LOS ANGELES, CA – The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund issued the following statement in response to today’s succession of Kirsten Gillibrand to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by former Senator Hilary Clinton:

“Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s record and public statements as a U.S. Representative raise troubling concerns about her lack of commitment to comprehensive immigration reform and fair and effective immigration enforcement measures.  She supported legislative proposals that would impose costly requirements on employers to verify the employment eligibility of workers through a federal computerized system that has a high error rate in misidentifying the eligibility status of immigrants.  The use of flawed employment verification systems could deny many American workers the right to employment, and would weaken our economy. 

“Senator Gillibrand also favored policies that increase the involvement of local police in the enforcement of federal immigration law.  These policies could jeopardize public safety by making police less available when needed to respond to local crimes and emergencies.  The policies also impair law enforcement efforts by making newcomers fearful of reporting crimes or cooperating with local police.

“Senator Gillibrand has now assumed a critical position of leadership in a state where more than one out of five residents is foreign-born.  She is the successor to former U.S. Senator Hilary Clinton, who recognized the need to fix America’s broken immigration system through effective legislative proposals.  Historically, immigrants shaped the economic, cultural and civic life of New York, and they will continue to make invaluable contributions to the state’s future vitality and prosperity.  We are deeply concerned about whether Senator Gillibrand understands these contributions, and we urge her to demonstrate her commitment to fair and effective immigration policies during her efforts in the U.S. Senate.

“Senator Gillibrand’s past public statements also raise doubts about her stance on comprehensive immigration reform.  Now that the Senator has taken office, she will be responsible for representing all of New York’s residents and promoting policies that are in the best interest of the state and the nation.  We urge her to support legislation that respects the rights of immigrants and non-immigrants, brings undocumented workers out of the shadows, and restores fairness to the rules governing newcomers and employers.  As a public servant who is accountable to all New Yorkers, Senator Gillibrand must work with the U.S. Senate to make a comprehensive immigration reform a top priority in the 111th Congress.