Immigration News

PEW Report: 33.7 Million Mexican-Origin People Living in U.S.

2013-05-02T14:04:17+00:00

Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, who comprise about 64 percent of the Hispanic population in the United States, reached a record 33.7 million in this country in 2012, according to a report released Wednesday by the Pew Hispanic Center. The study, based on U.S. Census data, said that the 33.7 million figure includes 11.4 million Mexicans who have emigrated from Mexico and 22.3 million people of Mexican origin who were born in the United States. People of Mexican origin comprise 11 percent of the U.S. population. The report said that the number of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the country has increased drastically over the past four decades, a population flow that has amounted to one of the most massive migrations in modern history. By way of comparison, although in 1970 less than 1 million Mexicans were living in the United States, by 2007 that figure had reached its high point of 12.5 million. Since 2007, however, the number of Mexicans here has declined because immigration from Mexico has slowed “significantly,” the center said. Currently, 35 percent of Hispanics of Mexican origin in the United States were born in Mexico but the remainder were born in this country, and of those, 52 percent have at least one immigrant parent. Prior to the 1980s, the growth in the Mexican-origin population in the United States came mainly from Mexicans who were born in this country, but between 1980 and 2000, that growth came mainly from immigration from Mexico. The trend, in any case, reversed again between 2000 and 2010, a period during which the number of Mexican-origin births in the United States exceeded immigration as the main contribution to the group’s population growth, the study said. The report added that the 11.4 million Mexicans living in the United States comprise the largest group of first-generation immigrants in this nation, which has a total of 40 million people who were born abroad. After Mexicans, the Chinese make up the next-largest group of foreigners, with a total of 2 million people, the study said. Mexican immigrants, in addition, make up more than 55 percent of the undocumented population in the country, which is calculated to be about 11 million people. The report was released as the U.S. Congress is studying a comprehensive immigration reform package that would open a route to legalization and potential citizenship for undocumented foreigners living here. Immigration reform is of great interest to the countries of Latin America and is certain to be one of the issues President Barack Obama will discuss on his upcoming visit to Mexico and Costa Rica.

North Carolina to Deport Community Activist After Traffic Violation

2013-05-02T12:05:09+00:00

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has decided to deport a community activist and coordinator of a Catholic youth group in North Carolina after her arrest on a minor traffic violation. ICE spokesman Vincent Picard confirmed on Wednesday to Efe that Mexican Fabiana Palomo Muñiz “does not quality for procedural discretion due to a previous deportation in 2003 and (her) illegal reentry into the country, which constitutes a federal crime.” On April 9, Palomo Muñiz, who has lived in the city of Durham for eight years, was arrested in Wake County after she left the scene of a minor traffic accident in which she had been involved. Palomo Muñiz, the coordinator of the Hispanic Youth Ministry at the Immaculate Conception Church, was driving that day to a parish event. According to what Gustavo Peña, the immigrant’s husband, told the media, she did not understand the instructions given her by police because she does not speak English and she was fined and arrested for not having a driver’s license and for resisting arrest. After the incident, she was transferred to the county jail, where she was identified as undocumented under the 287(g) program and placed in the deportation category. Although the state’s charges were thrown out last week, ICE said that soon it will transfer the woman to an immigration detention center in preparation for her later deportation. On Monday, a vigil in support of Palomo Muñiz was held at the Immaculate Conception Church, where dozens of friends and acquaintances called for her release. Viridiana Martinez, the founder of NC Dream Team, which organized a campaign to place telephone calls to the ICE offices and to the Wake County jail to prevent the deportation, explained Wednesday to Efe that they are not “giving up.”

