“This issue is too important to be derailed. We demand a vote.”

Washington, D.C. (March 26, 2014) – Terry O’Sullivan, General President of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – made the following statement  on the discharge petition filed to bring HR 15, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, to a vote on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives:

“We need every Member of Congress -- Democrat and Republican -- to show leadership on passing comprehensive immigration reform now.  By having a discharge petition signed by every Democrat and at least 20 Republicans, immigration reform will finally get its chance for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives and be on a path toward becoming law. It is unacceptable to do nothing, and so we urge Members of Congress to sign on and fix our nation’s broken immigration system, once and for all. A broken immigration system hurts not just immigrant workers, but all workers at a job site. 

“LIUNA has been at the forefront in the struggle to protect immigrant workers from abuse and exploitation at the hands of unscrupulous employers. So we are proud of all of our union brothers and sisters who have worked hand-in-hand with millions of others at demonstrations all across the country to show our support for comprehensive reform that creates a roadmap to citizenship, protects family unity and treats all workers fairly. This issue is too important to be derailed. We demand a vote.”