150 SW 13th Avenue, Miami, FL  33135
Phone  (786) 264-1708; Fax  (786) 264-1859
Immigration and Workers
Clergy Statement on Immigration and Work

In South Florida, our neighbors are very likely of diverse races, countries of origin,
language groups and cultures.  We depend on our immigrant neighbors who work the farm
land and perform a wide range of service work for our comfort and convenience in
condominium complexes, retail stores and supermarkets, hospitals and nursing homes, and
in countless other places.  Our community needs to reflect on how we, each of us, support
our neighbors. One way is to enact comprehensive immigration reform legislation that
establishes a safe and humane immigration system consistent with our values. However, a
change in law will not by itself produce a brighter future.  We need to value the immigrant
working family as we value life itself.  More
"When strangers sojourn with you in your land, you shall not do them
wrong.  The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you
as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself;
for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" [Leviticus 19:33-34]
"Immigrants, Police,
and Community
Safety", Report from
WeCount! and Florida
Immigrant Coalition
Thank you to all who participated in the "Immigration through the Lens April 29th!

It is no accident that immigration demonstrations coincide with May Day - a day that is
internationally associated with workers.  As the workshop on Thursday revealed, the
historical events that mobilize people to leave their homes for a strange land, as well as
our own personal stories of our ancestors' journeys, are consistently motivated by the
need to work and support one's family. Further, U.S. immigration legislation has
historically revolved around our country's need for immigrant workers, which was very
evident as Thursday's participants reviewed an immigration timeline.

bodies in South Florida.

Coming soon: A workshop on Wage Theft in South Florida & how you can make a
difference!
United Farm Workers President
appeared on "The Colbert Report" to
promote the "Take Our Jobs"
campaign.  Watch the interview.
Resources from IWJ  

‘Go Ahead, Try and Make Me Pay You’: Wage
Theft and S.B. 1070

IWJ Board of Directors’ Statement of Principles
on Immigration  

What Faith Groups Say About Immigration Reform
(PDF)  

Immigration Through the Lens of Faith (PDF)  
Immigration: The Labor Perspective
– a webcast with Labor Secretary Hilda
Solis and AFL-CIO President Richard
Trumka discussing the link between
labor and immigration and outlining a
path to comprehensive immigration
reform. Click here to watch.