Emerald Isle Immigration Center

(Washington, DC) – The
Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) in conjunction with the
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and the Progressive
Caucus met with a diverse coalition of organizations invested in the
debate on Comprehensive Immigration Reform. The focus of the
discussion was on how to advance legislation this year that would enact
the reforms necessary to fix the broken immigration system.  In March
the CHC met with President Barack Obama and received his commitment to
move the debate on immigration reform forward during his first year.

"The debate on comprehensive immigration
reform cannot wait another day, as families continue to be torn apart
when they are unable to navigate our nation's broken immigration
system," said Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Chairwoman of the CHC.
 "Students are left in limbo and farms are facing shortages of workers
every day we continue to put off reform.  History has shown us that
immigrants contribute to our nation's economy by entrepreneurship,
creation of an increased tax base, and helping raise wages for all
workers.  Passing comprehensive immigration reform will help improve
our struggling economy, and that is another reason we are ready to move
forward today."

"I am proud our community is standing
shoulder to shoulder with Members of Congress, energized to push for
comprehensive immigration reform this year," said Congressman Michael
Honda, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. "There
is much strength in the diversity of this American coalition that
includes Asians and Latinos, civil rights and faith-based
organizations, business and labor. Together, as Americans, we are up to
the challenge of fixing our broken immigration system and creating one
that is worthy of our great nation."

"Today, civil rights coalitions, faith
groups, labor unions and business representatives from across the
country convened in Washington to discuss next steps toward realizing
comprehensive immigration reform," said Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez,
Chair of the CHC Immigration Task Force. "Our meeting was part of
ongoing discussions the CHC is having, not only with community leaders,
but also with members of Congress in both chambers and on both sides of
the aisle, regarding their commitment to a comprehensive package. Based
on these ongoing discussions, we are confident that that the time to
move forward is now. When the CHC sat down with President Obama last
month, he reiterated his commitment to immigration reform that
stabilizes our economy, secures our borders and keeps our families
together. President Obama assured the CHC that in May he would launch
his Administration's efforts to achieve comprehensive immigration
reform; however, time is quickly running out, as American families
continue to be separated from their loved ones. We continue to look to
President Obama to lead on this issue, and we urge him to honor his
promise -not only to the CHC but to all Americans- by presenting a
solution that keeps husbands and wives, parents and children together

"The pursuit to attain comprehensive
immigration reform is about correcting the current law and ensuring
that we incorporate protection for American workers and immigrants,"
stated Congressman Raul M. Grijalva, Co-Chair of the Congressional
Progressive Caucus and Chair of the CHC Education and Job Training Task
Force.  "We are a nation of immigrants and must ensure that we keep
families together, strengthen due process, and address the issue,
rather than hindering by punitive anti-immigrant laws."
*** Pictures available at http://bit.ly/KNfhC ***

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) is comprised of Members of
Congress of Hispanic descent.  Since 1976 the CHC has been addressing
the needs of the Hispanic community in all areas of American life.  For
more information on the CHC, call (202) 225-2410.
http://velazquez.house.gov/chc

Members of Congress Attending

Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, NY-12, Chair of the CHC
Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez, IL-04, Chair of CHC's Immigration Task Force
Rep. Xavier Becerra, CA-31, Vice Chair of House Democratic Caucus
Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, AZ-07, Chair of CHC's Education and Job Training Task Force, Co-Chair of Congressional Progressive Caucus
Rep. Joe Baca, CA-43, Chair of CHC's Corporate America Task Force
Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, TX-27
Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, NM-03, Chair of CHC Green Economy/Renewable Energy Task Force
Rep. Gregorio Sablan, MP-At Large
Rep. Jim Costa, CA-20
Rep. Grace Napolitano, CA-38
Rep. Michael Honda, CA-15, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
Rep. Charles Rangel, NY-15, Chair of House Ways and Means Committee
Rep. Jared Polis, CO-02, Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Co-Chair of LGBT Equality Caucus
Rep. Yvette Clarke, NY-11, Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus

Organizations Attending

Hispanic National Bar Foundation
National Immigration Forum
Sojourners
United Farm Workers
No More Deaths
Center for American Progress
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Mexicans for Immigration Reform
United Farm Workers
United Methodist Church
Chicago Celts from Immigration Reform
Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform
Texas Employees for Immigration Reform
Hispanic National Bar Foundation
Centro Sin Fronteras
UFCW
Border Action Network
New York Immigration Coalition
America's Voice
El Rebano Church, Chicago
Irish Apostolate
New York Immigration Coalition
Casa Maryland
National Korean American Education and Service Consortium
Jewish Council on Urban Affairs
New York Immigration Coalition
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
TechAmerica (AeA)
National Association of Home Builders
National Association of Evangelicals
MALDEF
Emerald Isle Immigration Center
SEIU
Gamaliel
Immigration Equality
Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition
Asian American Justice Center
El Rebano Church, Chicago
Esperanza U.S.A.
America's Voice
Florida Immigrant Coalition
Mujeres Unidas en Accion/ ICIRR
Center for Community Change
Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey
National Immigration Forum
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
Women's Refugee Coalition
Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform
Hispanic Coalition for CIR
American Farm Bureau
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
Florida Faith Coalition
American Friends Service Committee
NDN
Adelberto United Methodist Church
AFL-CIO
Asian American Justice Center
Ohio Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition
Northern Mariana Islands: Advocate
NDN

Release Date: January 12, 2009

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

The U.S. Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) today reminded travelers from all Visa Waiver Program
(VWP) countries that they are now required to obtain approval through
the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to
traveling to the United States. This requirement, effective today,
applies to all eligible citizens or nationals traveling under the VWP.

"We have been collecting information from
visa waiver travelers for decades, and establishing a program to get
that same information in advance is one enhancement that allowed us to
extend the valuable benefit of visa-free travel to eight new countries
in 2008," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "In
addition to building business and cultural ties with our partners
overseas, this is a commonsense step into the 21st century that will
improve our efficiency in screening and welcoming international
travelers at our ports of entry."

ESTA is a web-based system, initially
launched in August 2008, that determines the preliminary eligibility of
visitors to travel under the VWP prior to boarding a carrier to the
United States. To date, more than 1.2 million ESTA applications have
been received, and more than 99.6 percent of applicants have been
approved, most within seconds.

DHS will take a reasonable approach to travelers who have
not obtained an approved travel authorization via ESTA, and will continue
an aggressive advertising and outreach campaign throughout 2009. Travelers
without an approved ESTA are advised, however, that they may be denied boarding,
experience delayed processing, or be denied admission at a U.S. port of entry.
Visitors may apply for travel authorization via the ESTA Web site at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov .

DHS received authorization for VWP reforms through the
Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. The VWP
is administered by the department and enables eligible citizens or nationals
of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business
for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. To be admitted to
the VWP, a country must meet various statutory requirements, such as more
enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the U.S.
and timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports.  VWP
members are also required to maintain high counter-terrorism, law enforcement,
border control, and document security standards.

The citizens or nationals of the
following countries are currently eligible to travel to the United
States under the VWP: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, the
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Latvia,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands,
New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Eight of
these countries joined the VWP in 2008, and their citizens and
nationals have been required to comply with an ESTA since their
designation as VWP participants: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary,
the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Malta.

For additional information on ESTA, visit www.cbp.gov/esta, and for more information on the VWP, please visit http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/business_pleasure/vwp/.

Passports Will Be Required for Land and Sea Entry to the United States Beginning
June 1, 2009

Beginning
June 1, 2009, citizens of the United States, Canada and Bermuda will
soon be required to present a passport or an acceptable alternative
document when entering the United States by land or sea from Canada,
Mexico, the Caribbean region or Bermuda. The new requirements were put
in place by the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), a border
security program.

U.S., Canadian and Bermudian citizens will be required
to present one of the following when entering the United States by land or
sea on or after June 1:

• A valid passport
• A valid U.S. passport card
(U.S. citizens only).
• A Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler program card, such as
a NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST program card.
• An enhanced driver's licensed (EDL).
EDLs are driver's licenses that require applicants to provide proof of their
citizenship or immigration status. Currently, EDLs are issued by some U.S.
states and Canadian provinces.
• A U.S. military identification card, with proof of military travel orders.
• A U.S. Merchant Marine Document.
• An enhanced tribal identification card,
issued by some Native American tribes.

Children
under the age of 16 will be able to enter with proof of citizenship, such as
a birth certificate, naturalization certificate or citizenship card.

Until
June 1, U.S., Canadian and Bermudian citizens will be able to enter the United
States by land or sea by presenting a document proving citizenship–such as
a birth certificate or citizenship certificate–together with government-issued
photo identification, though travelers age 18 and under may enter with proof
of citizenship alone. Note that citizens of these countries who are traveling
by air must present a passport when entering the United States; this requirement
has been in place under the WHTI since January 23, 2007.

U.S. lawful permanent residents are not affected
by the WHTI passport requirements. These individuals may continue to present
their Form I-551 permanent resident cards when entering the United States by
air, land or sea