September 7, 2016
Page 7
O PINION
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Minimum Service CHG.
$45.00
A small distance/travel
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CARPET CLEANING
2 Cleaning Areas or
more $30.00 Each Area
Pre-Spray Traffic Areas
(Includes: 1 small Hallway)
1 Cleaning Area (only)
$40.00
Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area
(Hallway Extra)
Honoring All Workers Regardless of Immigration
It’s Time to fix a
broken system
d eborah h all
On Labor Day
we honored the
hardworking men
and women who
keep
America
running. But let’s
also remember the millions of as-
piring Americans who are forced
to work and live in the shadows
due to our broken immigration
system.
As a member of the American
Federation of Teachers and the
AFL-CIO, I urge our elected of-
ficials to come together on behalf
of our nation and come up with
a commonsense, compassionate,
and comprehensive plan for im-
migration reform!
The time is now for a compre-
hensive immigration reform plan
that provides a pathway to citi-
zenship for undocumented im-
migrants who are often forced to
live in the shadows without basic
rights and protections. We need
a plan that ensures safe, secure
jobs, protects labor rights for all
workers, upholds family unifica-
by
tion and expands access to higher
education.
I am urging members of Con-
gress to create pathways to cit-
izenship for the approximate-
ly 11 million undocumented
immigrants and students living
and working in the U.S. who de-
serve a reasonable road map to
citizenship.
I currently live in Vancouver,
and I know that my city, state,
as well as my great country have
been strengthened and enriched
by the diversity immigrants bring.
The failure to pass commonsense
immigration reform is hurting
our economy and communities
around the country.
The reforms must ensure safe,
secure jobs and protect labor
rights that guarantee the uniform
enforcement of worker protection
standards, including real, en-
forceable remedies for labor and
employment law violations for
all workers—regardless of their
immigration status. Abuses in the
current visa program that under-
mine the focus on retraining and
hiring American workers should
be addressed before any expan-
sion of existing guest worker pro-
grams is considered.
An immigration reform plan
also should reduce incentives for
employers to hire undocumented
or temporary foreign workers. All
workers, foreign-born and native,
should be guaranteed full work-
place rights, including the right
to self-petition, mobility and the
right to organize. Any comprehen-
sive immigration reform legisla-
tion must incorporate a workable
solution to address the future flow
of immigrants that includes the
needs of the American economy.
Family unification must be a
priority. Families should be al-
lowed to remain together. When
parents are deported and separat-
ed from their children, our com-
munities suffer. Undocumented
immigrants have settled roots
and are working and contributing
members of their communities.
They need a road map to earn
legalization to come out of the
shadows.
I also strongly support an im-
migration policy that allows U.S.
citizens, visa-contingent workers
and lawful permanent residents
the ability to seek a visa on the
basis of a permanent relationship
with a same-sex partner. The plan
must also increase access to high-
er education.
The DREAM Act is a criti-
cal part of immigration reform.
About 65,000 undocumented
students graduate from high
school each year. Yet, without the
DREAM Act, they are relegated
to a life in the underground econ-
omy. Dream Act Students have
done everything our society has
asked them to do; yet, they are
still being punished.
The DREAM Act is good for
our students, and it’s good for our
economy. For our DREAMers
who already have gone through
the process and received tempo-
rary relief through the Deferred
Action for Childhood Arriv-
als program, there should be a
streamlined process towards cit-
izenship.
Let this year be the year that
we stand in solidarity with im-
migrant workers and communi-
ties by urging Congress to finally
pass comprehensive immigration
reform with a path to citizenship
and real job protections!
Deborah Hall is a longtime
leader at Portland Community
College where she has worked and
represented classified employees.
She resides in Vancouver.
Stairs (12-16 stairs - With
Other Services) : $25.00
Area/Oriental Rugs:
$25.00 Minimum
Area/Oriental Rugs (Wool) :
$40.00 Minimum
Heavily Soiled Area:
Additional $10.00 each area
(Requiring Extensive Pre-Spraying)
UPHOLSTERY
CLEANING
Sofa: $69.00
Loveseat: $49.00
Sectional: $109 - $139
Chair or Recliner:
$25 - $49
Throw Pillows (With
Other Services) : $5.00
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