Washington,
D.C. - Today, HIAS - the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society - praises and
thanks Representatives Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.)
for their efforts to come up with a workable, sensible, and humane
immigration reform plan that lives up to America's tradition as a
welcoming nation.

The STRIVE Act of 2007, a bipartisan bill introduced by
Representatives Flake and Gutierrez, combines the promise of legal
status for people who have a record of contributing to the nation's
economy and communities, smarter and more strategic federal immigration
law enforcement, and a visa system that employers can use to hire new
workers with labor rights while at the same time protecting the rights
of native-born workers.

"The STRIVE Act offers a real path to citizenship that will bring
people out of the shadows and enable workers that our economy
desperately needs to come to this country in the future," says Lisa
Shuger, director of HIAS' Washington office. "This proposal embodies
many of the core principles HIAS believes are fundamental to effective,
comprehensive immigration reform."

"We're especially pleased that the bill would hasten family
reunification through the reduction of backlogs and includes
protections for detained asylum seekers," said Gideon Aronoff,
president and CEO of HIAS. The bill would enhance the family
immigration system, and would implement many of the recommendations
made two years ago by the United States Commission on International
Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in its report on asylum seekers in expedited
removal. "For half a century, the principles of family unity and
refugee protection have been the cornerstone of our immigration policy.
This bill goes far in upholding these fundamental principles."

Adds Shuger, "In many respects, today's newcomers, whether economic
migrants, refugees, or individuals seeking to be reunited with their
families, face many of the same challenges that our parents,
grandparents and great grandparents faced years ago. How we choose to
respond to today's newcomers says a lot about who we are as
individuals, as a community, and as a country."

HIAS/STRIVE Act, add one

"Recognizing that no bill is perfect, there are some provisions in
the STRIVE Act that we would like to see improved" says Aronoff. "In
particular, any "touchback" requirement, which would require
undocumented immigrants to exit and re-enter the country, would have to
be workable, efficient and humane for immigrants to be able to access
the legalization program. We are also concerned that the bill does
nothing to stem the erosion of due process, which began with the
draconian immigration legislation passed in 1996. But the thrust of
this bill is on target and HIAS will work to support it in the months
ahead."

Recently, more than 30 prominent leaders in the American Jewish
community sent a letter to congressional leaders urging passage of fair
and workable immigration reform. Leaders of HIAS, the American Jewish
Committee, American Jewish Congress, Anti-Defamation League, B'nai
B'rith International, Jewish Council for Public Affairs and United
Jewish Communities, among others, spoke out about the need to reform
our immigration system in a way that makes the United States stronger
and safer. As the letter points out, it is through the teachings of our
religious and ethical traditions and core American values that we
should look for guidance on immigration reform. HIAS, the American
Jewish community's international migration agency, will continue to
advocate for final passage of a legislative package that includes an
earned path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who fulfill
reasonable criteria, effective and humane border enforcement, wider
legal channels for immigrants to work in the U.S. with their rights
fully protected, and enhancements to the family-based immigration
system so that families are not unduly separated from their loved ones.