Backdrop of US-Africa Leaders Summit: Anger Over Obama’s Neglect of African Immigrants Priorities

The buzz created by the just-ended US-Africa summit was of epic proportion no less. But not everyone was entirely impressed with the content of the deliberation as well as its outcome, at the end of three days of marathon sessions.
A group of African immigrant advocates and their allies in legislative positions are voicing their disappointment at the omission of comprehensive immigration reform and other African immigrant priorities—during the just ended summit.
At a press conference held at the National Press Club in Washington DC recently, the activists, some of whom drove from New York, New Jersey, and Delaware, read out a five point petition requesting President Obama to meet with African Immigrants and allies on African Immigrant priorities on Immigration Reform, while calling for the re-introduction of House Resolution (H.RES. 369) which recognizes September as National African Immigrant Heritage Month.

The group is also calling for the establishment of September 25th to 30th 2014 as National African Immigrant Heritage Legislative Week, while whereas urging the need for a Congressional African Immigrant Caucus within the US Congress, while calling for prioritization of immigration as a provision within the re-authorization of African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA).
At the invitation of the Washington DC-based Cameroon American Council, the event was addressed by Congressman Jose Serrano of Bronx, New York, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke of Brooklyn, New York, Sylvie Bello of the Cameroon American Council, Dominic Tamin,  Founder and CEO of Empak Corp and Bertha Lewis of Black Institute.
Other Speakers were Jennifer Gray-Brumskine of African Women in Staten Island, Ahmadou Diallo of Pottal Fii Bhantal Fouta Djallon Association, Stephanie Arthur of Africa Leadership Project, Opal Tomenti of Black Immigration Network, Sira Sylla, Miss Guinea USA, Bukola Shonuga of Welcome America/NIDO-NYC, and Ms. Ndali Kashume of Speaking Wombs.
With placards in hand, the activists later rallied in front of the White House to press their demands closer and then went up the Hill to Congress where they presented their petition to an immigration-contentious legislature.
Back in May this year, the Cameroon American Council's National African Immigrant and Refugees Health Advocate Program mobilized Africans and allies through a change.org petition requesting President Obama to include the contributions and challenges of African immigrants at the Summit's agenda. And last June, Congress members Jose Serrano and Yvette Clarke, together with 35 Members of Congress with strong African Immigrant and allies, wrote to President Obama, asking him to prioritize immigration reform, as this is a determinant of investment and trade with the continent of Africa.
Last month (July), more than 8 million people in New York, passed Resolution 357 through their City Council—calling on President Obama to include immigration reform on the US African Leaders Summit.
With the summit over and immigration remaining a hot-button issue on Capitol Hill (Congress), time will only tell if the effort of these activists could cut it as a final heavy lifting to arrive at a comprehensive immigration reform.

With the summit over and immigration remaining a hot-button issue on Capitol Hill (Congress), time will only tell if the effort of these activists could cut the deal for a comprehensive immigration reform.