Today, more than 500 advocates and leaders from immigrant and faith communities gathered at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation in Washington, D.C., and heard members of Congress lay out tangible steps for moving forward with the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform. During the "Relief, Reform, Respect" immigration forum, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus also announced they are meeting with President Obama tomorrow. It was an amazing reminder that even while the elite political establishment in D.C. has been engrossed with the midterm elections, the grassroots has never taken its focus off alleviating the pain felt by millions of people whose lives are adversely affected by our dysfunctional immigration system and has never stopped working to deliver a practical solution.
The result is that advocates, the grassroots and congressional leadership are all focused on a three-part strategy:
The event itself featured a truly diverse set of speakers and attendees including Islamic faith leaders joining with evangelicals, national civil rights leaders joining immigrants with real stories of pain, and legislative champions. It was followed by a day-long series of prayer-ins and lobby visits.
While politics and a daunting national legislative agenda have thus far trumped moral and practical solutions to the immigration crisis, today's activities put an exclamation point on a long summer of organizing activities. The immigration reform movement deluged Congress with thousands of calls, faxes and emails, blocked implementation of the most objectionable parts of Arizona's new anti-immigrant statute, stalled copycat legislation in many other states and continues to register thousands of new voters.
We also faced severe challenges in the form of fear mongers telling outrageous lies about immigrants (think Governor Brewer's brazen fabrications about beheadings) and certain Republicans contorting their own humanity in attempts to appeal to the farthest fringe of their base (think talk of repealing parts of the 14th Amendment). But these developments reenergized an already empowered base of Latinos and immigrants and further alienated an American public that clearly supports a practical and comprehensive solution to the immigration issue.
For the next few weeks the immigration reform fight will focus on a crucial step toward comprehensive reform -- the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act is bipartisan legislation that gives eligible young people who were brought to the U.S. as children the opportunity to resolve their immigration status and work toward citizenship. To move from being undocumented to being a U.S. citizen, those eligible will have to pass background checks and be of good moral character, graduate from high school, and go on to complete additional requirements related to attending college or completing military service.
There is no better time to put the faces of these students at the front of the immigration reform struggle. As our opponents make every effort to demonize and dehumanize immigrants, it's important that America sees the faces of immigrants and their families who simply want to take part fully in American life. The Center for Community Change was recently honored to be part of the successful fight to prevent a student who had known no country but America from being deported to a land of which he had no memory. Yves Gomes was present at today's event and told his story. After the making of his We Are America video, photographer Sara Lewkowicz followed Yves during the anxious week in which he couldn't bear to start packing his suitcase.
It's stories like Yves' that motivate and justify our movement for change. Yves' story had a happy ending, at least temporarily, but his struggle and the struggle of thousands of others whose stories end far more tragically continue every day. Let's be clear: Tearing mothers and fathers away from their children isn't a conservative position. Separating husbands and wives is not a liberal value. Keeping communities and families united is an American value and a value of every faith tradition. Fixing a broken system that takes a terrible toll on the lives of human beings is not a Republican or Democratic idea -- it is a moral imperative for a just society.
To join the fight for change, text JUSTICE to 69866.
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The American people need alot these days so it is not surprizng that they object to having unregistered foriegners here right now. Most object to the "Dream Act" on the grounds that it does alot for illegal foriegners and nothing for Americans except give us others we then would have to compete with.
It is sad that the rest of the world is so terrible that everyone has to come here. We can't afford them either so if thier country does not want to help that is too bad. As much as they might like to be, they are not our problem.
1. Don't pass the Dream Act. Americans object.
2. Militarize our border because Mexico wants to hinder our enforcement. Forget reform until it is secure.
3. Allow police to enforce ALL of our laws as they are supposed to.
Moral: If you are not from here, stay in your own country until you get permission to come here.
As much as they might want us to, we don't owe the people of other nations anything.
Keeping the immigration debate on the back burner is better for now if activists really want reform to get somewhere.
Let America get out of the Depression, first.
1. Do not pass the NIGHTMARE (DREAM) Act.
2. Enforce ILLEGAL immigration laws already on the books including HEAVY fines for those who hire ILLEGALS.
3. Continue to demand administrative enforcement of federal and local laws and allow local law enforcement to question,detain, and turn over to ICE ILLEGAL ALIENS who terrorize our communities.
What about those of us who have come here legally, jumped through hoops just to get a student visa, and then paid many, many thousands of dollars to go to college (tuition fees for us are about 4 times the amount for citizens and permanent residents by the way!). Once we graduate, we are shipped out as though we were never here.
I'm law abiding, but I really do wonder if I'm the fool here for being so.
Someone please tell me why we should be giving illegals financial aid over American citizens trying to also make their way through schools. We have tons of students who have a legal status in this country who are given the blind eye so that politicians can buy votes.
People want immigration reform then do it that way...not try to attach this legislation to a defense bill that is to protect our honorable men and women serving this country.
Harry your political career is done, one way or another