Serrano: Despite Talk of “Outreach” to Hispanics, First Thing Republicans Do in New Congressional Session Is Bash Immigrants

Republican Attempt to Tie Tsunami Relief and War Funding to Anti-Immigrant Measures “Outrageous”

Washington, DC, January 27 2005— Congressman José E. Serrano (D-NY) expressed outrage today at the prospect of a series of anti-immigrant measures being attached to the supplemental appropriations bill that will fund relief efforts for tsunami victims and our troops overseas. 

“Republicans have been talking a lot about reaching out to Hispanics, and yet the first measure they send to Congress is choc-full of immigrant-bashing,” said Serrano.  “While immigrants and the sons and daughters of immigrants are fighting and dying for our country overseas, the GOP is pulling the rug out from under their families back home.  Republicans should never have let these measures see the light of day in the first place, let alone slip them into a piece of legislation as high-profile as the supplemental.  Members of Congress should not be forced to choose between voting to fund tsunami relief and voting against these anti-immigrant provisions that trample on states’ rights and make it exceedingly difficult to claim asylum.” 

According to CQ Today’s January 27 lead story, the Republican leadership is inserting into the supplemental appropriations bill provisions that would make it much more difficult for immigrants to claim asylum in the United States, force immigrants to show proof of legal residence in order to receive a driver’s license, and help complete a fence along the California border with Mexico.  This creates a situation in which Members of Congress will be forced to choose between funding the war and tsunami relief efforts and voting for a number of highly-controversial anti-immigrant provisions.

“The Republican leadership should be ashamed for even thinking about including these provisions into the bill that will fund tsunami relief and the war in ,” said Serrano.  “These very different issues should be voted upon separately.  Hispanics should not be fooled—the Republicans talk a good game about Hispanic outreach, and then the first thing they do when they get back to Congress is to push a bill that bashes away at immigrants.” 

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Congressman José E. Serrano has represented the
Bronx
,
New York
, in Congress since 1990.  He is the only Member of Congress from
New York City
on the House Appropriations Committee and serves as the ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Commerce, Justice, and State Departments.