This is our country
We are immigrants. We came yesterday and many years ago. The economy of the United States brought us here but made impossible to obtain legal visas and permits for us. We did not want to be undocumented, but immigration laws do not allow us to become legal residents. Industries, services and business welcome us. They hire us, we buy merchandise and goods, we support local economies. And we pay taxes. We pay the same taxes for everything we buy or use, we pay into the Social Security on numbers created by ourselves, and with the Individual Tax Identification Number we declare taxes each year with the Individual Tax Identification Number we declare taxes each year.
We cannot receive pensions if we retire, but our money pays for the pensions of other workers. We cannot claim refunds, and our undocumented children cannot obtain scholarships or grants for higher education, but we have never tried anything against the United States and we are not looking to its destruction.
We are workers. We serve food, we are messengers, we wash clothes, we plant and harvest, and we take care American children and elders. And we are their relatives, cousins, godsons, in-laws; we are their clients and neighbors. We are part of the cities and towns.
This is our struggle
The United States needs a comprehensive change in its immigration system. We need an adjustment for those who already live, work, study and pay taxes here, with legal residency and working permits, and the option to become citizens.
Legalization should be a recognition of our work, our taxes paid and the goods we have produced, and it has to include everyone: husbands, wives, parents and children, young and old. Undocumented people who became disabled as a result of crimes against them, accidents or work illnesses, and that cannot work or pay taxes, should be included. Also, the current petitions of people who has been waiting for years, should be resolved within six months.
We repudiate the war against Iraq and all foreign American interventions. We defend self-determination of the countries. Immigrants in the armed forces should obtain their citizenship immediately and not post-mortem. The social and human cost of the war to the Latino community is high. Our children did not join the army to study, not to go to war.
The Border
We understand the security issues at the border, but there have not been any cases of undocumented immigrants who have committed terrorist acts in the United States. The border should be secured according to bi-national agreements based on the needs of the economy and those of immigrants. The United States needs workers and migrants need jobs.
We are workers, not criminals
Immigration is a reflection of an increasing economy. We demand better laws to be applied to international workers as well as national workers. We demand the right to unionization of international workers; their right to wage rises and promotions, training against dangers at a workplace. All workers should have the right to be a union member and to fight for their rights if they are violated.
We reject current proposals for immigration reform in Congress, since they attempt against human, civil, labor and education rights. We can not accept an immigration reform that conceives immigrant as criminals.
We reject the so call "expedited deportations" without intervention of a judge, for violating the rights given to all by the United States Constitution. We reject the obligatory deportation of those arrested on the border or any port of entrance.
We refuse to divide immigrants by their national origins, for they attempt against immigrants of some countries, perception prohibited by the constitution.
We refuse to consider a federal crime the usage of false documents to work. The forging of documents is obligated in a system where legal permits for international workers are denied. We refuse attempts to prevent the legalization of those who have used false social security numbers. We demand the integration of the Social Security numbers used by undocumented immigrants for years, and to calculate their contributions for future retirement pensions.
We demand respect for our freedom of speech and expression, and the night to a pacific protest and petitions.
» Click here to return to the Organization list.
