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America's Immigration Policies Should Reward Work

 America is a nation of immigrants. Except for Native Americans, we all have roots in other nations. Immigrants built this country and built our union movement as well...

Our outdated immigration laws force many immigrants and their families - even those who work hard, pay taxes, and make essential contributions to our economy - to live in fear of deportation for simply doing the work we count on.

SEIU supports immigration reform for hard-working, tax paying immigrants already in this country.

 Why? Because immigrant rights are important to the rights of all workers.

• all workers deserve fairness and basic rights
• immigrants work hard, pay taxes, and contribute to our communities and economies
• documented and undocumented, immigrants work in jobs we all depend on. They are janitors, waitresses, hotel maids, construction workers, teachers, nursing home aides, doctors - and more
• undocumented immigrants are too often exploited by employers - not paid the wages or overtime they are due and sent to work in dangerous conditions
• legal status for undocumented immigrants will make it harder for employers to intimidate all workers who demand fair pay and the freedom to join unions
  (Source:  AFL-CIO, 2002)