Promo: Immigration Toolkit

Nov 20, 2009 - Resources and fact sheets on immigration... Read more...

Promo: Faces of Immigration

Nov 20, 2009 - Faces of Immigration... Read more...

Confirmed: Immigration does not cause U.S. unemployment

Nov 20, 2009 - This week IPC released a new report that squarely refutes misleading claims by anti-immigrant (and anti-labor) groups who believe that spending over $200 billion to deport unauthorized immigrants will solve our nation's serious economic challenges. Confirming earlier data, the Economic Blame Game: U.S. Unemployment is Not Caused by Immigration shows that swapping out the 8.3 million unauthorized immigrants working in the U.S. today WILL NOT improve job prospects for the 15.7 million Americans currently unemployed. Read more...

60,000+ Activists from 45 States join call to action for immigration reform w/ Rep. Luis Gutierrez

Nov 19, 2009 - On Wednesday, the Reform Immigration FOR America Campaign and an enormous coalition of faith, law enforcement, labor, civil rights, and immigrant advocacy groups brought tens of thousands of activists together for an immigration call to action with Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Congressman Raul Grijalva, and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez. Read more...

VIDEO: Putting a face on the immigration debate

Nov 19, 2009 - At SEIU, we're making a renewed effort to put a human face on immigration--and put a face on the SEIU members who are fighting to overhaul our broken immigration system. One of those members is Micheline Charles, a nursing assistant and member of SEIU Healthcare Florida. Read more...

SEIU Statement on Dobbs' Resignation: Dobbs No Longer Fanning the Flames of Hate at CNN

Nov 12, 2009 - In response to yesterday's announcement that Lou Dobbs is resigning from his position as anchor on CNN effective immediately, SEIU issued the following statement... Read more...

Lou Dobbs out at CNN

Nov 12, 2009 - If you're used to tuning in to CNN between 7 and 8 pm - tonight you may notice the absence of the Lou Dobbs Tonight show. That's because last night was Lou Dobbs last show after announcing - in his opening monologue - that he was leaving CNN at the conclusion of his show. Read more...

SEIU Statement on ICE Enforcement in the Twin Cities

Nov 10, 2009 - Washington, DC--SEIU issued the following statement regarding ICE enforcement in the Twin Cities: "Enforcement without comprehensive reform is like redecorating when the house is on fire. Instead of solving problems, it only succeeds in pushing undocumented workers away from responsible... Read more...

Victory! Vitter-Bennett amendment defeated

Nov 06, 2009 - David Vitter apparently likes to wreck things..and that's where we came in. After weeks of organizing against the Vitter-Bennett amendment with the Don't Wreck the Census campaign, today the Senate voted for cloture, 60-39, on the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill--putting to rest a divisive amendment proposed by Senators David Vitter (LA-R) and Bob Bennett (UT-R). Read more...

Death of Vitter-Bennett Amendment to Wreck the Census is a Victory for Workers, Victory for America

Nov 05, 2009 - After weeks of organizing against the Vitter-Bennett amendment with the Don't Wreck the Census campaign, today the Senate voted for cloture, 60-39, on the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill. Read more...

URGENT ALERT: Call your Senator and stop the Vitter-Bennet amendment

Nov 05, 2009 - We just learned that the Senate is scheduled to vote on the Vitter-Bennett amendment today at noon. It's time to make our voices heard on Capitol Hill. Can you join us in calling your senators right now? Read more...

Make Yourself Heard in Washington: Tweet Your Senator!

Nov 02, 2009 - In our continued efforts to stop an amendment introduced by Senator David Vitter (R-LA) and Bob Bennett (UT-R) that would stop the 2010 Census dead in its tracks, this week SEIU launched a new Twitter tool broadening our online capacity to reach our elected officials. Read more...

Tell your Senator "Don't Wreck the Census"

Oct 28, 2009 - Some politicians come up with dumb ideas. Some come up with impractical ideas that would cost taxpayers millions of dollars. And then there are those lawmakers with crazy proposals that would violate the United States Constitution. Rep. Senators Vitter & Bennett hit the trifecta by trying to wreck the US Census. Read more...

