Contact: Elizabeth Murphy (Roybal-Allard) 202-225-1766

Or Staci Cox (Moore) 202-225-4572

 

Washington, D.C. – Today, the bipartisan Congressional Women’s Working Group on Immigration Reform, met on Capitol Hill with Cecilia Munoz, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, to discuss the profound impact of our broken immigration system on immigrant women.  They explored how women leaders in Congress and the Obama Administration can work together in 2014 to pass immigration reform legislation that protects and empowers immigrant women.  Munoz and the Working Group’s members pledged to make the unique needs of women a priority as debate on this important issue ramps up in the House of Representatives following the release of the House GOP leadership’s Immigration Principles.  

 

“We had a passionate discussion today that once again demonstrates the commitment of women leaders in Congress and the Administration to fight for responsible immigration reform that will lift women out of the shadows and enable them to pursue the American Dream,” said Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, Chair of the Working Group.  “Our broken immigration system traps women in violent relationships, separates mothers from their children, and prevents hard-working women from making the most of their talents and skills.  I look forward to working with President Obama and Cecilia Muñoz to pass immigration reform legislation that respects women’s rights and reflects their unique interests.” 

 

“Today I was pleased to engage in a productive conversation with Cecilia Muñoz, from the White House, and my colleagues on the bipartisan Congressional Women’s Working Group on Immigration Reform. Women are vital to the fabric of our society, and it is imperative that we address our broken immigration system by adopting policies that speak to the particular needs of our immigrant sisters. By building on the values that we cherish as Americans, it is my hope that we can come together and help those women and children who are hidden in the shadows,” said Congresswoman Gwen Moore.

 

“It is essential that comprehensive immigration reform take into account the special needs of women,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus. “This is important in Southern Nevada where so many immigrant women work in back-of-the-house jobs and in the informal economy, cleaning and caring for children.”

 

“Nearly everyone agrees that our immigration system is badly broken and in dire need of fixing, and the bill that came out of the Senate is a step in the right direction. What we need is immigration legislation that establishes a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country. We must address the lengthy backlogs in our current immigration system – backlogs that have kept families apart sometimes for decades. We must grant a faster track to the ‘dreamers’ brought to this country as children through no fault of their own, and to agricultural workers who are an essential part of our communities and work so hard to provide our nation’s food supply,” said Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

 

“Our meeting today with Cecilia Muñoz was very productive. We discussed many vital issues surrounding our immigration debate, including the dismal deportation rate and urged the Administration to recalibrate their immigration policies in regards to people who pose a public safety risk. We must pursue comprehensive immigration reform, and this was a positive step in that process,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee.