Latina health advocates welcome Obama’s call for immigration enforcement review

Also call on Congress, Administration to expand, not restrict, health care for immigrants

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Jessica González-Rojas, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s call for a review of his administration’s deportation policies:

“We welcome the Administration’s decision to review current immigration enforcement policies and practices. As the President has recognized, current policies too often hurt women and families. Despite record-low border crossings, this Administration is quickly approaching two million deportations, more than all other administrations in history combined. These inhumane policies needlessly tear families apart, separating mothers from their children, and create a climate of fear and stigma in immigrant communities.

“Furthermore, the Administration’s recent announcement that they would double-down on restrictions to affordable health care for immigrant communities underscores the need to reform our immigration policies and practices. 

“Instead of passing ever-more-draconian enforcement measures, or continuing the harmful and unnecessary deportations, Congress and the Administration should recognize the contributions and humanity of immigrant women and families. As an important first step, we urge passage of H.R. 4240, the Health Equity and Access under the Law (HEAL) for Immigrant Women and Families Act of 2014, which restores access to affordable health care for immigrants authorized to live and work in the United States.  It’s time for policymakers to advance humane immigration policy reform, for the health of millions of immigrant women and families.” 

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The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health is the only national reproductive justice organization dedicated to building Latina power to advance health, dignity, and justice for 26 million Latinas, their families, and communities in the United States through leadership development, community mobilization, policy advocacy, and strategic communications.