East Tenn. Immigrant Organizations Mostly Favor Bush Proposal

East Tenn. Immigrant Organizations Mostly Favor Bush Proposal

January 7, 2004

By TIM MILLER
6 News Anchor/Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- After President Bush proposed his immigration overhaul Wednesday, East Tennessee organizations that work with immigrants say it's a good first step.

If the law passes and is effective, they say it could change lives forever.

Jeannine Ugarte is an assistant director with the Catholic diocese of Knoxville. She does much of her work at the Hispanic Catholic Ministry, assisting priests who serve the Hispanic community and helping immigrants stay in touch with their culture.

Ugarte said the current immigration system doesn't allow potential immigrants to take jobs that are already waiting for them in the U.S. But she feels change is on the way. "Just by the fact that the president addresses this issue is very hopeful."

And Ugarte said she thinks the proposed law will allow immigrants to legally make a living in construction, agriculture and other jobs that go unfilled because many Americans don't want them.

"If we address these things, we can bring people in to work on these jobs and to have their proper visas and their proper documentation and they can be living and working here," she explained.

Monica Hernandez, of the Tennessee Immigrants and Refugees' Rights Coalition (TIRRC), also said change is desperately needed.

Hernandez said she feels immigrants would get their visas and live without fear whether they want to bring their families to live in the U.S. permanently, or make enough money to move back home.

"When our community hears about something like this, people get excited because it's been years and years and years of waiting and hoping," Hernandez said.

But the Coalition has one major concern. The president's proposal calls for temporary, three-year visas, which some think could end up shattering dreams in the making. "Will they be forced to leave? Will they have access to obtaining permanent status?" Hernandez asked.

Nearly 150,000 Hispanics live in Tennessee currently. In the past two years, the state's Hispanic population growth was the 11th fastest in the nation.

The Immigrants Rights Coalition says the proposed law could help all immigrants, not just Hispanics.

The Coalition also says Americans don't realize the contributions that immigrants make to the economy and society.