Uniting Families Campaign

Esperanza joined the Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) "Family Unity" immigration outreach tour on April 4, 2009 in Philadelphia. The 17-city tour is raising awareness of and advocating for new legislation focused on comprehensive immigration reform.

Press Releases

For immediate publication Contact: Elizabeth Pendley - 215-324-0746
press@esperanza.us

April 6, 2009

THE FACE OF IMMIGRATION REVEALED
Congressman Gutiérrez "Family Unity" Event in Philadelphia brought together
over 750 people that advocated and prayed for comprehensive immigration reform

April 6, 2009, Philadelphia, PA - The Philadelphia stop of Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL) "Family Unity" tour last Saturday, April 4th, exposed the real face of the immigration debate in the U.S. Testimonies from a single mother, a high school student and a young family of four revealed the devastating effects that the current immigration laws have had on families and individuals all across the nation. Esperanza, the Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Immigration & Citizenship Coalition co-hosted the event held at the Iglesia Internacional in the Hunting Park neighborhood of North Philadelphia.

"I had no idea what it meant to be an illegal immigrant," said Mrs. Jill Flores, a U.S. citizen married to an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, who shared their story at the event. "My husband is not a criminal, but just a hard-working man and a wonderful father to our two children." Jill and her husband, Félix, thought that they would easily work out his immigration problems after getting married, but that has not been the case. Félix is up for an immigrant visa and his interview with the United States government on April 28th at Ciudad Juárez, Mexico will decide if he can stay with his family in the U.S. or be forced to live in Mexico for ten years before trying again to return legally. "We want people to understand that our immigration laws need to be changed, that families should be allowed to be together."

While giving his keynote address, Congressman Gutiérrez challenged President Barack Obama to respond to the needs of thousands of American families that are caught in an inefficient, unfair and broken immigration system. He also stressed the point that the undocumented are not the only ones being deported but also their U.S. citizen spouses and children that follow them to exile in order to stay together as a family. "People should not have to make the decision of leaving loved ones behind," said Congressman Gutiérrez at the community gathering on Saturday. During the event, participants were asked to sign a pledge letter asking President Barack Obama to address the need to fix our broken immigration system. Congressman Gutiérrez will personally deliver the letters to President Obama in the hopes of inspiring change in reform. "I will keep working on it (immigration reform) until we get it right", concluded Gutiérrez.

"I thought bringing my children to the U.S. would not be too hard, but I had no idea how long it would take", said Mrs. Debra Taylor, a single mother with permanent resident status, who pleaded for help at the community gathering. This certified nursing assistant, originally from Trinidad, was married to a United States citizen but now is divorced. She has two children who are U.S. citizens but has been requesting visas for her two other children in Trinidad since 2006. Due to the long wait for visas, these children are alone in Trinidad. One of them is seriously ill with sickle cell anemia. Debra is now eligible to become a U.S. citizen but cannot afford the $600 application fee since she is supporting herself and two of her children in the U.S. "I am just trying to make a better life for myself and my children. I am here today asking that someone please help our family be together." Once she becomes a U.S. citizen, her children will not have to wait for their visas and will be able to join her in the United States.

Throughout the event, members of the Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia and other faith leaders like Monsignor Hugh Joseph Shields of the Archdioceses of Philadelphia, Pastor Wilfredo de Jesús from Community Church in Chicago and the Rev. Marilyn Hartman of Bethlehem Christian Training Center provided prayers for the undocumented, their families and for immigration reform. Among the elected officials that came to support the event was U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah, State Representative Curtis Thomas, Councilwoman María Quiñones-Sánchez and Councilman William Grenlee, as well as representatives from the office of Senator Christine M. Tartaglione and from the office of State Representative Tony Payton.

Music was incorporated throughout the event with presentations from the "salsero" Antony Colón, Gospel artists Ricardo Rodríguez and Jessica, and the Mariachi Flores. During the event, Esperanza announced its new Esperanza Immigration Services initiative, which will provide the immigrant community with tools and resources to address its immigration concerns and offer professional advice from an accredited immigration lawyer.

The "Family Unity" tour has taken Congressman Gutiérrez to 17 cities across the nation to raise awareness of the broken immigration system and to advocate for new legislation towards comprehensive immigration reform. "Immigration is an important issue that touches the lives of many of our Hispanic brothers and sisters", said the Rev. Luis Cortés, Jr., President of Esperanza, the largest Hispanic Evangelical network in the nation. "Seeking reform to the current immigration policy is a key priority for Esperanza." The organization has advocated for immigration reform since 2004.

