January 26, 2009:  ULAA GEARS UP FOR MAJOR IMMIGRATION PUSH

Fellow Members of the NLC,

I bring you greetings in the spirit of our common struggle to get immigration relief for our people. 

With time fast fleeting as we approach the March 31, 2009 deadline for the expiration of the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status for our people, I find it propitious to provide you an update on how we are proceeding with the immigration strategy.

Since over a month ago, we have managed to engage key immigration advocacy groups, nudging them into the direction of having us act in concert in confronting the immigration problem. This move followed our special meeting with Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed at his office in Cranston, Rhode Island, in the company of the immigration support group, the Rhode Island State Council of Churches (RISCC). 

In that meeting we discussed with the Honorable Senator our resolve to continue the struggle along with all of our allies who have devoted some time to advancing this cause.

We accordingly brought together the following immigration groups for the purpose of collectively mapping out a strategic roadmap by which we could more effectively execute this pursuit.

The Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights

The Rhode Island State Council of Churches

The Organization of Liberians in Minnesota as a partner-member of the Coalition for Permanent Residency

The African Cultural Alliance of North America of Philadelphia

The Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Council

The Universal Human Rights International of Boston, MA

The Liberian Human Rights and Refugee Welfare Organization of Minnesota

In addition to these organizations, we invited into our deliberation prominent immigration advocates, Counselors Mohamedu Jones and Christiana Tah.

It was unanimously agreed that ULAA facilitates the group to establish a national task force which will be supported by all to foster and lead the immigration effort.  A committee of five was established to define the scope and terms of reference of the task force.  This Committee is approaching the completion of its work.

I am very pleased at the enthusiasm exhibited by all of these organizations and individuals and I am hopeful that this new direction will place at our disposal the clout and collaboration we need to make our voice heard on this matter.

Our special appeal to all ULAA chapters is that they put their respective memberships in a gear of readiness. We will be falling back on you for all round support to this effort, in terms of material, financial, and mobilization support. Importantly, we must anticipate that a call might be made for us to undertake an advocacy march on Washington, D.C. to show the magnitude of our concern over the possible disruption of the lives of our fellow countrymen in the advent of the enforcement of their departure requirement.

We therefore request that you be in the state of readiness.  Some of the things you can do now are putting your contacts together and mobilizing the relevant population and resources. Let us avoid the situation in which we are called upon but find ourselves unprepared.

Please feel free to contact me for any additional details.  You will be briefed from time to time on progress being made as this coalition develops.  

With fraternal regards, I remain.

Anthony V. Kesselly

NATIONAL PRESIDENT