LULAC’s Impact on the Hill Echoed on the Democratic Presidential Debate Stage

February 12, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During yesterday’s Democratic debate, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders referenced LULAC’s opposition to The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 that helped guide his decision to oppose the measure because it failed to provide important provisions for guest worker programs. Senator Sanders specifically cited LULAC’s strong opposition to the temporary worker provisions, which would have created a guest worker program that would have exploited immigrant workers by relegating them to low-skill manual labor.

“Senator Sanders’ mention of LULAC’s efforts to oppose the proposed immigration reform of 2007 demonstrates the power of LULAC’s grassroots efforts,” said LULAC National President Roger C. Rocha, Jr. “LULAC is committed to preserving the dignity of all immigrant workers, and Senator Sanders’ ‘no’ vote in 2007 shows that the voices of our community reverberated through the halls of Congress and impacted national policy. We will continue to fight for comprehensive immigration reform that supports family unification, respects the human rights of immigrant workers, and provides a pathway to citizenship for the millions of immigrants already making positive contributions to this country.”

Click here to view Senator Sanders’ mention of LULAC in the Democratic debate.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.