Jewish groups join march for immigration reform

American Jewish groups were among 200,000 protesters in Washington on March 21 demanding comprehensive immigration reform in the United States.

Under the banner of “We Were Strangers, Too – the Jewish Campaign for Immigration Reform,” Jewish groups including the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism were among the marchers from the Hillel International offices in Chinatown joining the protesters on the National Mall.

The rally was organized by Reform Immigration for America Campaign, a coalition of immigrants’ rights groups that want to make immigration reform a top priority for lawmakers in 2010. The cause was put on the back burner as U.S. lawmakers tackled health care reform.

HIAS and the American Jewish Committee have voiced their support for the Refugee Protection Act of 2010 introduced earlier this month by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.). The legislation is aimed at improving protections and rights of refugees and asylum seekers. — jta