States Move Forward To Allow Undocumented Immigrants To Drive Legally

2013-05-01T00:19:51+00:00

In a stark change from the harmful measures that swept across states in previous years, 2013 has started out as a good year for immigration reform at the state level. Lawmakers continue to push for pro-immigrant policies to help immigrants already living in the U.S., while the Georgia legislature’s passage of an anti-immigrant bill stands out as an outlier instead of the norm. There have been resolutions endorsing the need for immigration reform and bipartisan support for allowing undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition at state colleges and universities. And in several states, lawmakers either have passed or are pushing for policy changes so that undocumented immigrants can apply for driver’s licenses. While we’re waiting for reform at the federal level, state driver’s license efforts will allow immigrants to drive legally and make the roads safer for us all. In Oregon, for example, the state Senate approved a bill by a 20-7 vote that would grant short-term driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. That is a significant change from five years ago when Oregon state legislators passed a measure requiring proof of citizenship or lawful residency to get a license. The bill now goes to the House for consideration. The Colorado Senate also passed legislation allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses. The policy change would create a separate category of driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants that would be marked to “specify that the license is not valid for federal purposes, voting or public benefits.” Despite amendments to the bill before it passed, advocates said the bill still accomplishes its purpose. “The end result is still a driver’s license that will be accepted by law enforcement in our state,” said Tania Valenza, a volunteer with Driver’s Licenses for All. Outside of these two states, lawmakers are still considering driver’s license bills in California and Texas, while Democrats in Connecticut are renewing their push for the measure. Residents in Illinois, New Mexico, and Washington already can apply for driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status, and Utah allows undocumented immigrants to have driver’s permits, which cannot be used for identification. On top of efforts in state legislatures for undocumented immigrants to have driver’s licenses, governors or state officials in every state except Arizona and Nebraska have confirmed that undocumented immigrants who receive temporary legal status through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy can apply for driver’s licenses. Having a driver’s license enables undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for years to go to work, take their children to school, and generally get around without fear of deportation for driving without a license. And allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses could help public safety. Having drivers be licensed and insured helps to make roads safer. In Illinois, for example, uninsured drivers were estimated to cost $64 million in damage claims. Additionally, a study released in January by the California Department of Motor Vehicles found that unlicensed drivers in the state – most of whom are undocumented immigrants – are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident. But having drivers meet “modest requirements necessary to get a license,” like passing a written exam and driving test, could help reduce the number of fatalities, the report suggested. Some advocates and officials told the Los Angeles Times earlier this year that the study bolsters the case for why the state should permit undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses. There is much to be done at the federal level to improve U.S. immigration policy as a whole, but these changes at the state level are complementary to national immigration reform efforts. The Senate has already held a hearing on the Gang of Eight’s immigration bill, and other measures could be introduced in the House. But in the meantime, state driver’s license efforts will allow immigrants to drive legally and make the roads safer for us all.

Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Alabama’s Appeal to Enforce Harsh Immigration Laws

2013-04-30T15:57:43+00:00

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Alabama’s request to overturn a lower federal court ruling that prevents the enforcement of the state’s tough immigration laws. Last year the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that Alabama could not impose immigration law in the state because that was the preview of the federal government. Alabama disagreed with the ruling and appealed to the Supreme Court. Alabama’s HB 56 called for schools to verify the immigration status of newly enrolled K – 12 students and required immigrants to carry registration documents while banning the undocumented from entering into contracts while living in the country illegally. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals did uphold provisions in Alabama’s immigration law allowing police to check the immigration status of anyone they suspect to be in the country illegally. Alabama police have been checking immigration status since September of 2011.

Open Letter From Dreamers to “Gang of 8”- Don’t Reinvent the Wheel & Pass Senate Bill

2013-04-29T19:14:12+00:00

Dear Speaker John Boehner, Rep. Nanci Pelosi, and House “Gang of 8”, In the Senate, the bipartisan “Gang of 8” - group of Senators leading immigration legislation - has negotiated a delicate compromise that is a first step to meet our country’s economic, family, and security needs. The Senate Judiciary committee has also held more than 6 days of extensive hearings and heard testimony from over 40 witnesses. With legislation ready for mark up in the coming weeks and up for a vote in early June, DREAMers are asking House leadership and the House “Gang of 8” to not reinvent the wheel with its own bill. Rather, to ensure progress and a solution to our country’s outdated immigration system, we urge you and the House leadership to take up the Senate bill. Over the past few months, momentum from Congress to tackle immigration reform has been on a positive scale. The American people from all stripes are demonstrating significant support for a path to citizenship, intelligent border and interior enforcement, and a system that prioritizes families. Indeed, both the House and Senate have debated with hearings and through the media the complex issues needed to be resolved. All this has and will allow the country to get intimately familiar with the issues. At the same time, Republican and Democratic House leadership must not fall into redundancy by debating issues to a public that already knows and is demanding an expeditious solution. Chairman Goodlatte has been responsible ensuring that all members are educated on immigration policy. However, the country cannot afford legislating on immigration via piece meal nor replicating efforts. Indeed, such decision by the Chairman has been the result of a deadlocked House “gang of 8” that has fallen short to come up with a final product, including on the guest worker program. Now it is the time for Congress to finally resolve immigration. And it is House leadership that can deliver a solution by employing their procedural acumen to move expeditiously to ensure the country can meet the demands of the 21st century. Sincerely, DREAM Action Coalition DREAM Action Ohio NorCal DREAMers

Incredibly, In 2013, Some Republicans Want GOP to Double Down on Self-Deportation