Don't Wreck the Census

Oct 21, 2009 - Last week, Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) introduced an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (HR 2847) which would require that the 2010 Census include a question about immigration or citizenship status. Read more...

SEIU members join thousands for immigration rally & lobby day on Capitol Hill

Oct 19, 2009 - Over 400 SEIU members joined fellow activists and religious leaders for an immigration lobby day and rally to urge Congress to move immigration reform legislation forward. The Capitol Hill rally featured Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force, who outlined specifics of immigration reform legislation. Read more...

Under Growing Pressure, Dobbs Considers Move to FOX

Oct 16, 2009 - The massive outcry from immigration and human rights activists, media insiders, advertisers and online activists about Lou Dobb's sensational and prejudiced immigration reporting has broken through! This week, the New York Times reported that CNN anchor Lou Dobbs is considering moving his 7:00 p.m. "Lou Dobbs Tonight" nightly show to the FOX news network. Read more...

SEIU Members Join Thousands at U.S. Capitol to Renew Push for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Oct 13, 2009 - Today, over 400 SEIU members joined fellow activists and religious leaders for a day of religious ceremonies and visits with lawmakers to urge Congress to advance legislation that will overhaul the U.S.'s broken immigration policies. Read more...

Former Census Directors Warn that Vitter Amendment would Severely Damage 2010 Census, Cost Billions

Oct 13, 2009 - Yesterday, five former U.S. Census Directors, who oversaw the U.S. Census process since 1973, expressed in a statement their grave concerns about a proposed amendment by Senator David Vitter (LA-R) to the Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill that would add a new question on citizenship and immigration status to the 2010 census. Read more...

October 13th: National Day of Immigrant Rights Action

Oct 11, 2009 - Next week, 10 buses originating from ten cities from across the U.S., will make their way to Washington, D.C. for an historic rally October 13 at the U.S. Capitol to demand urgent Congressional action on immigration reform. In one of the buses, over 30 members of SEIU Local 26--cleaning service workers who have experienced first-hand the fallout from aggressive enforcement of broken immigration laws--will travel from Minneapolis for the event. Read more...

In the Pursuit of Truth: Protecting the U.S. Census

Oct 09, 2009 - Yesterday, in yet another attempt to marginalize U.S. immigrants and inject hate into politics, Senator David Vitter (LA-R) introduced an amendment to the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill that would require questions in the 2010 census on immigration status. If passed, Vitter's amendment would throw a monkey wrench into the U.S. Census, making it completely unreliable as the one document that is supposed to paint an accurate picture of who we are as a nation. Read more...

Six Months from Census, Ya Es Hora Launches

Oct 01, 2009 - The 2000 Census, despite producing a net over-count of the total population, produced an undercount of Latinos of around 3 percent (or one million people,) which cost billions in lost federal funding. The ya es hora, ¡HAGASE CONTAR! campaign will enhance the Bureau's efforts to count Latinos through a sustained and aggressive community education initiative to mobilize hundreds of local organizations. Read more...

Can you call your Senator?

Oct 01, 2009 - This week, the Senate Finance Committee has been debating health care reform and today it will debate a series of mean spirited amendments that require the government to discriminate against lawful immigrants, causing many of them to lose access to affordable health care. Read more...

What's the Big Deal with the 2010 U.S. Census?

Sep 28, 2009 - With less than a week to go before the launch of SEIU's ya es hora !HAGASE CONTAR! campaign for a full count of U.S. Latinos in the 2010 Census, we thought you might want to know why we think this is such a big deal. The U.S. Census, held every 10 years, is the single most powerful indicator of who we are as a nation. It not only dictates the story we tell about our demographic makeup-but it also determines the allocation of our federal purse string and the seats of our political power. Read more...

DREAM students hold over 120 "Back to School" events nationwide

Sep 26, 2009 - On Wednesday, thousands of immigrant students held over 120 events in 28 states to support legislation that would allow talented DREAM students who view this country as their own to attend college, serve their nation, and earn a path to U.S. citizenship. States with the most "Back to School" events included Illinois (7 actions statewide), Texas (11 actions), Florida (15 actions) and California (almost 30 actions). Read more...

