【時報訊】舉國上下的亞太裔組織自週五開始，便昂首期盼即將到來的第一個立法建議收集行動周。在此次活動中，他們將同國會議員一道參加市政會議，舉辦新聞發佈會，並且提議立法者支持移民改革法案的頒佈。參加者將對於如何改進移民政策提出自己的主張和看法。據悉，陳舊的移民政策對於家庭團聚，經濟發展以及當地的社區建設都存在著負面的影響。
“移民政策的改革是亞裔華人和亞太裔移民團體極度關心的一個議題，” 亞裔華人司法中心的主席兼執行理事Karen K. Narasaki說,“一項合理的法案不僅能夠使我們數以百萬計的社區合法化，使成千上萬的家庭團聚，更是一個美國政府歡迎亞裔及其他移民者的標誌。”
亞洲法律委員會的執行理事Titi Liu解釋說：“在這次行動周活動中，我們將以移民者及移民者後裔的身份講述我們的遭遇。我們團體的成員包括工人、鄰居及小型企業雇主，他們都為國家的經濟復興和建設做出了巨大的貢獻。”
此次活動主要集中在8月17-24日一周進行，但其後續部分將延續至今年秋季。在此期間，亞裔華人及亞太裔移民不僅可以給立法者、國會議員寫信，還可以拜訪這些議員。此外，本次活動還包括一個“建議呈遞日”和一個明信片活動。作為全面改革活動的一部分，活動組織者將收集5000張支援移民系統的改革的明信片。
ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS NATIONWIDE MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD IN SUPPORT OF COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORMAsian Americans Organize First-Ever Collective National Week of Action
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Starting Friday, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the country will flex their political muscle during their first-ever collection week of action.
They will attend town hall meetings with members of Congress, hold press conferences and petition lawmakers in support of comprehensive immigration reform. People will share their personal stories about how our outdated immigration policies break up families, hurt the economy, and devastate our local communities.
"Immigration reform is a defining issue for the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities," said Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center. "The right legislation legalizes millions in our communities, reunites thousands of families, and signals that the U.S. welcomes Asian and other immigrants."
Titi Liu, executive director of the Asian Law Caucus explained: "For this national week of action we tell our stories as immigrants, and as descendants of immigrants. We are workers, neighbors, and small-business owners who revitalize communities and contribute to the economy."
Events are concentrated during the week of Aug. 17-24 but the push will continue into the fall. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are urged to submit letters to the editor, write or visit their members of Congress, and undertake similar actions during this period.
Additionally, the national effort includes a "text-in" day and a postcard campaign. Organizers aim to collect 5,000 postcards that focus specifically on the need to fix the family immigration system as part of comprehensive reform. Distribution and collection will continue until Congress returns from the August recess.
"Asian Americans have an opportunity now to influence the critical conversation around immigration policy," said Deepa Iyer, executive director of South Asian Americans Leading Together. "We must play a role through grassroots organizing and advocacy to let lawmakers know that the immigration system must be reformed now before it is too late."
Multi-lingual literature aimed at helping community members explain the need for immigration reform will be released during this time as well. Supporters can use the information to craft letters to the editor, blog posts, etc.
The brochure will be available in five languages: Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Vietnamese and English.
"The time has come for us to mobilize and let other Americans know how the broken immigration system is undermining Asian American and Pacific Islander families and communities," said Stewart Kwoh, executive director of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC). "Any reform of the immigration laws must fully incorporate our shared American values of family, human rights, civil liberties, and due process."
The national groups that are partnering to host this series of events include: Asian American Justice Center, Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Asian Law Caucus, Asian American Institute, OCA-Embracing the Hopes and Aspirations of Asian Pacific Americans, Japanese American Citizens League, South Asian Americans Leading Together, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, Hmong National Development, Kaya, and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations.
The Asian American Justice Center is a national organization dedicated to defending and advancing the civil and human rights of Asian Americans. It works closely with three affiliates - the Asian American Institute in Chicago the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco, and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in Los Angeles - and nearly 100 community partners in 44 cities, 24 states and the District of Columbia.
“亞裔華人現在有機會去影響有關移民政策的批判性言論，”南亞華人領導團結會執行理事Deepa Iyer說，“我們必須通過一點一滴的努力去組織和支援法案的改革，使立法者意識到移民系統的改革刻不容緩。”
在活動期間，一些多語言版本的手冊會陸續發放，幫助社區成員解釋移民改革的必要性。改革活動的支持者們可以借用這些有用的資訊與立法者溝通。這些手冊有中文、印語、韓語、越南語及英語五個版本。
亞美法律中心（APALC）的執行理事Stewart Kwoh認為：“對於我們來說，這是一個發動社區成員，讓更多美國人瞭解移民系統弊端的大好機會，陳舊的移民系統對於亞裔華人和亞太裔移民的家庭及社區都造成了很大的負面影響。任何形式的移民法律改革都必須全面結合傳統的家庭價值觀、人權以及公民自由權的理念，並且應當嚴格遵照正當程式進行。”
參與此次活動的組織包括：亞美司法中心、亞美法律中心、亞洲法律委員會、亞美研究所、美華協會OCA(Embracing the Hopes and Aspirations of Asian Pacific Americans)、日美公民聯盟、南亞美領導團結會、國家亞太裔婦女論壇、Hmong國家發展局、Kaya以及菲律賓裔美人社團。
亞美司法中心是一個力求保護和促進亞美人權和民權的民權組織，該組織與以下三個機構關係密切：亞美芝加哥研究所、舊金山亞洲法律委員會以及洛杉磯亞太裔法律中心。此外，亞美司法中心還與近100個社區有合作關係，這些社區遍佈美國，包括哥倫比亞地區在內的24個州的44個城市。 |
