Chicago, IL
WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO has officially embraced the cause of immigrant workers in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO actively campaigns for legislative reform to benefit immigrant workers and their families; and
WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO expects that legislation to reform immigration law will be a matter of increasing congressional and executive activity beginning in 2003; and
WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO believes that such legislative reform must include, at a minimum: (1) legalization, including the right of immigrant workers in the United States to live and work in this country and become its citizens; and (2) the right of immigrant workers to unite their families in the United States if they wish; and
WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO understands that a national mobilization of individuals and organizations from all sectors—including labor, business, political, religious, community, immigrant, civil rights and others—is necessary to demonstrate to Congress and the President that there is widespread support in the United States for meaningful legislative reform and for the recognition of the contribution of immigrant workers to the quality of social, cultural, political and economic life in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO believes that an Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride—which will culminate in a mass demonstration of support in the United States for meaningful legislative reform in Washington, D.C., in late spring of 2003—will be a powerful vehicle for mobilizing that national constituency.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AFL-CIO will adopt the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride (IWFR) as a campaign of the AFL-CIO, will join with affiliated unions, state federations and central labor bodies in the IWFR, and will urge member unions to contribute to this effort and to adopt this same resolution of support of the IWFR.