Senate Committee Examines Immigration Reform

On March 18, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing, “How Comprehensive Immigration Reform Should Address the Needs of Women and Families.” Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) heard testimony regarding how comprehensive immigration reform should address challenges faced by immigrant women and families, including the difficulty to maintain family unity, violence against immigrant women, and trafficking of immigrant women and their children.

The following individuals testified:

• Ai-jen Poo, director, National Domestic Workers Alliance;
• Dr. Karen Panetta, professor of electrical and computer engineering, Tufts University;
• Mee Moua, president and chief executive officer, Asian American Justice Center;
• Susan Martin, Donald G. Herzberg, professor of international migration, Georgetown University; and
• Jennifer Ng’andu, director, Health and Civil Rights Policy Project, National Council of La Raza.