There is one voice that has represented Hispanic and immigrants of all walks of life in Congress. Rep. Luis Gutierrez will join NPNA the National Partnership of New Americans’ Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) announced he will join NPNA as a Senior Policy Advisor once he leaves office in January. He is promising to sign up one million more voters by 2020.
AS we hear Donald Trump’s determination to build a wall threatening to close this government if he doesn’t get the money to build it, we must understand that we live under president who opposes immigration and wants to spend more money reinforcing the border patrols along the southern border. Gutierrez was the voice of the opposition in Congress, and now as a private citizen the former Congressman has not given up the fight for better conditions for immigrants.
“I am not going to go away and be quiet,” Gutierrez said during a fiery speech Tuesday. And around the country many Hispanics applauded his decision because his voice is needed. Congressman Gutierrez has been a great advocate for immigration reform, and as we know that issue is more relevant now that ever before. He announced his commitment to remain in the struggle: “I am joining you in every city, and state and community. As I have said many times nothing changes inside the Capitol unless there is persistent and consistent pressure from outside the Capitol. So I am going to stand with you as we move an ambitious agenda forward and push for change in Washington…” Since his early days in Congress, Gutiérrez has been a relentless advocate of the immigrant and Puerto Rican communities across the nation, as well as an outspoken advocate of workers’ rights, LGBTQ rights, gender equality. In 2017, Gutierrez decided to step down from his position in Congress at the end of the year.
“Today is only the beginning of his work with NPNA because Congressman Gutierrez will be taking the message of the New American Platform to states and localities all over the country,” said Steve Choi, NPNA Co-Chair and Executive Director for the New York Immigration Coalition.
NIIC 2018 closed after three days non-stop sessions and more than 1200 attendees, with an outstanding line-up of featured speakers including Sen. Bob Menendez (NJ), Rep. JoaquÍn Castro (D-TX), Rep. John Delaney (D-MD), and Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) discussing some of the most pressing issues facing immigrants and refugees in the country today. “We must fight for our families .. we must fight for immigration reform; we are one and together we will win,” said Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ.)
“There is a scarier day in America than when everyone wants to come here – it is when no one wants to come here,” said Congressman Castro during one of the early sessions Tuesday. “We are blessed by immigrants.” We are indeed, and the states along the border will understand very soon that the labor of immigrants is what kept the crops going. Immigrants will continue to come here and no amount of hatred can destroy the dreams of millions.
Editorial
