One Hundred Refugee and Immigrant Leaders Participate in PICC’s 2014 Immigrant Advocacy Day

 ***MEDIA ADVISORY***

One Hundred Refugee and Immigrant Leaders, Families and Allies From Across Pennsylvania To Meet with Pennsylvania Legislators in Harrisburg for 2014 Immigrant Advocacy Day

Philadelphia, PA – On Tuesday, April 29th, more than one hundred refugee and immigrant leaders, families and allies from across Pennsylvania will meet with Pennsylvania legislators to call for pro-immigrant policies that reflect the contributions of and issues prioritized by Pennsylvania’s growing immigrant and refugee population. In the face of continued congressional inaction on comprehensive federal legislation to fix our broken immigration system, diverse immigrant and refugee groups and allies from across Pennsylvania have stepped up their collective efforts to advocate for pro-immigrant policies at the local and state levels, including tuition equity, equal access to drivers licenses and health care, and an end to local law enforcement collaboration with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Earlier this month, Mayor Nutter signed historic legislation effectively ending local law enforcement collaboration with ICE on immigration detainers, taking Philadelphia one step further to becoming a truly welcoming City for immigrants and putting Pennsylvania on the map as having one of the most progressive policies in the nation.

This year in conjunction with the annual Immigrant Advocacy day and in partnership with refugee community organizations and resettlement agencies, PICC is holding a Refugee Leadership training in Harrisburg on Monday, April 28th. Thirty refugee leaders, representing 11 countries of origin and all regions of Pennsylvania, will come together for a full day of training to increase the capacity of the refugee community in Pennsylvania to take leadership in raising awareness about the benefits of refugee resettlement and advocate for increased support for resettlement at the local and state level. On April 29th, refugee community leaders will be joined by 75-100 immigrant leaders for a shared day of advocacy training and action with a chance for refugee and immigrant community leaders to build connections and relationships. Ahslie Rosas, a Dreamer from West Chester, says: “We are going to Harrisburg as a community to show legislators we are united”.

WHAT: Press Conference
WHERE: Southeast Corner of Ryan Office Building (outside Pennsylvania State Capitol)
WHEN: Tuesday April 29th 2014 at 1pm
WHO: Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition. Participating organizations include: AFRICOM, Bhutanese Community Associations, Catholic Charities Immigration & Refugee Services, Church World Service – Lancaster, Comunidad Unida de Lehigh Valley, De Facto Americans, Decarcerate Pennsylvania, Fight for Drivers Licenses/Lucha Pro Licencias, Greater Reading Immigration Project, HIAS Pennsylvania, Japanese American Citizens League, JUNTOS, Lutheran Advocacy Pennsylvania, Nationalities Service Center, New Sanctuary Movement, Pennsylvania Council of Churches, Philadelphia Storytelling Project, Public Citizens for Children and Youth, Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network, Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians

Press Contacts:

Annamore Matambanadzo, Pittsburgh (Refugee Leader): 412-657-0566

Ahslie Rosas, West Chester Dreamer (PICC – Tuition Equity): 484-319-3840

Jasmine Rivera/Miguel Andrade (JUNTOS – Drivers Licenses/Tuition Equity): 215-218-9079

Desi Burnette (Fight for Drivers Licenses)