Washington, D.C. - The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 40 of the nation's preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, wrote to Senators in opposition to HR 4038, a bill expected to be considered by the full Senate this week, which would effectively block the resettlement of any refugees from Iraq and Syria in the United States. NHLA’s letter to the Senate can be found on NHLA's website here.

 

“Latinos are all too familiar with the shortcomings of our nation’s existing refugee policies to adequately protect those fleeing violence and persecution.  Migrants seeking refuge from violence in Latin America have also historically faced unfair stereotyping, the backlash of xenophobic protesters, hate crimes, and elected officials making decisions based on fear and opportunism. We witnessed this just over a year ago when women and children sought refuge as they fled violence in Central America. Chipping away at an already inadequate refugee policy, as HR 4038 would do, is the opposite direction we need to move in,” said Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. “Passing HR 4038 or similar measures means turning our backs on those who have resisted terrorism, on women who have survived sexual violence, and on children who risk being trafficked. Existing refugee resettlement procedures already include lengthy security background checks by federal intelligence and security agencies. Admitting refugees to our nation does not make us less secure – it reaffirms our humanitarian values.”

 

“HR 4038 singles out individuals from two specific countries; it therefore constitutes old-fashioned, flat-out discrimination, inconsistent with our national values and principles.  The Latino community has long experienced and continues to experience the sting of immigration policies that discriminate against those from particular nations, so we must oppose attempts to discriminate against others,” stated Thomas A. Saenz, NHLA Vice Chair and MALDEF President and General Counsel.  “The 2014 arrival of unaccompanied minors and families fleeing extraordinary violence in Central America triggered hyperbolic reactions from all policymaking quarters, including proposals to change our laws to turn away and deter these Latin American refugees from coming to the United States.  Fortunately, legislative changes did not materialize in 2014; and we cannot allow similarly untoward legislative change in this year either.”  

 

"If we accept the false premise of HR 4038 that we have to discriminate against people solely because of their national origin in order to be secure, then we are surrendering the very values and principles we seek to defend," said Jose Calderón, co-chair of NHLA's Immigration Policy Committee and President of the Hispanic Federation. 

 

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