|
The
Congress of Racial Quality has long been involved in the struggle for
the rights of immigrants. Working closely with Senate and House
sponsors, CORE played a major role in developing the final language and
winning approval for one of the most sweeping reforms of our country’s
immigration laws—the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
(IRCA-1986) also known as the Simpson-Rodino Act. This legislation
established a process by which certain undocumented aliens living in the
United States could receive amnesty and apply for legal status.
CORE’s long established record of assistance to the immigrant
community and its successful involvement in creating the new policy led
to its selection by the Department of Justice as a National Coordinating
Agency (NCA). This special designation is shared by only eight (8) other nationally
and internationally known organizations across the country and affords
the organization an on-going role in developing regulations and
procedures surrounding immigration policy in America. CORE is the only
civil rights organization with this prestigious designation.
In addition, CORE was named a Qualified Designated Agencies (QDE)
certified to assist immigrants in applying for legal status and
authorized by the Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) to
conduct classes in English and civics and to administer tests for
citizenship.
CORE first became involved in immigration matters, particularly as they
relate to immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean, back in 1968.
CORE
found that undocumented aliens from Black, Latino and Oriental countries
were being exploited by unscrupulous individuals and were a prime source
of cheap labor for the infamous "sweat shops" in urban areas across the country.
Their fear of being discovered by the IRS and deported back to their
native country was an effective tool in keeping them silent and
obedient. CORE teaches immigrants how to exercise their basic civil and
human rights in order to recognize and prevent the abuse to which so
many were being subjected to.
Today, CORE operates a network of Immigration Counseling Centers across
the country staffed with counselors and volunteers trained to handle all
sorts of immigration problems.
* * * * * * |
