The United States has always prided itself on being a nation of immigrants. The labor of immigrant groups helped to build this country and made it what it is today.

Immigrants are hard-working, tax-paying members of our community. They are health care workers, farm workers, construction workers and restaurant workers. They make a vital contribution to our economy -- regardless of whether they are "documented" or "undocumented."

In the weeks and months before the tragedy of 9/11, there were serious moves on Capitol Hill towards rewarding many of the hard-working immigrants who find themselves without legal status in the United States. Sadly, efforts such as the extension of section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act or liberalizing our immigration policy vis-à-vis Mexico all came to a screeching halt this time last year.

U.S. immigration policy quickly became one of terror's many casualties after 9/11. While we rightly honor the many policemen and firemen who died in the terror attacks on that fateful day, the many immigrants who were also killed are some of 9/11's "invisible victims." And so too are their families, friends and surviving co-workers -- many of whom were (or still are) afraid to seek much needed help for fear of being deported.

Nationally, the AFL-CIO has taken the lead in a campaign aimed at kickstarting immigration reform efforts once again. The campaign has set out to encourage "immigration policies that reward work by allowing undocumented immigrants already in the United States to earn legal status." (It's not a call for a blanket amnesty for so-called "illegal" immigrants.)

"Immigration policy doesn't have to interfere with our [national] security," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney in a recent interview (Los Angeles Times, 12/9/01). "Immigrants have contributed so much to our country throughout its history. They deserve the same protections as any other workers in our country."

Sweeney happens to be the son of Irish immigrants. Most of us happen to be the descendants of immigrants too.

In May of this year, groups such as the National Immigration Forum, the National Council of La Raza, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and many more came together to launch a campaign to raise a million voices for "the Legalization of Hardworking Immigrant Families." The campaign was launched in 30 cities across the country.

According to the SEIU, the organization spearheading this postcard drive, real immigration reform should reward work, prevent exploitation, keep families together, promote public health and educational opportunities and encourage civic participation.

The Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union (HERE) -- another trade union with heavy immigrant membership -- concurs. In fact, HERE has volunteered to spearhead the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride campaign in the spring of 2003.

"The road to citizenship needs a new map," says the campaign literature. "The goal of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride is to help draw that map."

Inspired by the freedom ride campaigns of the civil rights era, this campaign aims to champion the rights of immigrant workers, many of whom are "undocumented." The campaign has the backing of the AFL-CIO, but also the religious community, the civil and human rights communities and most immigrant groups in the country.

Locally, this campaign is being pushed by the Immigrant Workers Rights Coalition. The Coalition includes the Philadelphia Area Immigration Resource Center, Friends of Farmworkers, Community Legal Services, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (Office for Migrants and Refugees), HERE PA State Council, SEIU State Council, UFCW 1776, AFSCME DC 47 and AFSCME DC 33.

On Oct. 9, thousands of immigrants and their supporters will gather for a rally in Washington. The rally will be the culmination of the nationwide effort to deliver one million postcards to President George W. Bush asking him to "reward work" and to "fix our immigration laws" for the better, not for the worse. The idea is to send a message to the powers that be before the November elections.

Buses will be leaving the Philadelphia area on Wednesday morning, Oct. 9, at 8 a.m for the 11:30 a.m. rally. The rally will be held in Freedom Plaza at 14th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. For more information on buses, please contact the Philadelphia Area Immigration Resource Center at 610-924-0277 or call Diane Topakian at 888-814-7348 or 717-319-3661.

F. Stuart Ross is an activist and freelance writer based in Philadelphia. He is also a former staff member of the Philadelphia Area Immigration Resource Center. If you would like to respond to this Slant or have one of your own (850 words), contact Howard Altman, City Paper executive editor, 123 Chestnut St., third floor, Phila., PA 19106 or e-mail altman@citypaper.net.