With Only Days Left, Tell Senators to Stop Deportation of Jorge-Alonso Chehade

Sep 24, 2009 - As of today, Alonso's only remaining hope to stay in the United States - the country where he spent his childhood, excelled in school, volunteered, and became a college graduate - is for one of the Senators from his home state of Washington to introduce a private bill immediately. Read more...

Thousands of DREAM Students Shine Light on Broken Immigration System, Hold Over 120 "Back to School" Events Nationwide

Sep 23, 2009 - Today thousands of immigrant students held over 120 events in 28 states to support legislation that would allow talented DREAM students who view this country as their own to attend college, serve their nation, and earn a path to U.S. citizenship. Read more...

Last Days to Stop the Deportation of Jorge-Alonso Chehade

Sep 21, 2009 - Jorge-Alonso Chehade came to the U.S. from Peru as a child and is now facing deportation on Friday, Sept. 25. Alonso is the embodiment of the American Dream, but our broken immigration system has prevented him from continuing down his career path after graduation. Alonso has earned the chance to live and work here and call America home--and ICE needs to hear from us that he should be allowed to stay. Sign the petition here. Read more...

Immigration advocates working to silence FAIR, a known anti-immigrant hate group

Sep 20, 2009 - This week anti-immigrant extremists from FAIR (Federation for American Immigration Reform)--a known hate group--were silenced by vigils and pro-immigrant rallies demanding an end to the hate. To counter FAIR's "Hold Your Feet to the Fire" week of lobby activities in Washington, hundreds of activists held vigils at the Capitol to condemn the hateful rhetoric. In the beginning of the week, SEIU joined America's Voice, Center for New Community, and the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) to launch a Roll Call print ad denouncing FAIR for poisoning the immigration debate with bigoted, xenophobic hate speech. Read more...

Immigrants and Healthcare Talking Points

Sep 18, 2009 - Right wing Republicans are trying to poison the healthcare debate by spreading lies and fanning the flames of hate and fear. The American public won't be fooled! • Nativist, right-wing Republicans are spreading lies and misinformation about access for undocumented... Read more...

Media Talking Points on E-Verify and Enforcement without Reform

Sep 18, 2009 -   Media Talking Points on E-Verify and Enforcement without Reform   These talking points can be used to push back on immigration enforcement provisions by the Department of Homeland Security--including recent stepped up enforcement through I9 Audits and a decision... Read more...

National Citizenship Day - Can you Pass the Test?

Sep 17, 2009 - In honor of National Citizenship Day and as part of the ya es hora !CIUDADANIA! (Citizenship: It's Time) campaign, SEIU Local 615 in Boston will join groups across the country this weekend to hold an all-day workshop to help eligible immigrants apply for U.S. citizenship. Read more...

SEIU Denounces Anti-Immigrant Hate Speech

Sep 14, 2009 - Today the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), America's Voice Educational Fund, Center for New Community, and the Campaign for Community Change launched a print ad denouncing known hate group, FAIR (the Federation for American Immigration Reform) for poisoning the healthcare and immigration debates with bigoted, xenophobic hate speech. Read more...

Citizenship push gears up as National Citizenship Day approaches

Sep 11, 2009 - With less than a week before National Citizenship Day on September 17--ya es hora ¡Ciudadania! (Citizenship: It's Time!), national community partners and the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) announced that more than 25 citizenship events are being held across the country this month to help thousands of eligible immigrants apply for U.S. citizenship. Read more...

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Talking Points

Sep 11, 2009 - Census_2010_Talking_Points.pdf Ya Es Hora_Citizenship_Day_09_TPs.pdf Immigrants_and_Healthcare_Talking_Points.pdf E-Verify Fact Sheet.doc Enforcement wihtout Reform_7.09.doc... Read more...

Immigrant and Labor Groups Announce Citizenship Push to Help Applicants Overcome Economic Barriers, Boost Naturalization Rates

Sep 11, 2009 - Today--less than a week before National Citizenship Day on September 17--ya es hora ¡Ciudadania! (Citizenship: It's Time!), national community partners and the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) announced that more than 25 citizenship events are being held across the country this September to help thousands of eligible immigrants apply for U.S. citizenship. Read more...

