October 16th, 2002
By Oscar Avila
Chicago Tribune
The Illinois congressional delegation barely earned a passing grade
in protecting immigrants and refugees, activists said Tuesday in their
first evaluation of lawmakers.
To publicize their "report card" on immigrant issues, about 1,300 activists
descended on 12 of the members' local offices from Batavia to Carbondale.
Amid a sea of American flags and a crowd chanting in several languages,
speakers at a downtown rally urged Congress to reverse policies enacted
after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
"As a nation, we have to bring equal rights and fair treatment for all
immigrants," said Henry Tamarin, president of Local 1 of the Hotel Employees
and Restaurant Employees Union. "We're here for that message."
The lobbying effort was part of "New Americans Action Day," a coordinated
political outreach to members of Congress in 17 states.
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, along with
other advocates, gave lawmakers a D+ grade, saying the state's delegation
has done a poor job protecting refugees and immigrants involved in labor
disputes.
Organizers analyzed the delegation's vote on more than 50 bills to compile
the grade. Many of the votes involve security measures after last year's
terror attacks, such as a bill requiring that all airport screeners be
U.S. citizens.
Advocates credited the state's delegation for supporting legislation
that loosens requirements for small groups of undocumented immigrants applying
for legal status. Critics call the program, known as 245(i), a temporary
amnesty.
The lobbying comes on the heels of a more ambitious bill introduced
last week by Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) and other Democratic lawmakers
that would legalize millions of undocumented immigrants who meet certain
criteria.
Groups favoring stricter immigration say Illinois elected officials
should not apologize for opposing liberalized immigration laws that would
threaten security.
"The public has no taste for this right now," said Dan Stein, executive
director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform. "People are
fed up with apologists for illegal immigration."
But Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) told immigrants that their political
participation can help sway her colleagues.
"Your voices and your passion are invaluable," she said.
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