[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16585]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                IMMIGRATION AND LOCAL LEGISLATIVE REFORM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 2, 2011

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my growing concern on the 
current state of our Nation's immigration reform. On October 2nd, I had 
the privilege of attending a press conference at the Church of the 
Ascension. I was joined by many of my constituents, my colleague 
Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, State Senator Adriano 
Espaillat, members of New York City Council, local city officials, and 
numerous immigration rights advocates to discuss immigration reform and 
a landmark bill that will change the way the City of New York 
Department of Corrections works with the federal immigration 
authorities and to reduce unnecessary immigrant deportations in New 
York City.
  Mr. Speaker, we all live in a nation built by immigrants. When our 
great grandparents first arrived, they had hope to escape from 
religious persecution or perhaps economic and political repression; 
they had hope to work hard so they can build strong families and make a 
decent living with respect and dignity. The United States of America is 
known to be a country where anyone with good moral standing, courage, 
endurance and the desire to do the right thing can achieve and live the 
American Dream. The least we can all do for one another is to pave way, 
not to inflict pain.
  Upon their arrival, those newcomers had never been given legitimacy 
to help grow this Nation. They were very well welcomed, simply because 
this vast Nation desperately needed builders. Those people worked hard, 
sacrificed to strengthen the agriculture, infrastructures and all other 
things our generation relies on. Present day immigrants are still 
important to our national economy. In a time when our national economy 
is in peril, losing this part of our community would cause industries 
to collapse.
  The United States would not be the same without our ancestors, who 
were, in fact, the product of immigrants. They have contributed 
enormously to the standing of our economy and will continue to do the 
same in the future. I believe that it only is fair to treat them with 
justice and fairness. We certainly do not want to look back in 20 or 30 
years and have our grandchildren ask: how could we be so cruel? America 
can not be known as a place where Federal agencies simply disregard 
local people and laws in order to detain, deport immigrants, separate 
families and loved ones.
  Folks, who are in the custody of local New York authorities, have 
been, in the last two or three years, subjected to be detained, 
questioned and can potentially be deported by ICE. Mr. Speaker, some of 
these folks had no prior conviction. They pose no threat to our 
society. Thus, deserve a second chance. Ultimately, we may have an 
honest and extensive debate on whether or not we would like to use 
amnesty or banishment as a method to fix our own problem, but it is 
imperative that the procedure is done with respect to the law and basic 
human rights.
  I would like to praise my colleague, Congressman Luis Gutierrez, New 
York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Council Member Melissa Mark-
Viverito, Council Member Danny Dromm, Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez 
and Make the Road NY Organization for their enormous efforts to bring 
to the attention this issue. I would also like to praise the New York 
City Council for taking a bold action to limit the Immigration and 
Custom Enforcement's authority over New York City Department of 
Correction. We certainly can not allow agency such as ICE to detain and 
deport people without the appropriate legal basis. The introduction of 
Int.656-2011 certainly is a stepping stone to a true, effective reform.
  I would like to take this moment to show my sincere appreciation for 
Pastor John P. Duffell for allowing the use of the site to advocate the 
reform. This is truly a humanitarian concern and Churches through out 
the country should not shy away from helping those who are in need. I 
encourage more mosques, synagogues, churches throughout this country to 
teach and advocate local people about immigration reforms. People 
incline to think that religion and politics should not mix and that 
religious institutions should stay away from this matter. Though this 
isn't so. This matter is not about politics; it's not about winning or 
losing; it's about people who just want to work hard and live well. We 
want to treat and praise them like we have to our ancestors.
  Finally, I encourage all my colleagues to consider immigration reform 
as a serious concern and that we can no longer neglect to establish a 
legislative reform that is fair, effective and serve the best of the 
whole. Deporting people, tearing families apart, build a wall to keep 
people out is not real reform; it is a temporary solution to a problem. 
We need a sensible immigration policy which will allow the best, the 
brightest and those who are willing to work hard to continue the great 
chapter of our Nation's history. Mr. Speaker, America is strong because 
people come from all over the world with the intent to achieve the 
American Dream. The will of the people, as history have shown, have 
strive our nation to success from every corner.

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