Families Speak Out About the Hidden Cost of Senate Immigration Bill

The Rights Working Group, in collaboration with local partners, will hold a telephonic press conference to highlight the impact of provisions in the Hagel-Martinez compromise immigration bill on American families. Of great concern are provisions that will further expand the government's power to erode the civil liberties and human rights of immigrants and American families.

SPEAKERS:

1. Manal Kawas (New York) - Kawas is a legal permanent resident from Jordan whose children are U.S. citizens. Her husband is in detention and faces deportation for a minor offense.
2. Henoc Moukoulou (Illinois) - Moukoulou arrived in the U.S. from Congo seeking asylum and was immediately sent to a county jail to await a decision in his case. He has recently been released from immigration detention.
3. Ana Marmol (California) - Marmol is a former refugee from El Salvador and is now a permanent resident. She has a 16 year-old son facing deportation.

MODERATORS:

1. Pramila Jayapal, Executive Director of Hate Free Zone Washington and a leader of the Rights Working Group.
2. Avideh Moussavian, Senior Staff Attorney of The New York Immigration Coalition and a leader of the Rights Working Group.

PRESS PACKET:

1. Press Release (May 10, 2006)
2. Remarks from Pramila Jayapal & Avideh Moussavian (Moderators)
3. Statement from Manal Kawas(English)
4. Statement from Henoc Moukoulou (English)
5. Statement from Ana Marmol (English)
6. Statement from Ana Marmol (Spanish)
7. Press Contacts: This list includes our regional allies that can further address the key points of the senate immigration bill and offer insight into of how their local communities have been affected.

The event is sponsored by the Rights Working Group and their local partners:

1. Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (Dearborn, MI)
2. Hate Free Zone Washington (Seattle, WA)
3. Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (Chicago, IL)
4. National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (Oakland, CA)
5. New Jersey Immigration Policy Network (Newark, NJ)
6. The New York Immigration Coalition (New York, NY)
7. Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (Nashville, TN)