Press Release

Hundreds of Testimonials of Immigrant Families Shared With President-elect Obama & Transition Team
Hundreds More to Gather in Chicago this Weekend to Address Deportation & Family Separation Under Current Immigration System

December 3, 2008

Media Contact: Rebecca Dreilinger (202) 225-8203


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Chicago, IL) – U.S. Representative Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) today announced that he will hold community forums on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7th for United States citizens who fear that a family member may be at risk of deportation. The meetings are part of a continuing mass effort to document the testimonies of families who are being torn apart by a broken immigration system. Rep. Gutierrez has engaged the Obama transition team to share the hundreds of stories already collected and to work on initiatives to further the progress of comprehensive immigration reform.

Nearly a thousand U.S. citizens and their family members have already come forward to help put a human face on our broken immigration system, and Rep. Gutierrez will continue urging President-elect Obama to weigh their testimonials—and those gathered over the weekend—in setting his priorities before January 20.

This weekend, more than 30 church leaders, representing 15,000 parishioners, will join Rep. Gutierrez to demonstrate the vast numbers of Americans who are plagued by a legal system that undermines family values. U.S. citizens whose families have been affected will be available to share their specific stories with press.

 

Weekend Schedule


Saturday,
December 6th :

 

 

10 a.m.

Rebaño Church,

2435 W. Division St. Chicago, IL

 

Sunday, December 7th:

6:30 p.m.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

1101 N. 23rd Avenue, Melrose Park, IL

 

 

 

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