January 30, 2013
Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc. (CDM) applauds President Obama and the bipartisan group of Senators for their commitment to realizing immigration reform that includes a roadmap to citizenship, a focus on family unity, and worker protections.
Temporary migrant workers are contracted to perform grueling work, whether harvesting crabs, assembling carnival rides, or cutting lawns. To maintain their jobs, the workers must meet production and work standards that endanger their lives. “These workers strengthen the U.S. economy, yet are often exploited,” said Rachel Micah-Jones, CDM’s Executive Director. “In all of the temporary work programs, their rights must be protected.” A humane immigration system would allow workers to obtain employment in the United States without risk of exploitation and abuse along the migrant stream and in the workplace.
CDM encourages President Obama and Congress to maintain a roadmap to citizenship, strong labor protections, and family unity provisions in any immigration reform proposals.