“The recent anti-immigrant actions by right-wing Republicans in Congress would tear families apart, waste government resources, increase economic inequality and hurt our economy. The healthcare workers of 1199SEIU denounce the cruel and divisive amendments to the Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 240). These amendments would rip millions of families apart by crippling President Obama’s 2012 executive action, which defers deportation of “DREAMers,” aspiring citizens who were brought here as children by their parents. The amendments would reverse President Obama’s 2014 executive action deferring deportation for undocumented parents of citizens and legal residents. It is a sad irony that the party of “family values” is so passionate about destroying family bonds. These amendments are part of the Republicans’ war on women and children, because many immigrant women are the backbones, caretakers and bread winners for their families.

“The Republican amendments could also undermine public safety and waste resources by prohibiting law enforcement from prioritizing the deportation of criminals over undocumented immigrants who have not committed serious crimes. America’s strength has always sprung from the hard work of immigrants, and in order for our nation to progress we must have economic security and opportunity for all. When one group of workers is denied basic fairness and rights, that drags down wages, benefits and standards for all working people. As the largest healthcare union in the nation representing over 400,000 nurses and caregivers, many of whom are immigrants, we vow to take action with our sisters and brothers in the immigrant justice movement to hold elected leaders accountable for their actions. Instead of trying to undermine the little security that hard-working immigrants have gained, we call on Congress to work with President Obama to enact permanent, comprehensive immigration reform.”

-A joint statement by Maria Castaneda, Secretary Treasurer of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and Estela Vazquez, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU and board member of the New York Immigration Coalition.