For over 40 years, Senator Ted Kennedy was a tireless advocate and voice for immigrant rights. One profound example of his impact can be traced back to the very first piece of legislation he was able to get passed as a Senator: the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. This legislation marked a radical break with previous policy and led to far-reaching demographic and societal changes in America by prioritizing family ties and allowing people from all countries around the globe the opportunity to become Americans. Without Sen. Kennedy's legislation, our country would not be the wonderfully diverse melting pot it is today.

On April 10, 2006, Sen. Ted Kennedy joined 200,000 people on the National Mall in Washington, D.C for a rally supporting his plan for comprehensive immigration reform. The "National Day of Action for Immigrant Justice" was a historic gathering that brought together leaders in the labor, business and religious community in an unprecedented way. After being introduced by SEIU Local 32BJ's Jaime Contreras, Sen. Kennedy made a memorable speech to the crowd. Watch it here:

The words Kennedy spoke at this rally still ring true: "It is time for Americans to lift their voices now--in pride for our immigrant past and in pride for our immigrant future." Today, will you lift your voice to share your thoughts on his legacy and remarkable career?

As we mourn the loss of a great leader and defender of of the American dream, let's pay reverence to his memory, which inspires us still. Sign our online card to Senator Kennedy's family.

SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina joined the President of the Department of Professional Employees Paul Almeida, both representing Change to Win unions and AFL-CIO unions, to discuss the groups' unified framework for comprehensive immigration reform legislation. "Many immigrants we are discussing are our members and they are working hard every day. We do not want the status quo to continue," said Medina.

Listen to the full interview and see coverage this week from the LA Times and the Washington Post.

Statement by SEIU EVP Eliseo Medina Supporting Hilda Solis's Confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Labor

WASHINGTON, DC--SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina issued the following statement in support of Representative Hilda Solis's confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Labor:

"At this critical juncture in our great nation, I cannot think of anyone more qualified than Representative Hilda Solis to re-establish the U.S. Labor Department's priorities of justice, fairness, and equal opportunity for all workers.

"A daughter of labor leaders, Rep. Solis knows first-hand the economic struggles facing Americans today, and she has become an outspoken advocate for the millions of Americans who, despite getting up and working hard every day, are too often forced to choose between the impossible--covering rent or taking their sick child to the doctor, taking on another job or losing their home.

"I have long admired Hilda's passion, perseverance, and unyielding strength. Years ago in California, I watched as she took on the employers of large supermarket chains who were denying fair pay and illegally exploiting thousands of hard-working janitors. Years later, during the LA janitors strike, Rep Solis used her talents as a consensus-builder to bring employers and janitors together, unite their diverse interests, and help secure fair wages and affordable healthcare for thousands of janitors.

"Rep. Solis has also become a champion for the rights of immigrant workers. As a daughter of immigrants, Rep. Solis exemplifies the American Dream and the tremendous contributions that immigrants have made and will continue to make to our country. Rep. Solis knows that fixing our broken immigration system and restoring the rule of law is the only way to guarantee civil rights and basic fairness for all workers--no matter where they come from.

"Today, as she stands at the threshold of history, ready to serve her country as the first Latina Secretary of Labor, we are reminded that Solis' story is truly the American story. Her values--hard work, commitment to economic fairness, and willingness to fight for justice--are America's values.

"In support of America's workforce, we urge Congress to move swiftly so that Rep. Solis can begin her work to improve lives and open doors for millions of workers in America."

"Instead of slashing the pay and benefits of domestic farm workers and further complicating our country's immigration situation, President Bush should work with President-elect Obama to strengthen worker conditions," said SEIU International Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina. "Until that happens, SEIU's two million members add their voices in opposition to the H-2A program changes."

Read the full statement.

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina released the following statement concerning proposed changes to the nation's H2A agricultural guest worker program announced by the outgoing Bush Administration:

"At this critical moment we should be focused on rebuilding our economy so that it is stronger and fairer for our children and grandchildren. The Bush Administration's proposed changes to the H2A guest worker program are the wrong policies at the wrong time by making it easier for big business to exploit some of the lowest-paid workers in the country.

"Instead of slashing the pay and benefits of domestic farm workers and further complicating our country's immigration situation, President Bush should work with President-elect Obama to strengthen worker conditions and create a comprehensive solution to our broken immigration system that restores the rule of law and combines smart enforcement strategies at the border and in the workplace.

"Until that happens, SEIU's 2 million members add their voices in opposition to the H-2A program changes and we call on Congress and President-elect Obama to reverse these regulatory changes. With the state of our nation's economy, we cannot afford to put our agricultural workforce in jeopardy and undermine U.S. workers."

Provides View to Next Chapter of Immigrant Workers' Struggle for Justice

Today, the Santa Fe Film Festival will screen Tribute to Eliseo Medina, a short film documenting SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina's remarkable career. From a 19-year-old grape picker to his leadership today as one of the most important labor and immigrant rights leaders in the country, Medina's story shows us the power of "yes we can" thinking and reminds us how grassroots campaigns can change the course of history.

Watch the film:

Starting with Medina's early work alongside Cesar Chavez in the historic United Farm Workers (UFW) strike and ending with his leadership in the immigrant rights marches of 2006, the film documents the growth of unionization among Latino workers and the evolution of the immigrant rights movement.

Rooted in the struggle for workers' rights, the immigrant workers' movement began with pockets of activism in California and the southwest. Under leaders like Medina and through commitment by SEIU, other unions and immigrant rights groups, the movement stretched across the nation. Over the past 40 years, unionization rates among immigrant workers have soared. At the same time, citizenship and voter registration rates have jumped by historic numbers.

Today--as demonstrated during the 2008 election--the immigrant rights movement has transformed its strength and numbers into unprecedented political power.

In this way, Tribute to Eliseo Medina is the perfect prologue to our current moment. Thanks in large part to the record turnout of Latino and other immigrant voters in this election, a new progressive Administration and Congress stand to move the policies that Eliseo Medina has been fighting for over decades. Comprehensive immigration reform, health care reform, and expansion of worker protections are all hanging in the balance.

• More about Eliseo Medina.
• Background on SEIU's work to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
• Learn more about Latinos in the labor movement and the role Latino voters played in the 2008 Election.
• More information on SEIU's two-year campaign to help millions of immigrants become U.S. citizens and vote in time for the 2008 election
• Watch SEIU immigrant members talk about their fight for justice and share personal stories (Digital stories)

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About the film: This film was produced by Lucia Duncan for SEIU to commemorate Eliseo's 40 years of work in the labor movement.

*** For those of you reading this at SEIU HQ in Washington, DC, please join us for a special lunch-hour screening of the 13-minute film tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 5, promptly at 12:30 p.m. EST in Room 1026/28. ***