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For immediate publication Contact: Elizabeth Pendley - 215-324-0746 press@esperanza.us

March 13, 2009

ESPERANZA JOINS CONGRESSMAN GUTIERREZ IN “FAMILY UNITY” IMMIGRATION AWARNESS TOUR

March 13, 2009, Philadelphia, PA – Esperanza, the nation’s largest Hispanic Evangelical network, has joined Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) “Family Unity” immigration outreach tour. The announcement was made by the Rev. Luis Cortés, Jr., Esperanza, Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Immigration & Citizenship Coalition, will host the final stop of the nationwide tour on Saturday, April 4th, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Iglesia Internacional, located at 191-199 W. Hunting Park Avenue in Philadelphia, PA. The “Family Unity” 17 city tour is raising awareness of and advocating for new legislation towards comprehensive immigration reform. Esperanza is estimating that the event will have upwards of 800 to 1,000 people in attendance.

The event will include the participation of Congressman Gutiérrez (D-IL), who will provide his impressions about the tour and information about his efforts for comprehensive immigration reform. In addition, families that have been affected by the current immigration policies will offer their testimonies and the Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia will provide prayers for the undocumented, their families, and for a compassionate solution to the immigration crisis. Musical presentations from renowned recording artists will complete the event.

During the event, Esperanza will announce its new Esperanza Immigration Services initiative. Through this initiative, the organization soon will be able to provide the immigrant community with tools and resources to address its immigration concerns and offer professional advice from an accredited immigration lawyer.

Seeking reform to the current immigration policy is a priority for Esperanza. “We are no strangers to the immigration issue”, said Rev. Cortés. “Since 2004, we have advocated for comprehensive immigration reform and have worked closely with members of Congress of both parties and the White House to find a workable, compassionate solution to reform an immigration system that is in severe need of change.” Rev. Cortés has testified three times before Congress on the issue of immigration, twice before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and once before the House Judiciary Sub-Committee on Immigration. The organization believes the reform should secure our borders, reunify families, and provide a fair path to citizenship for the millions of undocumented workers who contribute to the nation’s economy, culture, and society.

For more information about Esperanza’s “Family Unity” immigration event on April 4th, please call 215-324-0746. For more information about Esperanza and its work on immigration, please visit www.esperanza.us.

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Gutierrez Expands "Family Unity" Immigration Outreach Tour: 16 Cities in Five Weeks
Interfaith Communities Unite to Document Urgency for Immigration Reform in 2009

February 18, 2009

Media Contact: Rebecca Dreilinger (202) 225-8203; Community Organizer Contact: Enrique Fernandez (202) 225-8203

Not Yet Released

(Washington DC) Today, U.S. Representative Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) announced he will expand his five-week national tour—now visiting 16 U.S. cities—to document the harm caused to citizens across our nation in the absence of comprehensive immigration reform.

In an unprecedented nationwide effort, Gutierrez will visit local communities and churches to spearhead the Family Unity Tour, which will hold community meetings, prayer vigils and town halls for thousands of U.S. citizens whose families have been or risk being torn apart by a broken immigration system. Many members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus are also holding similar events in their districts.

When & Where:

   1. February 27, Providence, RI
   2. February 28, Atlanta, GA
   3. March 1, Albuquerque, NM
   4. March 7, Ontario, CA
   5. March 7, San Francisco, CA
   6. March 8, Phoenix, AZ
   7. March 13 El Paso, TX
   8. March 13, Los Angeles, CA*
   9. March 14, Dallas, TX
   10. March 15, Mission, TX
   11. March 21, Chicago, IL
   12. March 21, Joliet, IL
   13. March 22, Milwaukee, WI
   14. March 27, Las Vegas, NV
   15. March 28, Orlando, FL
   16. March 29, Miami, FL
   17. April 4, Philadelphia, PA

"As a nation —as citizens— we cannot wait any longer for fair and just immigration reform," said Rep. Gutierrez. "Across America, parents and children, husbands and wives are being torn apart by a system that values quotas over family values and which undermines our economic security in a time of crisis. It is for this reason that U.S. citizens in each of these cities are joining this effort and standing up for real, lasting change."

Already nearly 40 evangelical church leaders, representing nearly 20,000 parishioners, have joined Rep. Gutierrez to demonstrate the vast numbers of American families—from all political backgrounds—who demand change from a legal system that undermines family values. U.S. citizens whose families have been affected will be available at each event to share their specific stories with press.

*The event in Los Angeles will not be attended by Rep. Gutierrez. Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, including Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, Rep. Xavier Becerra, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano, and Rep. Linda Sanchez will attend.

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