CHIRLA denounces President's comments

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) denounced President Obama's comments on Telemundo network this Tuesday calling them unhelpful devoid of sensitivity towards the millions of families who are experiencing pain and loss on a daily basis because a loved one has been deported. CHIRLA urged Congress and President Obama to move towards implementing a reasonable and humane fix to a broken immigration system. The following is a statement from CHIRLA. "Comments by President Obama in a Telemundo interview this week are hurtful, unhelpful, and insensitive to the millions of families suffering the indignity of deportation. With his remarks, the President gives off the impression that someone else, not him, is responsible for the cruel and inhumane deportation of 1,100 immigrants on a daily basis. We got news for the President and for Congress: the tears and suffering of our community, as well as a reasonable solution, is in your hands. You cannot and we will not let you wash your hands off your responsibility to fix the broken immigration system. For too long the President and leaders in Congress have ignored the rotting apple. But the growing chorus of discontent in the homeland about the lack of progress on immigration reform should alarm them. Today's arrests outside the White House should give House leaders Boehner, McCarthy, Pelosi, and Becerra something to chew on. The immigrant community is reaching a point of no return. A policy which tears families apart, keeps communities in disarray, and hurts our economic interests is not sustainable. Lack of action on the part of the White House and Democrats and Republicans in Congress is contrary to common sense and smacks of arrogance and disregard for human sorrow. For some in Congress, immigration reform with a path to citizenship is about policy, politics, and procedures. For millions of Americans, voters, and aspiring citizens, it's personal. Continued inaction on immigration reform with a path to citizenship will bear serious consequences now and in the upcoming elections."

********** Published: Sept. 19, 2013 - Volume 12 - Issue 23