Speech #1090110697

Vol. 152. Pt. 2 and by policy makers." said Nik Theodore. an assistant professor in the Urban Planning and Policy Program at UIC. and one of the studys three lead authors. "We hope to inform policy debates so that decisionmakers can devise thoughtful and effective strategies for resolving many of the problems that day laborers face." According to the national studys findings. worker centers give a voice and power to people who often lack both. They are gateway organizations that meet immigrant workers where they are and provide them with a wealth of information and training. In all too many cases. these centers are the only "port in the storm" for lowwage immigrant workers seeking to understand U.S. labor and immigration laws. tile back wage claims. and organize against recalcitrant employers. The Latino Union of Chicago runs the only worker center for day laborers in the Midwest. located in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago. If the Border Protection. AntiTerrorism and Illegal Immigration Act is enacted. this comprehensive community approach would come to an end. It would destroy the very institutions in our communities that have developed real solutions. Day labor centers (and the private individuals. churches and government agencies that work with them) could face thousands or even millions of dollars in fines if they assist in the process of connecting day laborers to employers. The trust that day labor centers have built with communities would be eroded as the centers become responsible for verifying workers immigration status. Volunteers and staff of worker centers would be turned into criminals and work center property could be seized. Good work. such as providing ESL classes and job skills training or leadership development. would be equated with alien smuggling. H.R. 4437 and bills with similar provisions dont just jeopardize the lives of some immigrants. they are attacks on all our communities. As a firstgeneration American and as a Congresswoman who is honored to represent one of the most richly diverse districts in the country. I believe Washington must act now on immigration reform that keeps the American dream alivenot roll back the good work that day labor centers do every day across the Nation. I urge my colleagues to look at the national study released by UIC and UCLA. which I hope is the first of many. to help us understand the problems day laborers and immigrants face in our country.