Washington DC - HISPANIC PR - On Wednesday May 17th, at 3:00 PM, on the terrace of the US Capitol, representatives of US Hispanic media will sign a proclamation in support of Principles of Immigration Reform.

The proclamation urges both political parties of Congress and the Bush Administration to work to pass an immigration reform bill leading to earned legalization for the 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the country who are already working and paying taxes. President Bush’s remarks highlight the timeliness and importance of communicating to the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives the key principles to be addressed in new Congressional action.

Hispanic media organizations are inviting all media to cover this significant event. The signing of the resolution also calls for adopting a nondiscriminatory and effective program for strengthening our nation's borders. Reform should be based on humanitarian principles and provisions for a realistic temporary worker program that will relieve pressure on our borders.

Hispanic media organizations are also urging our legislators for a reasonable and realistic path to permanent status and citizenship for those already within the United States. Reforms should create a legal path for future workers and respectful treatment of immigrants and their families without criminalization of those who support or assists them.

Hispanic Media organizations participating in this call also ask for the fair treatment of all businesses who hire these people and are against the imposition of penalties and extraordinary fees, particularly on small Hispanic-Owned Businesses.

Equally important, signers call for reduction of family immigration backlogs to keep families together.

The National Association of Hispanic Publications, Inc. is a 501 c-6 not for profit organization. *The National Hispanic Press Foundation is a 501(c) (3) charitable and educational organization that qualifies for tax-deductible status. For more information, call (202) 662-7256. Registration is also available on line at: http://www.nahp.org/events.