*Demand for Moratorium on raids, arrests and deportations seen as key to passing comprehensive immigration reform – and to basic fairness.

*Moratorium Demand wins support of Hispanic Congressional Caucus.

- Statement of La Familia Latina Unida, Centro Sin Fronteras and the IFCO Workers

"We are pleased that the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has adopted our demand for an immediate moratorium. We urge the President and DHS Director Chertoff to listen to their arguments

"Even though the nation has clearly rejected the Sensenbrenner enforcement only proposal, we feel that House Republicans will refuse to consider the Senate Bill if they believe the President will continue the current aggressive program of employer sanctions, raids and deportations which is causing so much pain and fear for millions of people.

If the President truly wants comprehensive immigration reform, he will put a moratorium on raids and deportations into effect immediately

"As the Senate finalizes debate on an immigration bill which will likely be passed before the Memorial Day week-end, this morning INS agents arrested a high school senior and 2 other adults, who would most probably eligible for legalization in the Senate compromise bill. The hunger strikers recommitted themselves to maintain the liquid only fast until June 1st date which IFCO workers are scheduled for deportation court.

"Today, 100 men and women in the U.S. Senate decided among themselves to strip four million people of their lives, their livelihoods and, in many cases, of their families. Someone must bear witness to this crime against humanity."

"Even though we take some hope from the provisions for legalization and family reunification offered in the Senate bill for millions of our people, we know this bill must face the same House of Representatives that just last December passed the Sensenbrenner bill. If a bill is finally signed into law, it will take more than a year before it is actually implemented.

"What happens to us in the meantime? We believe that it is only fair for President Bush to call an immediate moratorium on raids and deportations until the new law is in place...

"Under current proposed Senate provisions, those with previous deportations are not eligible for legalization, with some unclear exceptions for hardship to U.S. citizen children. Deportations in the next few months arbitrarily rob otherwise eligible workers and their families of the lives they have built here.

"The same President who has forcefully stated his support for the comprehensive immigration reform proposal in the U.S. Senate must not take away the hopes of thousands while they wait for the new law to be finalized."

Email: Sinfronteras1205 (at) aol.com
Website: www.somosunpueblo.com
Phone: (773) 523-8261

- Southside (Pilsen)- 2300 S. Blue Island Ave. Chicago, Illinois

Background: Mother to Begin Hunger Strike on Mother's Day - www.caaelii.org/events/Mother%20to%20Begin%20Hunger%20Strike.htm