Veterans Day Campaign Calls for Immigration Reform to Honor Latino Veterans

Nov 11, 2013
11:24 AM

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) has launched a Veterans Day postcard petition to demand Congress to pass “commonsense immigration reform” legislation to honor the service of Latino veterans.

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The postcard, which reads “This Veterans Day Honor Them By Honoring Those They Fight For,” was distributed to LULAC’s 130,000 members to fill out, and will be delivered to Capitol Hill tomorrow, according to representative Paloma Zuleta. The card continues:

Dear Member of Congress,
U.S. military service members fight for our freedom as Americans, even if not all of them are U.S. citizens. Since September 2002, 89,095 military service members have become citizens.

This Veterans Day, we honor those who defend our country and stand ready to defend their families’ quest for American citizenship. Don’t you think they have earned the right?

The Time Is Now to pass commonsense immigration reform with a path to citizenship for families who contribute to our nation every day.

The postcard, one of two, was paired with an “I voted for immigration reform” petition and is intended to launch a nationwide campaign to further the group’s agenda of passing comprehensive reform. In a recent press release LULAC announces a press call scheduled for tomorrow, November 12th, to discuss the state of immigration in the U.S. and the ongoing debate over proposed legislation. The release states the following:

As pressure mounts on Congress to vote this year on immigration reform with a path to citizenship, Latino community members from across the U.S. are reminding Congress that tens of thousands of military service members are immigrants who have defended our country and now seek a path to citizenship for their families and those who are willing to earn the right to become citizens.

Latinos from across the U.S. are issuing the reminder to Congress through postcards, as part of a campaign that was organized by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Hispanic Federation (HF), and Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) and theHispanic Federation. The national groups advocate for immigration reform that protects the civil and human rights of all workers and members of our society.

Next week’s push for action on immigration reform campaign, beginning with Veterans Day, will be discussed on a press call that will include Jesus Magaña, who was serving in the U.S. Air Force two years ago when his sister was placed in deportation proceedings.

LULAC is the largest civil rights and advocacy group in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau over 1.2 million Latinos 18 and older are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. LULAC and it’s sister organizations hope the is able to aid the latter by achieving comprehensive immigration reform.