Illinois AFL-CIO Praises Immigration Reform Passage in Senate
AFL-CIO

The U.S. Senate recently voted overwhelmingly to pass bi-partisan, comprehensive immigration reform, and leaders from the Illinois AFL-CIO and the Chicago Federation of Labor applauded the move, adding that it will protect U.S.-born workers and aspiring citizens, as well as create a pathway to citizenship.

“Working people in Illinois and across the country will benefit from today’s bipartisan vote to help make comprehensive immigration reform a reality,” said Michael Carrigan, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO. “While Republicans certainly have extracted a high price for moving this necessary legislation forward, the compromise is a historic step in the right direction and we thank Senators Durbin and Kirk for their support. Countless Illinoisans have been speaking up in favor of comprehensive immigration reform that protects workers’ rights, keeps families together, and creates an attainable roadmap to citizenship. The fight continues as we urge the U.S. House of Representatives to take up comprehensive reform without delay and for Illinois’ congressional delegation to be its champion.”

A recent poll of Illinois voters, commissioned by the Illinois AFL-CIO and conducted by a Republican and Democratic pollster, showed eight in ten Illinois voters support a path to citizenship and support comprehensive immigration reform by a 40-point margin.

“The key to this legislation is the roadmap to citizenship for millions of people who have been living and working here, contributing to our communities without the ability to exercise basic rights on the job and living in fear of deportation,” said Jorge Ramirez, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor “Thanks to a broad coalition of union members, small business owners, faith leaders, and immigrant advocates in Illinois coming together, we are one large step closer to finally having a workable immigration process that protects all workers. On behalf of Chicago workers, I want to thank our senators for their support and I want to thank our members and community allies - but our work is not done until this comprehensive immigration reform becomes law.”

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