A
Guest Column
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Farmington Hi ll Inn
ASSISTED ‘—'LIVING FOR SENIORS
Immigration Reform
Is Needed Now
S
ince its founding in 1893,
the National Council of
Jewish Women (NCJW)
has been involved in service
and advocacy on behalf of new
immigrants. Today, NCJW works
for comprehensive, humane
and equitable immigration and
naturalization laws that facilitate
and expedite legal status for more
individuals.
Reform of the United States
immigration system has become
an increasingly prominent and
contentious issue in recent years. Since
the 2012 election, when Hispanic vot-
ers showed their electoral strength,
there has been bipartisan resolve to act
on comprehensive immigration reform
legislation.
A comprehensive reform approach
would address border security,
employment practices, the status of
undocumented immigrants living in
the United States, and the system by
which applicants for legal residency
and citizenship are processed, includ-
ing the current backlog of applicants.
A just and humane immigration
policy would secure the broadest
possible path to legalization and
citizenship for undocumented immi-
grants currently living in the U.S.;
preserve and work to advance fam-
ily reunification; protect rights and
working conditions for all workers;
ensure that enforcement measures
protect American and immigrant
workers, advance due process and
fair treatment and are consistent with
American values; and accord the
responsibility and rights required for
full integration into American society.
Such an approach would bring the
estimated 11 million undocumented
immigrants living in the United States
and contributing to our economy and
society out of the shadows.
As Jewish women, the immigrant
experience is a recent memory for
many of our families and us. As rela-
tives of those who came to the U.S. to
escape violence or to seek a better life,
we connect with immigrants coming
today. We understand the need for
comprehensive immigration reform,
fair and non-discriminatory imple-
mentation of current immigration and
enforcement laws, and family-based
policies that reduce backlogs and pro-
mote reunification.
We are also conscious that immi-
grant women face unique disadvan-
tages and lack access to adequate
health care, economic supports and
worker protections. They are especially
vulnerable to violence and exploitation
at the hands of employers as well as
partners.
NCJW supports measures such as
the DREAM Act (Development, Relief,
and Education for Alien Minors Act),
which failed in Congress, but has been
passed by several states across the
country as a way to expedite the path
to citizenship and higher education
for the best and brightest immigrant
children.
We hope that the newly elected
Congress will work together during
the next term to enact comprehen-
sive immigration reform, including a
direct and inclusive path to citizenship
without unjust enforcement triggers,
prohibitive costs, fees or penalties, or
an enforcement-only approach that
separates families and persecutes those
seeking opportunity and a better life.
To learn more about immigration,
please join the NCJW/Greater Detroit
Section for an important program
on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m.
The program will feature a panel
including immigration attorneys, an
undocumented immigrant and a rep-
resentative from the Department of
Homeland Securities. The program
will take place in the NCJW offices
at 26400 Lahser Road, Suite 306, in
Southfield. There is no cost, but you
must register to attend.
Visit ncjwgds.org or call the office at
(248) 355-3300 to register.
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[
to the donation box located in our front office.
We are accepting donations through November 24.
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30350 W. 12 Mile Rd.,
Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334
248-851-9640
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Local residents Cathy Cantor and Sharon
Lipton represent the National Council of
Jewish Women/Greater Detroit Section.
They are state policy advocates for
Michigan.
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JN
November 13 • 2014
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