Stop the lies: Set the record straight on immigrant access to healthcare

Sep 10, 2009 - Last night, during President Obama's speech, one Republican Congressman tried to turn a Joint Session of Congress into an August town hall meeting by calling the President a liar [Rep. Joe Wilson: "You Lie!"] Just like immigration reform, some Republicans will stop at nothing to poison the debate on health care. Read more...

MEDIA ADVISORY for September 11th: National Immigrant, Civil Rights and Labor Groups to Discuss Continued Increase in U.S. Naturalizations, Despite Economic Hurdles

Sep 08, 2009 - In honor of National Citizenship Day, ya es hora ¡Ciudadania! (Citizenship: It's Time!) partners--the NALEO Educational Fund, NCLR and SEIU will join the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) for a telephonic press briefing on Friday, September 11 to preview more than 25 citizenship workshops planned nationwide this month. Read more...

Video of Senator Kennedy: "We are a Nation of Immigrants"

Aug 27, 2009 - For over 40 years, Senator Ted Kennedy was a tireless advocate and voice for immigrant rights. 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. Watch his speech to the crowd of 200,000 rally-goers here. Read more...

Update on Herta: Thank You and Next Steps

Aug 21, 2009 - I'm Herta Llushlo, and thank you - for all of the calls made and all the letters written to DHS and ICE on my behalf, I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I also want to give you an update on next steps. Read more...

Obama Affirms Support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Aug 21, 2009 - Read more...

Foundation Laid for Needed Immigration Reform

Aug 20, 2009 - Today, joined by other labor, advocacy, faith and business leaders, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina will meet with Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano to lay the groundwork on immigration reform. Read more...

Foundation Laid for Needed Immigration Reform

Aug 20, 2009 - Yesterday, joined by other labor, advocacy, faith and business leaders, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina met with Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano to lay the groundwork on immigration reform. Read more...

Update on Herta - and some good news

Aug 19, 2009 - Today, after days of activism by Senator Carl Levin, Representative Carolyn Kilpatrick and thousands of grassroots activists, Herta was granted and extension on her deportation to Albania until November 9, 2009. While this is certainly a step in the right direction, Herta will still have to report back to ICE on November 9th--and that's not good enough. Read more...

Final Push for Herta

Aug 19, 2009 - At this point, The Department of Homeland Security and ICE, have still not made a decision on Herta's application for deferred action. Today Herta will present herself to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Detroit - where she will learn if she stays or if she will be deported. Secretary Janet Napolitano, Assistant Secretary for ICE John Morton, and ICE field officer Vincent Clausen need to hear from you - right now. Read more...

Progress: Stay Granted for Herta Llusho until Nov. 9

Aug 18, 2009 - Read more...

Herta's Bags Are Packed

Aug 18, 2009 - Tomorrow, 19 year-old Herta Llushlo will be removed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from the only place she knows as home and deported to Albania - her bags are already packed. You can make sure that doesn't happen. Can you write Secretary Napolitano in support of Herta Llushlo? Help renew the promise of the American Dream for Herta, so that together we can work renew the promise of the American Dream for everyone. Read more...

In case you missed it....August 17th round-up

Aug 17, 2009 - In union news this week...Hear both sides of the story surrounding the St. Louis health care town hall; read about SEIU's Anna Burger's speech at the Netroots Nation convention; help stop a Detroit college freshman's deportation; counter "death panel" noise with real facts about healthcare and tell Wal-Mart to end their financial support of Glenn Beck's televised hate. Read more...

Be the first to know...Sign-up for mobile alerts from SEIU

Aug 17, 2009 - When our members require support at the workplace, the state capitol, or in the streets, we need immediate coordination--and being a part of our mobile alert list is a critical piece of our rapid response infrastructure. Text 'SEIU' to 787753 (PURPLE) right now, or sign-up online for SEIU's new mobile alerts program: http://action.seiu.org/seiumobile Read more...

