Diverse Congregations, Schools and Community Groups
Working Together for Fairness and Justice

Immigration Reform

A majority of PACT members have immigrated to this country from Latin America or the Caribbean. As a result, PACT members have often raised concerns regarding issues related to immigration.

Past Accomplishments
In 1999, PACT won a major victory in its campaign to improve the quality of service provided by the INS in South Florida. In response to a 600-person direct action meeting with top INS officials from the Miami district and follow-up negotiating sessions, the INS promised to implement most of PACT's proposals.

With steady monitoring from PACT, these promises were kept, resulting in the following four improvements to INS service in South Florida:

1. The INS has made automated telephone information available in Haitian Creole. It was previously available in English and Spanish only.

2. The INS has made information available regarding low-cost, reliable legal help for filling out INS paperwork. Many PACT members had complained of waiting in line all day only to be told that their papers were improperly filled out. At other times, members paid exorbitant fees for substandard service.

3. The INS dramatically reduced processing time for naturalization applications. Many community members had previously waited 24 months or longer, but pressure from PACT helped the INS reduce the waiting period to six months by September 2000, bringing the agency into compliance with federal standards.

4. The INS instituted a mandatory 2-day cultural sensitivity and customer service training for all employees. The organization previously provided no real training in these areas, and many PACT members were furious with unfair and disrespectful treatment.

Current Campaign Focus
PACT is working to secure passage of the DREAM Act, which will allow thousands of students with good moral character to become permanent residents.

PACT is working to improve relations between local police departments and the communities they serve. For example, many PACT members know people who have been taken off the streets for not possessing documentation, rather than having committed a serious criminal offense. This creates a sense of distrust and fear toward police rather than mutual respect on both sides.

PACT is working to make drivers’ licenses available to those who lack documentation. Currently, drivers’ licenses for non-U.S. citizens cannot be renewed without a visa, nor can work permits be obtained without possession of a driver’s license.

PACT is fighting for visas for high school students who are not U.S. citizens but have been long-term residents of Miami-Dade County. Without visas, these students are forced to pay exorbitant international student fees and tuition rates for college. Such barriers hold these students back from achieving educational success.

Because PACT members hope to impact federal policy, it has been important to develop allies on a national level for this campaign. PACT has been working with the Washington, DC based Center for Community Change as part of a coalition known as FIRM – the Fair Immigration Reform Movement.

Committee Co-Chairs
Rev. Préval Floréal (Grace Haitian United Methodist Church)
Maria-Consuelo Vasquez (St. Mary’s Cathedral)