Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke hosted a press conference on Capitol Hill with Churches United to Save and Heal (CUSH), a group of Caribbean-American pastors, calling for Congress to renew its commitment to Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR).

“I was honored to host CUSH on Capitol Hill today. It gives me great pleasure to join their call for Congress to address Comprehensive Immigration Reform. I represent one our nation’s most diverse districts so it is easy for me to see the importance of this debate. I applaud CUSH for working so diligently to highlight the significance of CIR,” stated Rep. Clarke

There, pastors discussed how a broken immigration system has negatively affected their parishioners. They also discussed how the Caribbean and African immigrant communities can expand the debate of CIR to help bolster support for pending legislation.

“We are asking the Obama Administration to focus on Comprehensive Immigration Reform like a laser beam. Who better to fully understand the importance of this issue then the son of a Kenyan immigrant? This is the next challenge for our nation and no more will we let this issue fall to the wayside,” said Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.

Speaking pastors included Chairman of CUSH Bishop Orlando Findlayter;
Reverend Dennis Dillion, Rev. Herbert Daughtery, and Rev. Dr. Philius Nicholas.

With the conviction that CIR is a moral obligation, this group of over 100 pastors visited offices of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and offices of the New York delegation.

“The time is now to expand the face of the CIR debate. Everyone’s voices must be heard particularly in the Caribbean and Africa immigrant communities. When we turn our back on those who come to these shores to become Americans, to be a part of building our great nation, and to embrace the American Dream, we are turning our back on ourselves. We must never forget that this debate is critical to improving the lives of all American citizens, American businesses, and the lives of those who seek to be Americans,” concluded Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.

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