Meet Herta - DREAM Act student facing deportation

Aug 13, 2009 - You saw what we were able to do for immigrant students Walter Lara and Taha Mowla. Now, Herta needs our help - please use the click-to-call tool now to call DHS and ask them to defer Herta's deportation. Read more...

Faith Coalition highlighted for work on healthcare reform

Jul 29, 2009 - In case you missed it, the Washington Post recently highlighted the Believe Together Coalition, a coalition SEIU helped form with a multitude of faith groups earlier this year. The Post writes that "the group originally grew out of frustration that conservative Christian groups were dominating the national faith conversation on social issues. The coalition is speaking out on such issues as healthcare reform and comprehensive immigration reform." Read more...

Another DREAMer Deportation Deferred

Jul 24, 2009 - oday, after just 24 hours of letters and calls by Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg and hundreds of grassroots activists, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deferred the deportation of Taha, an 18-year-old honor student from Jersey City. As a result of DHS's actions, Taha will be allowed to finish college and continue his dream to become a pediatrician. Read more...

Taha will not be deported!

Jul 24, 2009 - Thanks to 24 hours of your calls and faxes, the Department of Homeland Security has done the right thing and deferred action on Taha's deportation. Read more...

Meet Taha - a DREAM Act Student who is facing deportation

Jul 24, 2009 - SEIU is teaming up with Dreamactivist.org to help stop the deportation of another Dream Act student, Taha. On July 29, 2009, Taha will be deported to Bangladesh - a country that he has no memory of or connection to. Read more...

Schumer Moves Ball Forward on Immigration Reform

Jul 21, 2009 - SEIU commends Senator Schumer and members of the Judiciary Subcommittee for rolling up their sleeves and starting to lay the groundwork for a thoughtful, solution-driven debate on comprehensive immigration reform this fall. Yet, the current E-Verify program needs significant improvements before it can serve as an effective component of comprehensive reform. Read more...

Congressional praise for SEIU's work on behalf of Walter Lara & the DREAM Act

Jul 10, 2009 - Earlier today, Congressman Polis praised SEIU in his personal privilege floor speech for our work on behalf of Walter Lara and the DREAM Act. Read more...

Immigration Bill Ready by Labor Day, Says Schumer

Jul 10, 2009 - Momentum is growing in Washington for comprehensive immigration reform. Just as the bipartisan Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) issued a sweeping report on the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform, Senator Schumer announced yesterday that an immigration bill will be ready by Labor Day. Read more...

Tell Your Senator that E-Verify Expansion is a Big Step Backwards for Immigration Reform

Jul 09, 2009 - E-Verify has reared it's ugly head again. E-verify doesn't do anything to fix our broken immigration system, it exploits it. Call your US Senators and tell them to oppose Sen. Grassley's ant-immigrant and worker amendment to the DHS appropriations bill. Read more...

U.S. Senate's Expansion of Reckless E-Verify System is Harmful for All Workers

Jul 08, 2009 - Today the U.S. Senate passed an amendment by Senator Jeff Sessions to the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill to permanently mandate use of the E-Verify employment verification system for all employees of Federal contractors. SEIU, which scored the vote, has long opposed the expansion of a program that has repeatedly been proven to be flawed and costly by the Social Security Administration and the Congressional Budget Office. Read more...

Stopping Walter's Deportation Just the Beginning: Ask Congress to Pass the DREAM Act

Jul 06, 2009 - Thanks to DREAMer activism, Walter did not have to spend Independence Day saying goodbye to his family. But we can't stop here--not while 2 million young people who were brought to the U.S. years ago as undocumented immigrant children remain at risk for having their lives in this country cut short and dreams deferred. Read more...

Stopping Walter Lara's deportation is just the beginning

Jul 06, 2009 - Thanks to everyone who rallied around Walter's cause and took action, he's not being deported today. But personal interventions won't help the tens of thousands of other DREAMers who stand to benefit from passage of the DREAM Act--this is why we need Congress to pass the DREAM Act. Read more...

Walter Lara Independence Day Victory!

Jul 02, 2009 - Today, after 48 hours of intense activism by Congressional Leaders, bloggers, and thousands of grassroots activists who made calls and sent letters on Walter Lara's behalf, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) moved to defer 23-year old Lara's scheduled deportation back one year until July 3, 2010. Read more...

Breaking: DHS defers deportation of Walter Lara for one year

Jul 02, 2009 - Today, Walter Lara was granted a one year stay of his deportation. "Today, words cannot express my gratitude to Secretary Janet Napolitano, Senator Bill Nelson, Representatives Corrine Brown, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, and the thousands of grassroots activists whose unified efforts have given me a second chance to live out my American Dream," said Walter. Read more...

Victory! Deportation Deferred for Walter Lara

Jul 01, 2009 - Today, after 48 hours of intense activism by Congressional leaders, bloggers, and thousands of grassroots activists who made calls and sent letters on Walter Lara's behalf, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) moved to defer 23-year old Lara's scheduled deportation back one year until July 3, 2010. Read more...

Stop the deportation of DREAM student Walter Lara

Jul 01, 2009 - Walter Lara is an honor student who has lived in the U.S. since his parents brought him here from Argentina when he was just 3 years old. Almost 20 years later, Walter is set to be deported this July 4th weekend. Please call Sec. Napolitano and ask her to review Walter's case and defer action on his deportation. Read more...

DREAM Act Rally and Lobby Day

Jun 26, 2009 - Students file in wearing colors mixed like an unsolved Rubik's cube--some wearing chords representing achievement and honors. Friends straighten each other's caps. The rainbow of the march is accompanied by a violin and the pomp and circumstances of cameras flashing. Read more...

SEIU Statement on White House Immigration Meeting

Jun 25, 2009 - Today, President Barack Obama met with a bipartisan group of Congressional leaders to discuss steps for passing comprehensive immigration reform. Read more...

Passage of the DREAM Act Will Allow Next Generation of Leaders to Achieve Their Own American Dream

Jun 23, 2009 - Today, with the U.S. Capitol's Statue of Freedom reaching to the sky behind them, more than 500 students from across the country took part in a symbolic graduation ceremony to urge Congress to support our nation's future leaders by passing the DREAM Act. Read more...

What was your Dream?

Jun 19, 2009 - Remember what it was like when you had a dream? For many immigrant students their dreams of pursuing higher education can't be realized because of their immigration status - even though they may have lived here most of their lives. Read more...

In Mexico, SEIU's Eliseo Medina Calls for Cross-Border Solutions to Fix Broken Immigration System

Jun 17, 2009 - This week, SEIU Executive VP Eliseo Medina is in Mexico City meeting with key legislators and labor leaders on the importance of working together to improve labor rights and economic opportunities for workers on both sides of the border. And in other immigration reform news... Read more...

SEIU's Eliseo Medina on the Progressive Community and Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Jun 08, 2009 - [YouTube video] Read more...

What are you going to do about health care reform? (Nebraska)

Jun 05, 2009 - Earlier this week, the enemies of health care reform came to Lincoln. And we met them there, head-to-head. Read more...

Nationwide Poll: Comprehensive Immigration Reform Enjoys Widespread Public Support

Jun 05, 2009 - The American people want our country's broken immigration system to be fixed--and they want Congress to make it happen within the year. According to new polling, public support for comprehensive immigration support remains unwavering despite the country's economic downturn. Read more...

Eliseo Medina: Why Immigration Reforms Matters

Jun 04, 2009 - At the America's Future Now! conference in Washington, DC on Tuesday, Medina addressed attendees on why comprehensive immigration reform is an important issue to support. Watch the video of his speech. Read more...

Momentum for comprehensive immigration reform continues to build with introduction of "Reuniting Families Act"

Jun 04, 2009 - Today, Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA) introduced the "Reuniting Families Act," marking the first time in Congressional history that same-sex couples have been included as part of a multi-issue immigration bill. Read more...

Reform Immigration FOR America Campaign Launched to Spearhead National Immigration Reform Effort

Jun 03, 2009 - At today's press conference, leaders of labor unions, business coalitions, civil rights and religious groups, and pro-immigrant advocacy organizations announced the Reform Immigration FOR America campaign--an effort to focus the political power of these diverse constituencies and give the American people a way to communicate their broad support for comprehensive immigration reform directly to lawmakers in Washington. Read more...

How about now? Reform Immigration FOR America

Jun 03, 2009 - Yesterday, a broad coalition of allies from labor, business, and community groups officially kicked off the national campaign Reform Immigration FOR America (RIFA)in Washington, DC. SEIU is a part of this exciting grassroots movement to reform immigration, and we invite you to join us. Read more...

Judge Sotomayor's Nomination to the Supreme Court an Extraordinary Choice for Today and Tomorrow

May 26, 2009 - President Obama said he would appoint people to our courts who not only had brilliant legal minds, but who also understand how the law impacts the everyday lives of working families. Today he has fulfilled that promise by nominating U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Read more...

Recap & Pics: May 1st Immigration Rallies in NYC and Chicago

May 06, 2009 - Gray skies and rainy conditions in NYC and Chicago didn't deter thousands of community and labor activists from marching on May 1st to call on Congress and the Obama administration to reform the immigration system by providing a path to citizenship for 12 million undocumented workers. Read more...

What a week for immigration reform!

May 04, 2009 - This Friday, May 1, I joined SEIU Local 32BJ, SEIU members and thousands of immigration advocates from around the country to march from Malcolm X Park to the White House. What I saw was a group of workers standing up and standing together for better treatment. People who know that the labor they provide carries more value than they are receiving for it, and are raising their voices to call for real reforms now. Read more...

May 1st marches across the country signal "new day" for immigration reform

Apr 30, 2009 - This May 1st, thousands of workers, labor leaders and community activists are taking it to the streets to demand justice for all workers and pressure Congress to pass humane reform that puts an end to the Bush administration's immigration policies. Read more...

Today's Hearing on Immigration Reform is Big Step Forward

Apr 30, 2009 - Today, SEIU Vice President Eliseo Medina testified before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security at a hearing on the need for passing comprehensive immigration reform in 2009. Read more...

NY Times Editorial: Viewing Undocumented Workers as Invaders is Misguided

Apr 21, 2009 - Unions see immigration reform as an issue of worker empowerment. Reform that allows immigrants to legalize and stand up against tolerating low pay and workplace would not only improve their lives, but all workers' lives. Read more...

Wake-up Call: Abuse of Hispanics Workers Will Continue Without Immigration Reform

Apr 21, 2009 - Under Siege: Life for Low-Income Latinos in the South, a report released today by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), surveys a mix of legal residents, undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens in the southeast U.S. and finds Latinos routinely subject to racial profiling, harassment by law enforcement and workplace abuse. Read more...

SEIU: Today's SPLC Report Is "A Wakeup Call" For America

Apr 21, 2009 - SEIU International Executive Vice-President Eliseo Medina released the following statement on today's report by the Southern Poverty Law Center examining the discrimination and abuse of Hispanic workers in the South: Read more...

WNYC Interviews SEIU's Eliseo Medina re: Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation

Apr 17, 2009 - SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina joined 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. Read more...

Labor Groups United to Unveil Unified Immigration Reform Framework

Apr 14, 2009 - Today, the Change to Win federation and AFL-CIO unveiled a unified framework for comprehensive immigration reform legislation. The proposal endorses legalizing the status of tundocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. and opposes the adoption of employers' incentive to hire undocumented workers rather than U.S. workers. Read more...

Change to Win And AFL-CIO Unveil Unified Immigration Reform Framework

Apr 14, 2009 - Change to Win and the AFL-CIO today unveiled a unified framework for comprehensive immigration reform legislation. The joint announcement and proposal is a critical sign of support for the Administration and Congress to address immigration reform - and to ensure that it remains a priority on the legislative calendar. Read more...

National campaign launches to ensure 2010 Census counts all Latinos

Apr 01, 2009 - Today Ya Es Hora, a coalition of Spanish-language media and Latino organizations, briefed national media on the third phase of its historic civic engagement campaign, HAGASE CONTAR! (It's Time, Make Yourself Count!), which launch a grassroots media and education campaign to supplement Census Bureau efforts to reach the traditionally hard-to-count Latino community. Read more...

The DREAM is back!

Mar 27, 2009 - Yesterday, the DREAM came alive again as S.729 and H.R.1751--the new DREAM Act--was introduced to Congress. The DREAM Act would correct a flaw in our immigration laws that currently provide no path to legal status for young people who were brought to the U.S. years ago as undocumented immigrant children. Read more...

Hilda Solis Will Stand for Justice, Open Doors for Millions of Workers in America

Jan 09, 2009 - "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," said SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina today, in his statement of support for Representative Hilda Solis's confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Labor: Read more...

New Poll Shows Widespread Support for SCHIP Expansion to Cover Legal Immigrant Children

Dec 23, 2008 - Encouraging news from a poll released yesterday, which shows that more than two-thirds of the public (82 percent) supports SCHIP renewal and for extending children's health benefits to legal immigrant children. Read more...

SEIU Statement on Bush's Proposed H2A Changes That Will Put U.S. Farm Worker Jobs in Jeopardy

Dec 17, 2008 - "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," said SEIU Executive VP Eliseo Medina in a statement released today. Read more...

Award-Winning Video on SEIU Labor Leader Eliseo Medina Shows Evolution of Immigrant Rights Movement

Dec 04, 2008 - 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. Read more...

SEIU Condemns Criminalization of Immigrant Workers and Renews the Call for Smart, Pragmatic Reform

Jul 24, 2008 - Today the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees and International Law held a hearing on the government's handling of immigration raids and criminalization of immigrant workers. Below is a statement from SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina. Read more...

SEIU Warns of the Disastrous Impact on All Working People and Renews the Call for Smart, Pragmatic Reform

May 06, 2008 - Today the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security convened a hearing on the employer verification system proposed in the Shuler/Tancredo Secure America through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act. In response, SEIU issued a formal statement before the subcommittee, and SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina issued the following statement: Read more...

STATEMENT OF THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION TO U.S. House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee ON THE SECURE AMERICA THROUGH VERIFICATION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT

May 06, 2008 - The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is strongly opposed to The Secure America through Verification and Enforcement Act ("SAVE Act,"HR 4088). We are particularly concerned about the cost of the Act to the federal government and the burden that it will place on many American workers and those legally authorized to work in the United States. Read more...

SEIU Lays Out Measures to Reduce Naturalization Backlog and Help New Citizens Vote in 2008

Jan 17, 2008 - "If the Bush administration truly believes America is stronger and more dynamic when new citizens are welcomed, it will make sure that USCIS processes the hundreds of thousands of citizenship applications trapped in a snarl of red tape and government bureaucracy,"said Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina, upon submitting testimony to the House Subcommittee on Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law on how to reduce the naturalization backlog that may block hundreds of thousands of citizenship applicants from voting in the 2008 Elections. Read more...

Eliseo Medina Testimony on Naturalization Backlog Before House Judiciary Subcommittee

Jan 17, 2008 - The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), on behalf of its more than 1.9 million members, thanks the U.S House of Representatives Subcommittee on Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law for holding this hearing. Read more...

National Citizenship Coalition Surpasses One Million Goal; 2007 Citizenship Applications Highest In A Decade

Jan 07, 2008 - Today, the Ya es Hora: Ciudadania! (Citizenship, It's Time!) Campaign announced that it surpassed its goal of helping mobilize more than one million eligible immigrants to apply for U.S. citizenship in 2007. Read more...

Another DREAM Deferred

Oct 24, 2007 - This afternoon, the Senate voted down the DREAM Act, a bill that would help immigrant children who attend college or serve in the military legalize their status. This vote exposes the failed leadership of Senate Democrats and Republicans, who have allowed nativist anti-immigrant hate speech to overwhelm reason on the immigration reform debate. Below is a statement by SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina responding to the failed cloture vote. Read more...

SEIU Testifies Before House Judiciary Subcommittee Against Illegal USCIS Immigrant Service Fee Hike

Sep 20, 2007 - Today, Rhadames Rivera, Vice President of SEIU Healthcare Local 1199 UHE, testified before the House Subcommittee on Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law on the negative impact that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) fee hike will have on the union's immigrant members. Read more...