New York, NY, May 18, 2007 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed the announcement that a bipartisan group of Senators and administration officials have reached an agreement on a proposal for comprehensive immigration reform.

Glen S. Lewy, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director issued the following statement:

We welcome the announcement that a bipartisan group of Senators and administration officials have reached an agreement on a comprehensive immigration reform proposal.

We have yet to study the bill and there could be some issues with which we may have concerns.   However, the agreement provides an opportunity to advance the vital cause of keeping our nation both welcoming and secure by seeking to address the problems that have led many to circumvent U.S. immigration law.

The absence of a comprehensive solution has fostered a divisive debate that has been seized upon by extremists who are using it to demonize immigrants and target them for racism, stereotyping, scapegoating and violence.

Deliberations in the Senate and the House will provide an important opportunity to consider improvements and enhancements and we look forward to engaging in the process as it unfolds.

The reform proposal includes some of the priorities laid out in ADL's Policy Resolution on immigration reform, such as an inclusive legalization program for the 12 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in this country.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.