The U.S. Department of Labor and the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) will host a conference call to discuss Immigration for the 21st Century on Thursday, May 19, 2011 from 3:45 pm – 4:15 pm EDT.  We hope you will join Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu and WHIAAPI Executive Director Kiran Ahuja for this important call.

What:                   Conference Call with AAPI Leaders to discuss the President’s Immigration Speech
When:                  Thursday, May 19, 2011 from 3:45 pm – 4:15 pm EDT
Call in number: 888-606-5913
Verbal code:      “DOL”

In his remarks, President Obama outlined the following steps for fixing the broken immigration system to meet our 21st century economic and security needs:
    •    We should reform our visa system to make it easier for the best and the brightest to not only study here, but also to start businesses and create jobs here.
    •    Our laws should respect families following the rules – reuniting them more quickly instead of splitting them apart.
    •    We need to pass the DREAM Act.  We should stop punishing innocent young people for the actions of their parents by denying them the chance to earn an education or serve in the military.
While fixing our broken immigration system is a national concern, we also understand that this is an issue that is particularly relevant for AAPIs because nearly two-thirds of all AAPIs are foreign born and almost 40 percent of all immigrants in our country are from Asia.  President Obama will continue to lead a constructive and civil debate on this issue.  Please join the call to continue to move the debate forward.

This call is not intended for press purposes and is off the record.

Please send your RSVP to uno.malcolm.a@dol.gov.  Thank you.

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders