Because the immigration status was identified as a key obstacle in organizing immigrant workers, the Coalition decided to campaign first for a general unconditional amnesty for all immigrant workers and their families. Our primary goal is to create a strong movement in defense of human rights and labor rights of all immigrants. Our fight emphasizes the human right to move and live where we can provide a decent life for our families. Capital can move freely around the world, thus workers should have this same right. Our struggle is also seeking to bring to light the hypocritical way in which immigrants are perceived and treated.
Immigrants are the scapegoat for every country's problem.
But there is no discussion of the reasons why people are forced to emigrate. These situations are forcing people to leave their countries of origin to survive. In recent years, the globalization of the economy has resulted in dislocation and mass migration of thousands of people. We launch the campaign for a general unconditional amnesty with a national march, held in Washington D.C. on October 16, 1999. The march was very successful, in spite of a well-calculated INS raid in DC only two days before the march, where 36 construction workers were arrested and processed for deportation.