LOS ANGELES, CA –The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund issued the following statement regarding the introduction of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP) by U.S. Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL):

“We praise the introduction of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP) as an important step in providing a solution to fix our nation’s broken immigration system. We believe this legislation will serve as a catalyst for a much-needed dialogue about the best way to construct fair and humane immigration policies that will promote America’s social and economic well-being

“While we are still reviewing the details of the CIR ASAP Act, we believe its provisions generally comport with the principles for comprehensive immigration reform outlined by the NALEO Educational Fund Board of Directors. It appears to provide a path to U.S. citizenship for those immigrants who have played by the rules and are contributing to our society. Its provisions are also intended to promote family reunification and reduce immigration backlogs; assist immigrant students who are pursuing their education; protect our national security with effective and fair enforcement measures; and promote the civic integration of newcomers.

“We commend U.S. Rep. Gutierrez’ leadership in recognizing that comprehensive immigration reform provides a crucial opportunity to ensure that our nation’s naturalization process is accessible and affordable for all eligible legal permanent residents. We understand that the CIR ASAP Act includes provisions which enhance the transparency of the process for imposing naturalization fee increases, which are putting the dream of U.S. citizenship beyond the reach of many newcomers. These provisions lay the foundation for the fundamental changes in our system of financing immigration services that are needed to prevent exorbitant fee hikes.

“The CIR ASAP Act also improves the national security and the efficiency of the naturalization process by providing for greater accountability in the background checks that are conducted on applicants for U.S. citizenship. It promotes U.S. citizenship among elderly applicants by enhancing the fairness of policies for assessing the English language and civics skills of naturalization applicants. In addition, the bill establishes a national program to promote U.S. citizenship and help community organizations provide a wide range of naturalization education, outreach and assistance services to our nation’s newcomers.

“Our nation cannot afford to delay the hard work required to craft and enact a sound comprehensive immigration proposal. This must be a top priority when Congress begins its second session in 2010. We look forward to seeing legislation from the Senate addressing this critical issue, and we urge the White House to demonstrate the leadership needed to make comprehensive immigration reform a reality early next year.”

About NALEO Educational Fund
The NALEO Educational Fund is the nation's leading non-partisan, non-profit organization that facilitates the full participation of Latinos in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.