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The Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity Act sets the standard for an immigration policy, which will boost our nation’s economy and strengthen and expand its middle class.
The Institute administered a two-part “middle class test,” which the bill passed with flying colors. The legislation was given a soaring “A” for “bolstering the contributions immigrants make to the U.S. economy, and a solid “A-“ for “its potential to end the exploitation of undocumented immigrants that threaten the wages and working conditions of America’s aspiring middle class.”
Today, we’re releasing a new video that features Congressman Luis Gutierrez unveiling his principles for reform in October, and which calls on all of us to help build the movement for real immigration reform:
We all know our immigration system needs fixing.
Immigration has been used as a wedge to obstruct progress on everything from the Stimulus to health care reform— even the 2010 Census. There are many skeptics out there who believe Congress doesn't have what it takes to pass reform in 2010 - or that even if they have what it takes, they don't have the nerve to do it.
But just last week, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano reinforced the administration's commitment to reform, laying out the details for why this push is different, and why we need to get it done.
What’s more, the national movement for real immigration reform is growing—and we are only getting bigger.
On Wednesday night, there were over 1,000 house parties in 45 states, with supporters gathered together anxiously to hear what they could do to help make reform a reality.
All across the country, people are primed and ready to do whatever it takes to win this battle, and if you are not one of those people, now is the time to join the fight.
Watch our new video, sign up for the text message network, and help spread the word today.
In 2007, opponents of immigration reform took credit for stopping legislation in its tracks, overwhelming Congressional offices with a flood of angry phone calls and faxes. They took control of the debate and scared the pants off of vulnerable members of Congress.
This time around will be different, but it will take all of us to make real immigration reform a reality.
Maegan at Vivir Latino, Prerna at Change.org, and Marisa Trevino at Latina Lista have already expressed their thoughts and I thought I'd add my own. I'll be the first to admit that I was skeptical of Gutierrez's announcement. The way Gutierrez and other members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) have treated the migrant youth movement leaves much to be desired. Why members of the CHC have still not co-sponsored the Development, Youth, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act is beyond me. The justification offered is that they want to wait for the DREAM Act to be a part of comprehensive immigration reform, but that doesn't mean you can't cosponsor the DREAM Act to show your support! 100 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have already cosponsored the DREAM Act, and it is an embarrassment that a supposed "champion" of migrant rights like Gutierrez has not.
Reverend Sandra Castillo, President of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association, is among the faith leaders who will participate in the two weeks of action. Her reason? According to Reverend Castillo:
Our immigration system is in pressing need of reform. Harsh, punitive policies are separating families and creating economic turmoil instead of bringing real solutions.
The actions will take place in seven Illinois congressional districts, including Dan Lipinski's (IL-3), Luis Gutierrez' (IL-4), Mike Quigley's (IL-5), Melissa Bean's (IL-8), Jan Schakowsky's (IL-09), Mark Kirk's (IL-10); and Bill Foster's (IL-14.) As part of the national campaign, Reform Immigration For America, thousands will engage in a series of vigils, town hall meetings, and rallies to challenge members of Congress and the Administration to step up to the plate and deliver just and humane immigration reform, now.
"Our future is about our children," Pelosi told a crowd of mostly Latino families at St. Anthony's Church. No matter if those families arrived two days ago or centuries ago, Pelosi said "that opportunity, that determination, that hope has made American more American." She said, "Taking parents from their children ... that's un-American."
It is about time that a Washington leaders take a stand and call for an end to the raids. They are destructive, costly and tear apart not just families, but entire communities. Click here to find a full schedule of events on the Family Unity Tour.
Tomorrow, December 4th, over 1500 grassroots leaders will gather in DC to talk directly with members of Congress and Obama's transition team, to help shape the agenda for the new administration. "Realizing the Promise: A Forum on Community, Faith and Democracy" will mark the first large-scale progessive event since last month's historic elections. No longer are our communities on the outside looking in at the powerful decision-makers: we have become the decision-makers. And YOU CAN BE A PART OF IT!
Community members, REAL PEOPLE, will be sharing open dialogue with people as powerful as Valerie Jarett, who aims to be on of the 3 to 5 people IN THE ROOM WITH OBAMA when major policy decisions are made, AND Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who is the 3rd most powerful Congressman in the House. This is our time to be heard, this is our time to make sure that the agenda for the next administration is the agenda OF THE PEOPLE.
And IMMIGRATION is sure to be on that agenda. Prior to the Forum, there will be a press conference on the Hill, where Rep. Luis Gutierrez will push immigration to the forefront of the country's political landscape, and ask the new Congress and new Administration for an immediate moratorium on the raids and a renewed effort for comprehensive immigration reform. In the afternoon, Rep. Gutierrez will join "Realizing the Promise" to engage in more dialogue around these demands.
This is truly a historic moment in our Nation's history and YOU can participate. Tomorrow, visit http://www.realizingthepromise.org/ from 3PM to 6PM to watch the entire event LIVE on our WEBCAST. We will be live-blogging the event at Standing FIRM, so be sure to check back for that too.
Last month, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus visited Postville, Iowa to investigate the effects of the immigration raid that occurred in May. Luis Gutierrez (D - Ill.) announced his plans to visit the small town during the House sub-committee hearing that I covered a few weeks ago.
Now, after the visit, Gutierrez and Joe Baca (D - Calif.) have written an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune, publicly calling on President Bush to stop the ICE raids across the country.
The op-ed is powerful proof that even elected officials understand ICE raids are not only inhumane and unjust, but that they are being used as a political tool, to gain points with the nativist constituency, rather than a real solution to fix our immigration system.
You should read the full piece, but here is a noteworthy excerpt:
There is no other reasonable response than to demand that Bush remember his words of welcome and his commitment to law, by placing a moratorium on Immigration raids until we have passed effective, comprehensive reform. The nation that we love, respect and serve is better than this. Bush stood before the American people and proclaimed:
"An Immigration reform bill needs to be comprehensive, because all elements of this problem must be addressed together, or none of them will be solved at all."
But headline-grabbing tactics like the Postville raid had nothing to do with comprehensive reform. Bush has forgotten his promise.
No one benefits when taxpayers pay $590,000 a month to jail Postville's detainees. As a society, we fail when our factories are less safe, when the perpetrators go uncharged or when our laws remove infants from nursing mothers and create broken homes for U.S. citizen children.
We can all agree that we need Immigration reform that is tough on enforcement. However, any system which fails to respect the enormous contributions immigrants make to our workforce, that fails to reflect our proud history of welcoming those who seek a better life and that fails to protect all U.S. workers and our homeland, fails the American people.
The Postville raid failed our nation on all three of those levels. Any future raid would be equally and profoundly inexcusable and cause yet another avoidable blight on our history.
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Yesterday, Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) unveiled his "
Receive information on the latest action items, media campaigns, and legislative initiatives from ProMigrant
No spam or press release dumps from DC advocacy groups, lobbyists, or politicos. No requests for donations, or re-directs to astroturf groups looking to harvest your e-mail information.
Just real action for real change from real grassroots activists.
