Leading up to a twice-postponed meeting with Congress members to discuss immigration reform this Thursday, members of the President's administration are showing signs of ‘slow-walking’ on immigration reform. Undercutting the President's commitment to pass comprehensive immigration reform this year, WH Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, now says it is unlikely, according to an article in Roll Call today: http://www.rollcall.com/news/36115-1.html. The following is a statement by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR.)

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) is disappointed by the White House staff’s recent signals around their original promise to move immigration reform this year. “The White House needs to show they can walk and chew gum at the same time,” said ICIRR Executive Director, Joshua Hoyt. “Our nation, our economy, our national security, and over 12 million undocumented workers and families desperately need the President to fulfill his promise of a solution to our broken immigration system this year. The voters are in front of the politicians on this one and it is absolutely unacceptable to begin ‘slow-walking’ on this issue.”

As part of the recently-launched Reform Immigration for America campaign, ICIRR and its members urge President Obama to come up with a timeline and plan to pass a just and humane immigration reform this year. American families across the nation, faith, labor, and business allies are depending on President Obama to keep his promise and come up with a solution to our broken immigration system. Our nation needs to pass just and humane immigration reform that brings immigrants out from the shadows, offers opportunities for safe future migration, protects all workers, and helps immigrants integrate into American society.

“What You Can Do”: Supporters of immigration reform are urged to sign up to become part of the campaign for immigration reform solutions by:

o Text “justice” to 69866 to sign up in English;

o Text “justicia” to 69866 to sign up in Spanish;

o Go to www.icirr.org/foramerica or icirr.org/proamerica.