Courtney Bourgoin, courtney.bourgoin@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC— This week, President Biden declared June National Immigrant Heritage Month, calling on Americans to learn more about the history of immigrant communities and to highlight the ways in which immigrants have enriched our country.
In the early 2000s, anti-immigration Sierra Club members attempted to take over the Sierra Club’s Board of Directors in order to exclude immigrants from our communities in the name of “protecting” the environment. And unfortunately, the idea that immigrants are to blame for environmental degradation is still a frequent topic in public discourse. Today, the Sierra Club fully supports immigrant rights and has endorsed federal legislation that protects immigrants including DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans), and the Dream Act.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“In order for our ecosystems to work, we must live in sound harmony and work across lines of difference so we can build a just, equitable, and sustainable future.
“Sierra Club’s problematic history surrounding immigrant rights was rooted in exclusion and racism, and we recognize that the work of rooting out white supremacy is far from over. We will continue fighting for a full pathway to citizenship, working to stop racist policies like the border wall, and always recognize that we cannot cultivate resilience in the face of the climate crisis without relentlessly affirming the rights of all people.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.