At a rally Oct. 13th on the west lawn of the United States Capitol, U.S. Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) addressed a crowd of thousands who demanded change to our nation’s broken immigration system. Rep. Gutierrez’ address responded to a recent call from the immigration advocacy community to introduce comprehensive immigration reform in the House of Representatives. Rep. Gutierrez has been actively talking to advocacy and civil rights groups, faith-based groups, labor groups and his colleagues on the Hill to identify the most essential components of such a comprehensive bill. Today, he presented a broad outline of those core principles.

In a statement Rep. Gutierrez said, “We simply cannot wait any longer for a bill that keeps our families together, protects our workers and allows a pathway to legalization for those who have earned it.  It is time we had a workable plan making its way through congress that recognizes the vast contributions of immigrants to this country and honors the American Dream.  I am preparing such a plan, and will introduce  it in the near future.  It will include the following core principles”:  A pathway to legalization, effective border enforcement, humane interior enforcement, protects workers, verifies employment, addresses family unit, Ag Jobs, Dream Act, establishes a future flow of foreign workers that is fair to employers and workers, and promotes immigrant integration. For more, we link to the Press Release

Other rallies took place across the country as well, demanding that Congress enact a broad and humane solution to fix the nation’s broken immigration system. Families, spiritual leaders, and community members gathered to encourage members of Congress and the Obama administration to follow in Rep. Luis Gutierrez’s (D-IL) footsteps and make family unity, workers’ rights, and a commitment to workable solutions fundamental parts of their collective vision for comprehensive immigration reform.

“Immigrants are an integral part of the fabric of American society,” said Marielena Hincapie, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center. “For too long, the flawed and ineffective immigration system has kept them apart from loved ones and made it difficult for them to fully participate in the communities they live and work in.”