THE CAMEROON AMERICAN COUNCIL

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1 PRESS RELEASE THE CAMEROON AMERICAN COUNCIL Dr. Aisha Audu-Emeje, Yves Bouele, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, May 6 th, 2013, Washington D.C. National Press Club, Zenger Room, 9am-11am Seeking Senate Judiciary Committee to Sponsor an Amendment NOT to Repeal of the Diversity Visa Program (section 2303) On April 16, 2013, the United States Senators that make up the gang of 8 presented the bipartisan framework for comprehensive immigration reform titled Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, or S744. The Senate s bipartisan framework is based on four Basic Legislative Pillars: 1) Create a tough but fair path to citizenship. 2) Reform our legal immigration system. 3) Create an effective employment verification system. 4) Establish an improved process for admitting future workers. Statement by the CAC- African Immigration Legal and Advocacy Committee for Immigration Reform We applaud the progressive positions on the need for comprehensive reform of our Immigration laws. This draft bill addresses several issues that have been long due for correction. It is clearly a step in the right direction, and we hope you will continue to champion the need for sensible, humane immigration laws. We are concerned about specific provisions of the bill that, we believe, should be addressed in the mark up of the bill. The Senate s comprehensive immigration reform bill, challenges these four basic pillars by eliminating the Diversity Immigration Visa Program ( DV Program ). The DV Program visas are allocated to natives of countries from which immigrant admissions were lower than a grand total of 50,000 over the preceding five years. This program "fosters new and more varied migration to counterbalance an immigration system weighted disproportionately to family-based immigrants." The DV Program is built upon foundational, democratic and egalitarian principles that strengthen America. These principles advance equal opportunity, attracts entrepreneurs 1 P a g e info@cameroonamericancouncil.org

2 and visionaries who contribute immensely to the American small business sector, and improves the quality of our social, economic, political and cultural life. As background, the DV Program was introduced by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy to address the historical bias in the United States immigration laws. For decades people from certain parts of the world are not allowed or restricted from entering the United States. Built in the program is a provision that eliminates certain countries from participating in the lottery once the immigration level reaches a certain level. The DV Program allowed applicants from these underrepresented countries to legally enter the United States. From 2003 to 2012, thousands of Africans have taken advantage of this program to legally enter the United States. Of the 55,000 visas available annually, below is the breakdown of actual visa recipients from Africa for the past 10 years: Year * African Continent 19,227 17,146 19,118 19,548 18,046 22,960 24,648 24,745 24,015 13,582 Totals We are concerned that the Senate's plan to eliminate the DV Program will stem the future flow of immigration from African countries and negatively impact the future make-up of America. There is no evidence to show that the point system will make up for the loss of future flow immigration from Africa. Thousands of DV Program winners from African countries have served in the U.S. military in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. One will occasionally hear heart-warming stories of recruits signing up and later serving in the country they came from as US military officers. Still, other DV Program winners have gone to successful professional careers, started and grew businesses in MN, DE, CT, RI and all over the United States. The DV Program has had the effect of lifting families out of poverty; provided opportunities to the affected families; and provided a talent pool for the U.S. economy. It has been a very successful foreign policy, civil rights achievement and national security tool. African immigrants provide vital services to United States citizens, especially the young and aging American population through services such as Home Health Care Center and by serving as au pairs. African immigrants contribute to the transportation service industry as taxi cab and limousine drivers, owners of taxi cab and limousine companies and as owners of small businesses in the United States. These collective efforts benefit the nation as a whole. As part of a highly educated group, they will also contribute to the nation s global competitiveness in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields but Congress must preserve the American Dream for those who may not be superstars in the global migration system, at this time. 2 P a g e info@cameroonamericancouncil.org

3 African Immigration Solutions in Addition to the Protection Diversity Visa Program In light of the Senate s comprehensive immigration bill s proposed elimination of the DV Program, the following amendments to the Merit Based Immigrant visa are recommended in addition to protecting the DV Program: 1) 50,000 visas formerly reserved for DV eligible countries i.e., unrepresented countries, be set aside in the new merit-based system; 2) Increase Country of Origin points to 20 points for nationals of underrepresented countries; 3) F-1 students and F-2 dependents get employment authorization documents; 4) Expand the requirements of the proposed STEM Visa Program to include advance degree in medical/nursing/health sciences. Thus adding an extra M to STEM to become STEMM. 5) Expand the requirements of the W Visa to include low skilled workers of the Allied Health Professions such as CNAs, LPNs, Nurses Aides, Home health care, Medical technicians, etc 6) Reduce the 13 year wait for RPIs to correspond with the DREAM ACT and agricultural visa timeline; 7) With the tough border provisions in place, it would make sense to begin the cut-off the date with the enactment bill 8) Make provisions for RPIs who won t be able to access federal benefits such as the Affordable Care Act that their tax dollars pay into and help sustain. Action: The CAC- African Immigrant Legal and Advocacy Committee for Immigration Reform is an ad hoc group of Immigration lawyers, scholars, organizers and civil society groups called together to organize and advocate on behalf of African immigrants in response to the Comprehensive Immigration Bill. About the Cameroon American Council (CAC) The Cameroon American Council (CAC) is a Washington, DC based leading African Immigrant Advocacy Organization. Its mission is to build capacity, relevance and visibility within African communities in the US. The Cameroon American Council carries out its mission through innovative health policy and outreach, arts advocacy and audience development and capacity building of African Leaders and African institutions/businesses. Its multidisciplinary approach to advocacy has being hailed by The Washington Post as the First Program of Its Kind. CAC s national network reaches over 300,000 African immigrants, including first and second generations, across the United States. In 2011, the Founder/CEO Sylvie Bello was recognized by the African Immigrant Magazine as the Top 100 Africans Making a Difference in America. 3 P a g e info@cameroonamericancouncil.org

4 Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee Press Releases Contact: Shana Chandler SMITH RECOGNIZES AFRICAN IMMIGRANT HEALTH AND HERITAGE MONTH Washington, Sep WASHINGTON, DC- Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) today made the following statement recognizing African Immigrant Health and Heritage Month. This year, the theme for African Immigrant Health and Heritage Month honors those African immigrants who have served in our Armed Forces: I am proud that Governor Christine Gregoire has recognized September as African Immigrant Health and Heritage Month, highlighting the tremendous contributions millions of African immigrants have made to our nation. As the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have had the opportunity to see firsthand the contributions that African immigrants make to our national security. Their commitment, courage and honor are commendable, and we should take this month to remember and appreciate all that these fine men and women have done for our nation. It is also imperative that we use African Immigrant Health and Heritage Month to bring attention to the health challenges this community currently faces. In addition to infectious diseases, African immigrants are generally vulnerable to chronic illnesses such as coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. By raising awareness, we can improve health services and networks to confront health disparities, serve the African immigrant population in a comprehensive way, and promote lifesaving preventative measures. ### More information at:

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