IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ADVOCATES WARY OF KEY PROVISIONS IN IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL

By Henni Espinosa and Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

Apr 18, 2013

SAN FRANCISCO— Though many immigration advocates have welcomed the immigration reform bill; some of them said they are wary they are wary of particular provisions which will greatly affect immigrant families.

“The most important question to ask ourselves is: What are the good and bad things about this proposed legislation?” said Ted Laguatan, immigration attorney and immigrant rights advocate.

Under the bill, U.S. citizens will not be able to file immigration petitions for their siblings. U.S. citizen parents will also be unable to sponsor, married, adult children 31 years old and over.

Ryan Valenzuela said he still wants to petition his three siblings in the Philippines said, “That’s a shame. They should change that part of the bill so they will also have the opportunity to come here.”

The bill also does not address the highly-contested issue of same-sex couples, who have also been fighting for immigration equality.

, “We’re disappointed that the current Gang of 8 in the senate bill does not include protections for LGBT bi-national couples. There is no legislation for U.S. residence and legal permanent residents to be able to petition their foreign-born spouses,” said Eileen Ma of the API Equality LA.

Immigrants and their advocates said they will not stop fighting, until lawmakers get it right.

Alex Montances of the Filipino Migrant Center said, “There will be a lot of legislative visits. We need to keep pushing until we make humane and fair for all immigrants.”