will be at today’s rally to advocate for swift immigration reform. We stand in solidarity with the millions of immigrants and migrant workers in the U.S. and call upon Congress to create an immigration process that includes a broad path to citizenship, family unity provisions and strong labor protections, such as:
· Justice in recruitment—A thorough overhaul of the work visa program to address recruitment abuses is needed. Reforms must address discrimination in recruitment, illegal fees, and the lack of regulation and accountability of foreign labor recruiters. Transparency in the recruitment process is needed to protect workers from fraud and unscrupulous recruiters.
· Access to justice and protections from retaliation—Many migrant workers are afraid to voice their complaints out of fear of losing their jobs and visas. Ensuring employment mobility for migrant workers is important to prevent retaliation. Policies must also allow workers to follow through with their cases in the U.S.
· Fair wages and safe working conditions.
CDM encourages President Obama and members of Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform that includes a broad path to citizenship, family unity provisions, and important worker protections. The time for immigration reform is now!