By The National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders       Published February 4, 2010

WASHINGTON--The National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders Conciliar (CONLAMIC) and the Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana sent a letter to President Barack Obama claiming that he fulfill his political promise and end the deportations, given the impasse caused in the Senate by the disaster that authorizes, by Presidential Executive decision, the TPS (Temporary Protected Status) for millions of illegal immigrants who are affected the most by the lack of votes in Congress.                        

 "Clearly the Democrats in House of Representatives are not interested in addressing the proposed comprehensive immigration reform, knowing that in the Senate, they are no longer an absolute majority.  They wasted more than eleven months, leaving the immigration reform initiative for later, and now they seek to provoke the Republicans, knowing that neither has enough votes to pass a humane and fair legalization bill.  President Obama cannot be part of this "little politician game" and his promise must be fulfilled as soon as possible.  A Presidential Executive Order of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) so that millions of undocumented immigrants can come out confidently from the shadows, register for a work permit, receive a Social Security number and pay their taxes, is the only viable alternative now.  In addition to benefiting the national economy, it also lets us know once and for all who they are, where they are, and they can begin a process of adapting as new Americans," declares Reverend Miguel Rivera, President of CONLAMIC. 
 

CONLAMIC, MAPA (Mexican American Political Action) and the Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana, are the funding organizations for the so called "Not Cooperating With a System That Does Not Cooperate With Us" (Boycott the Census for Immigration Reform) a step forward in captivating the conscience of millions of undocumented immigrants who will not answer the Census if legalization is not guaranteed. 

According to the statistical study by PEW reported yesterday, one in five people will not answer the census questions, questioning the confidentiality and use of the information to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants. (Associate Press)   "If the White House wants to have a successful census, the best motivation so that our fellow undocumented immigrants participate is by granting a TPS.  To ask that they present their data to the census and return again to an undocumented status is an immoral expectation.  Stopping the deportations, desktop raids (E-Verify) and granting TPS is the only way to fulfill his promise with the Latino community who voted for him and incidentally gave Congress more time to approve a fair immigration reform," said Nativo Lopez, president of MAPA and Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana.  "The great disappointment we're suffering from with the Senate election of Scott Brown by the state of Massachusetts is immense. We know that Senator-elect Brown, is NOT A FRIEND OF IMMIGRANTS.  The Democrats miserably wasted a lot of time, entertained with bills that benefited the banks, but have not achieved anything for those who lose their homes or are unemployed.  And now, as a result of the irresponsibility of these Congressmen, (who promised an immigration reform), we are on the eve of midterm elections and the hopes of legalization are gone.  

The responsibility rests in the hands of President Barack Obama and we hope that he saves his credibility, drawing nearer to us, keeping his word," says D'Fausto Rocha Brazilian activist in Boston, Massachusetts, who also serves as Executive Director of a community organization composed of leaders of the Brazilian community in the region and co-sponsor of the census boycott; "Before Counting, We Must Legalize."