Posted by Media Release

Many Families in U.S. Will Not Enjoy a Holiday Full of Love and Peace Due to Unjust Immigration Laws

Los Angeles, CA – The National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC), the largest Latin American immigrant-led organization in the U.S., urged the Bush Administration to reflect on the spirit and history of Thanksgiving Day, a very American holiday filled with important symbolism and values that are shared by millions of immigrants currently living in the shadows due to unjust immigration laws. “As America prepares to celebrate a major holiday that first took place almost 400 years ago between immigrant settlers from Europe and Native American Indians, we urge President Bush and his Administration to reevaluate the holiday’s spirit and consider the pain and suffering thousands of families are experiencing as a result of the separation, isolation, and persecution from the enforcement of unjust immigration laws,” stated Oscar Chacón, NALACC Executive Director.

“Family, community, hospitality, and cross-cultural understanding are values that we celebrate this holiday season. Unfortunately, thousands of children and their parents will not enjoy a holiday filled with peace and joy as the President has wished us all because raids and deportation of immigrants continue and Congress has failed to move forward on a positive reform to our broken immigration system,” added Mr. Chacón.

“NALACC is thankful today for the brave efforts of leaders in both parties who have bucked the anti-immigrant, xenophobic trend that insists on scapegoating immigrants for the social and economic instability this nation is experiencing. In the months ahead, we look forward to sharing with the rest of America the stories of immigrant struggle and success not unlike the stories of the Mayflower Pilgrims, and hope the good people of this nation will open their hearts, listen and urge our elected officials for a prompt solution to the emerging humanitarian crisis in the immigrant community,” concluded Mr. Chacón.

###
NALACC is a network of immigrant-led organizations working to improve the quality of life in their communities, both in the United States and in their countries of origin. Visit us on the web at http://www.nalacc.org

Thank you for reading (and printing from) The Cincinnati Beacon.