"Through my Union and Mi Familia Vota, I had a chance to sit with President Obama to discuss Immigration Reform, an issue that’s important to nurses and to a portion of the patient population we serve at our hospitals. President Obama is committed to making this happen, and I stand with him on this important issue!”

Alvin Vitug, RN (4th from left) Providence St. Joseph Medical Center

Two SEIU Local 121RN members were part of a delegation of six nurses — along with Mi Familia Vota representatives and members — who met with President Barack Obama on Monday, June 9 to discuss the importance of passing Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

Alvin Vitug, RN at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, and Patricia Lopez, RN at Riverside Community Hospital, discussed why immigration reform is a priority for them and their families. President Obama stated his commitment to this as a legislative priority and explained why it has been politically stalled for so long. He asked Patricia, Alvin and the other four nurses he met with to maintain their efforts in support of this urgent priority. President Obama told the nurses that he is focused on moving this issue through the legislature within the next month or so.

Stay tuned for more information on how you can get involved in supporting the passage of a Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill that will make a difference in the lives of millions of families throughout our country.

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to talk to President Obama about a topic that I highly support: Immigration Reform. Being an immigrant from the age of two months old, I was able to discuss Immigration Reform issues with the President. I feel that our President is very supportive on this topic and he asked us, as nurses in SEIU, to continue to support the reform for the next month and a half. During this time period, it is critical to voice our support and to push congress to pass this much-needed law.”

Patricia Lopez, RN, Riverside Community Hospital (On right, pictured with another nurse in the delegation.)

Click here to read The White House article on President Obama's meeting with the Mi Familia Vota and SEIU nurses.