Sierra Club Supports Immigration Reform that Includes a Chance for U.S. Citizenship

In a blog post today, “A Path to the Future,” Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune and President Alice Chin explain the environmental group’s decision to come out in support of legislation that would provide a means for millions of undocumented immigrants to eventually become U.S. citizens. Brune and Chin link the issue to the principle that we should all enjoy the ability to live and work in a safe and clean environment.  As they note,  many undocumented immigrants “work in jobs that expose them to dangerous conditions, chemicals and pesticides, and many more live in areas with disproportionate levels of toxic air and water pollution.”

And while it may not seem apparent for an environment group to take up the cause of immigration reform, Brune and Chin explain how the issue aligns with the organization’s mission:

For the Sierra Club and the environmental movement to protect our wild America, defend clean air and water, and win the fight against climate disruption, we must ensure that the people who are the most disenfranchised and the most affected by pollution have the voice to fight polluters and advocate for climate solutions without fear.

This isn’t the first time that the Sierra Club has taken a stand on a critical issue. In 1993, the Club opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement, a controversial position, but one that has proven to be the right choice. We did not think it would be good for workers or the environment, and it hasn’t been. In fact, NAFTA has been a major driver of undocumented immigration into the U.S. from Mexico and Central America.