Rep. Peter King of Long Island has been one of the few Republicans in the House of Representatives to publicly support comprehensive immigration reform and a path to citizenship for the 11 million aspiring Americans living in the shadows.

To thank him for taking this stance, community members gathered at his Massapequa Park office on Monday to express their gratitude.

“I am appreciative of the warm welcome back to my district from my constituents, many of whom care deeply about immigration reform,” Congressman King said of the event in a statement. “Our country needs common-sense immigration reform to fix our broken immigration system. A complex problem requires a comprehensive solution, including strong border security and a path to citizenship.”

“We welcome Congressman King back to his district and thank him for his support for comprehensive immigration reform that includes a roadmap to citizenship, said Anita Halasz, Organizing Director with Long Island Jobs with Justice. “We encourage him to continue to be a champion for a comprehensive bill in the House and to stand with immigrant communities in his district, and across Long Island, as we work to get a bill passed this year.”

The event featured stories and cultural offerings from immigrant Long Islanders from a wide range of backgrounds. Participating organizations included Long Island Wins, Make the Road New York, La Fuente, Organizing for Action, Long Island Immigrant Alliance, New York Communities for Change, Minkwon Center, CARECEN, Coloki Inc, Workplace Project, SEPA Mujer, Long Island Jobs with Justice, Association of Latin American Students (at Suffolk Community College), SEIU 32BJ, 1199 SEIU (United Healthcare Workers East) and the Long Island Civic Engagement Table.

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