Wednesday, January 30, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of thirty leading Hispanic organizations in the nation, released the following statement after yesterday's speech by President Barack Obama in Las Vegas on the need for comprehensive immigration reform and in which he described his own proposal.

Hector E. Sanchez, Chair of NHLA and Executive Director of LCLAA stated: “After years of hard work and patience by the Latino community, our role in the 2012 elections, Monday’s unveiling of a bipartisan framework for immigration reform by the Senate, and yesterday’s speech by President Obama, the momentum is clearly in our favor. We are closer now than ever before to a comprehensive plan that opens a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. and that is good for workers, business, the economy, and national security.

“NHLA looks forward to working with the President and members of Congress from both chambers and both parties to make immigration reform happen. Together we can create a fair, effective, and balanced immigration policy that helps bring 11 million people out of the shadows. We welcome President Obama’s commitment to this fight.”

Established in 1991, The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) brings together Hispanic leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole.