2011 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference
Day One Highlights

African American Pastors Emphasize Unity Over Division on Immigration

A coalition of African-American, Caribbean-American and Hispanic pastors joined together Tuesday afternoon to call for a more civil tone in discussions around U.S. immigration policy, and urged immigration foes to stop their efforts to divide ethnic groups in order to derail comprehensive immigration reform.

Pastors from across the country have formed the African American Clergy for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (AACCIR) to advance immigration reform initiatives in Washington and to challenge the divisive charges that Hispanic and Caribbean immigrants are stealing jobs, public resources and civil-rights advancements from African Americans.

"Blaming a particular group of people will never lead to real solutions for our nation," said Rev. Luis Cortes, Jr. We recognize that fear of those who are different will greatly hinder our nation's progress, and we must actively expose and uproot this element of the current debate."

To learn more about the AACCIR and immigration, visit here.


State of Hispanic Housing: Sober but Hopeful

The State of Hispanic Housing Dinner at the National Prayer Breakfast and Conference offered a sober but hopeful assessment of the long-term effects of the U.S. financial crisis on Latino families, many of who are struggling to keep their homes out of foreclosure and grappling with shrinking home values.

"Seventeen percent of Latinos are expected to lose their homes," said Rachel Anderson of the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL). "It is akin to a tornado. This crisis is an entirely man-made disaster."

Members of Congress expressed hope, though, for Latino families, saying that there are legislative efforts to try to protect families from the devastating foreclosures and to strengthen financial services regulations.

"Clearly we may be facing difficult economic choices, and the economy is still in recovery, but the American dream is alive and well among many Latinos," said U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-NJ. "We have an obligation to keep home ownership alive for those who can afford it and to give a helping hand to those less fortunate who need it."

To learn more about the CRL report, visit here.


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