In Memoriam

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, 1932-2009,
Hero on Immigration Reform

"From the windows of my office in Boston … I can see the Golden Stairs from Boston Harbor where all eight of my great-grandparents set foot on this great land for the first time," Kennedy told Senate colleagues in a 2007 speech.

"That immigrant spirit of limitless possibility animates America even today."

About this page:
This is a place to honor Senator Kennedy's lifetime of work on immigration and refugee issues. Watch the video, learn more, and take a moment to sign the tribute below, which we'll deliver to Mrs. Kennedy.

- Sign the Tribute -

Dear Mrs. Kennedy:

With the passing of the great Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the immigrant and refugee community has lost its strongest friend and most beloved ally in the U.S. Congress.

We write to express our deep sadness, but also our profound gratitude for the role Senator Kennedy played in building a more inclusive America. Were it not for the 1965, 1986, and 1990 immigration laws he played such a key role in realizing, many of us would not be in the United States today, and our families may not have had the opportunity to be a part of this great nation. Were it not for the 1980 Refugee Act, our country would have turned its back on hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing persecution and violence abroad. Were it not for Senator Kennedy’s tireless efforts to pass a modern immigration reform bill in 2006 and 2007, we would much farther from the goal that is now within reach: a fair and just immigration system that makes America stronger.

There is no part of the immigrant and refugee community that has not been touched by the life of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. We mourn his loss, and honor his legacy.