Issued November 06, 2014
Washington DC- This morning SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry joined faith, immigration rights, and labor leaders at a press conference where she commended President Obama's recommitment to act through his executive authority by the end of the year and showcased the urgent need for Republican Congressional Leadership to act for comprehensive immigration reform for a long term solution. President Henry's full statement from the press conference is below.
Good morning everyone. I am honored to stand here today alongside two incredible champions for immigrant justice and working families, SEIU's Executive Vice President Rocio Saenz and SEIU Local 521 President and Founder of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance Luisa Blue.
America's working families know what an incredible asset immigrant communities are to our nation's workforce and economy. We also know who is to blame for refusing to pass comprehensive immigration reform: Republican Congressional leadership.
Yesterday, as Republican Congressional Leaders issued threats, President Obama reiterated his determination to do what is in his authority to do and provide relief for our country's immigrant families and communities as soon as possible.
We fully support his commitment; it is urgently needed. Millions of immigrants need to be brought out of the shadows and into the light of our economy and society through bold and decisive action from the President.
Republican leaders are already playing politics by trying to stop the president from taking administrative action. Sen. McConnell said that executive action would be like waving a red flag in front of a bull. Their game of bullying and politics forces millions of immigrant families to wait in fear of separation, living in the shadows day after day.
This isn't about politics. This is about people. This is about families who have long made America their home. When we think about America as a beacon of hope and justice, when we think about what is in our national interest for our economy and society, we cannot accept waiting any more.
Even in a tough election, exit polls showed a clear majority of Americans support legal status for our country's immigrant families. Yet Republican leadership still refuses to address comprehensive immigration reform in any real way.
Latinos, immigrants, and working families are not fooled by the GOP's false promises. We have seen their track record and their ads--we know where they stand on immigration reform. Inaction and blocking reform has no place in America's future.
Republican leaders like McConnell face a real challenge. They can either put party politics aside or face an angry working families electorate who will stand with our Latinos and immigrant communities and will be much less forgiving into 2016.
Today and tomorrow nationwide, people take to the streets in cities like Los Angeles, Houston, Denver, Chicago, Tampa, New York and Washington, DC to show the urgent need for action on immigration. We won't let Sen. McConnell and the Republican leadership play politics with families by blocking action again.
Administrative action by the president will only be temporary. That's why we won't stop urging Congress to do its job and pass a lasting solution for immigrant families. Whether it's at the polls or on the streets, working families will join together with their Latino and immigrant brethren won't stop until a path to citizenship becomes a reality for aspiring Americans and their families.