WASHINGTON, DC - As the House Judiciary Committee meets to mark-up the so-called Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act" (H.R. 2278), also known as the SAFE Act, Eliseo Medina, Secretary-Treasurer of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), issued the following statement:

"The extremist bill being considered today by the House Judiciary Committee is a radical piece of legislation that runs completely counter to the ever growing consensus among the American public that we need to reform our immigration system in a smart, realistic and fair way.

"This bill, which essentially aims to lock up all undocumented immigrants over the age of 18, is ridiculous, cold-hearted and unrealistic and has no place in the bipartisan debate about commonsense immigration reform. Further, this bill would give state and local governments unchecked power to enforce immigration laws, including detention decisions, and offer no protection against racial profiling.

"We urge the House Judiciary Committee to reject this bill and for its leadership to join the mainstream movement to reform our immigration system once and for all in a way that honors and upholds our American values."

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