...K P F T news

LEAD-IN BY RENEE FELTZ: Local groups are pushing for legalization of illegal immigrants. Sally Schmidt has the details:

STORY: The Diocese of Galveston-Houston along with other local and national organizations are working to help some illegal immigrants in the United States one signature at a time. Sam Dunning, Director of the Office of Justice and Peace for the Diocese, tells us about the program: A Million Voices for Legalization.

Schmidt: Who started this effort to legalize working illegal immigrants?

Dunning: "This is sponsored by a nationwide coalition of organizations. The primary instigator of this is the Service Employees International Union."

Schmidt: Aren't labor unions typically against immigrants taking jobs in the United States?

Dunning: "There was a time in the history of the labor movement in this country when labor did reject immigration. They were fighting against immigration into this country out of fear that these people were taking away lower paying jobs from U.S. citizens. And the reality is that that simply doesn't happen, except in times of extreme recession."

Schmidt: What do you hope to accomplish with a million signatures for legalization?

Dunning: "We want to resurrect the conversation over the reform of immigration policy that really was reaching something of a fever pitch before September 11 last year. What we're trying to do is re-ignite that conversation in Congress and at the White House.

Schmidt:The process for earning legal status may take years and years of complicated and expensive bureaucratic red tape. What can you do about that?

Dunning: "What we hope to accomplish is a streamline of the process for those that are already here."

Schmidt:However, there are objections to a million signatures for legalization. What are they?

Dunning: "The objections to the effort I think represent a small bur certainly vocal opinion across the American populace. And they include, first of all concerns over security. It seems to me rather than having between 6 and 10 million undocumented persons in this country, that it would be best to provide them with legal status so they are filing income tax forms, they do have driver licensees, they do have social security numbers, so that they can be identified. If they are documented, then the government knows who they are and where they are."

The government appears to know the whereabouts of at least some of these immigrants. According to the Service Employees International Union, 50,000 members of America's armed forces are non-citizen immigrants.

Schmidt:Who exactly are you trying to help?

"The people that we are speaking to on this issue, that we're hoping to help are people who have been here for many, many years. They contribute to our economy, they contribute by paying taxes every time they purchase items or services and they contribute with their semi-skilled and unskilled labor.

One of these laborers is Rosa, who asked us not to use her real name. Rosa has been in the U.S. over ten years and works cleaning houses.

"I came to U.S. because I wanted to have a better life ... I want to work ..."

Dunning:"And the reality is, these people come to expanding labor markets and they fill jobs that typically are lower-income and they fit a niche in the workforce. And the labor unions have made a commitment to organize them and protect and advocate for their rights as well."

Rosa:"It is so hard to come over here ... and all the way ... it is so dangerous to come over here. A lot of people rob you the money ä they try to kill you, they try to abuse you sexual. It is so hard. I hear all the people say in thew U.S. you can have a better life over here if you work. That's why I wanted to come over here."

Schmidt: How many signatures have you gotten so far?

Dunning:"Well the goal for our region is 100,000 cards. We haven't got a county yet because it was this past weekend and we will continue the drive next weekend."

Petition cards can be signed by visiting Service Employees International Union Web site at www.seiu.org.

Sally Schmidt, KPFT News, Houston.

E-mail Sally Schmidt at sschimdt50@juno.com