Less than a week after President Bush outlined measures to loosen immigration laws, Chicago immigrant advocates on Monday launched campaigns to argue that the proposals don’t go far enough.
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights will air 30-second spots on two Spanish television stations in Chicago this week that say Bush’s plan “is no American dream.”
The organization spent $5,000 on the spots, which were coordinated by national advocacy groups. Critics said Bush’s plan falls short because it does not provide an easy path to U.S. citizenship for a new group of temporary foreign workers.
“I’m really disgusted with the president’s proposal,” said Raul Raymundo, executive director of the Resurrection Project.
Beyond the television campaign, Mexican and labor groups announced a separate petition drive to highlight the flaws they see in the plan. The lobbying will focus on Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox.
