The Humane Immigration Status Resolution

Fellow Americans:

Please join me in expressing the need for Members of Congress to use terms such as “undocumented” and “undocumented workers” in describing foreign nationals and immigrants, rather than offensive references like “illegals”, “illegal aliens”, or “illegal immigrants”.

By standing together against the use of these latter terms publicly elected Representatives can avoid unproductive debates and discussions, which are extremely offensive to those who have not been born in the U.S. The United States of America is home to nearly 40 million immigrants, which is more people than makes up the total population of California. Nearly 16% of the U.S. labor force is foreign-born and, as of 2010, nearly one-fifth of all Fortune 500 companies had at least one founder who was an immigrant. Clearly, foreign nationals and immigrants have made significant contributions and sacrifices that add measurably to America’s prosperity and the sustenance of our way-of-life.

The words and labels that America selects to describe and refer to non-citizens and to those not born in the U.S. are supremely important. Your support of this movement will promote a way forward on merits and produce a comprehensive and sensible immigration reform legislative package.

I grew up in a time where people of color were given numerous labels and called horrific names. I have worked though my youth into the present to fight against all of those negative labels. Because of this, I cannot stand aside while other groups are marginalized by the labels placed on them by others, so I will join with them to prevent such atrocities from continuing.

Please follow the link below for facts about immigration in your state:

http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/economic-and-political-impact-immigrants-latinos-and-asians-all-50-states

Respectfully,

BOBBY L. RUSH
Member of Congress