2013-04-26T21:53:23+00:00

The Republican Party has embarked on a major overhaul of its recent anti-immigrant stance, spurred in large part by historically low levels of support from Latino voters in the 2012 elections. Yet judging from the witnesses that Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) called at yesterday’s immigration hearing, not everyone in the GOP has gotten the memo. Grassley and leading anti-immigrant Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) used the proceedings to provide a platform for Kris Kobach and Mark Krikorian, both of whom continue to push the discredited and politically toxic concept of “self-deportation.” According to Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice: Despite the thoughtful leadership demonstrated by Republican ‘Gang of 8’ members on immigration reform, some Republican Senators remain stuck in the past. After Krikorian and Kobach’s immigration advice cost Romney the election, it’s incredible that some members of the GOP are still cozying up to them. Were Pete Wilson, Tom Tancredo, and Joe Arpaio unavailable? In his opening remarks, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) noted the broad support for commonsense immigration reform and the fact that many of the witnesses called by the Republicans “are not mainstream witnesses.” As a reminder, Kris Kobach was an immigration advisor to Mitt Romney and the man most responsible for the candidate’s infamous embrace of self-deportation in 2012. Kobach, the Kansas Secretary of State and a former General Counsel of the anti-immigrant group FAIR, was also the architect of the Arizona and Alabama “show me your papers” laws and the lead drafter of the RNC’s Draconian immigration policy platform in 2012. Kobach even filed a lawsuit seeking to block the implementation of the DREAMer deferred action program and block hundreds of thousands of young aspiring citizens from getting a work permit and continuing to achieve their goals. Meanwhile, Mark Krikorian is the head of the anti-immigrant think tank Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) and the original “brains” behind the GOP’s embrace of self-deportation. When Mitt Romney supported the concept in his 2012 presidential run, Krikorian crowed about it. Despite the fact that Romney’s anti-immigration sentiments contributed to his electoral drubbing from Latino voters, Kobach and Krikorian remain committed to the concept of self-deportation. At yesterday’s hearing, Kobach not only indicated his preference that DREAMers self-deport, but also claimed, “self-deportation is not some radical idea.” In response, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) noted, ”the voters have the last word. The voters had the last word on self-deportation on November 6th, so we’re beyond that now.” In another head scratcher at yesterday’s hearing, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) said: I don’t think that there is any issue in this entire debate that is more divisive than a path to citizenship for those who are here illegally…In my view, any bill that insists upon that jeopardizes the likelihood of passing any immigration reform bill. Despite Cruz’s assertion, citizenship already is the mainstream position in the debate. Among an array of polls demonstrating citizenship’s popularity, a recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found that nearly two-thirds of the public backs citizenship on its own. However, “when told that the pathway to citizenship would require paying fines and back taxes, as well as passing a security-background check, support grows – with 76 percent of total respondents, and 73 percent of Republicans backing the path.” These findings are further highlighted by a new CNN/ORC International poll which finds 84% overall support for citizenship and 78% support amongst Republicans. Said Sharry: The choice before the GOP is clear. Follow the example of the Gang of 8 Republicans, work to pass immigration reform and change your image with Latino voters—or follow the examples of Cruz, Sessions, and Grassley and walk right over that demographic cliff.

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg Funding Effort to Get Conservative Support for Immigration Reform

2013-04-24T18:04:05+00:00

Mark Zuckerberg’s new organization, FWD.us, has just launched its first ad to promote immigration reform amongst conservatives. FWD.us was launched earlier this month by a group of Silicon Valley powerhouses including Facebook founder Zuckerberg. The organizations goal is to promote and shape policies that keep the U.S. competitive in the global tech world. The organizations first task is to pass comprehensive immigration reform which would allow for an increase in skilled tech guest-workers. Zuckerberg and other Silicon honchos are also pushing for undocumented workers to become U.S. citizens. The new ad features Florida Senator Marco Rubio one of eight Senate authors of the immigration bill. FWD.us has created a subsidiary ‘Americans for a Conservative Direction’ to directly solicit conservative support for immigration reform. The pro-immigration ads will run in key conservative areas of the country like Texas, North Carolina and Kentucky.

Secretary Napolitano Testifies at Immigration Bill Hearings Today

2013-04-23T19:30:04+00:00

Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano testified today at the new immigration legislation hearings on Capital Hill. Before the Secretary could present her testimony she was grilled on the travels of bombing suspect Tamarlan Tsarnaev trip to Russia in 2012 and what Homeland Security could of done better to monitor his whereabouts. Napolitano started her testimony by thanking the group of eight bipartisan Senators who crafted the bill formally known as “The Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act, S.744.” Napolitano reassured the Senators that the administration is and continues to be committed to a secure border, citing apprehension and deportation statistics under President Obama. Since 2004, she noted the number of Border Patrol agents has doubled from approximately 10,000 to more than 21,000 today. “Attempts to cross the Southwest border illegally, as measured by Border Patrol apprehensions, have decreased 49 percent over the past four years, and are 78 percent lower than what they were at their peak. Since 2009, DHS has also seized 71 percent more currency, 39 percent more drugs, and 189 percent more weapons along the Southwest border, compared to the previous four-year period,” the Secretary noted. The Secretary reaffirmed what the White House has been saying all along: “For immigration reform to be successful, we believe these individuals [undocumented immigrants] should have a clear pathway to earned citizenship. The President and I, as well as the rest of the Cabinet, stand willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that comprehensive immigration reform becomes a reality as soon as possible.” To read Secretary Napolitano’s complete testimony click here. Her testimony comes on the heals of several conservative Republican Senators, including Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, urging a delay on immigration bill hearings until more is known about the Chechen immigrant brothers and their route to America as refugees seeking asylum . The young men and their parents came to this country as refugees in 2002.

How Will the Boston Bombing Affect Immigration Reform?

2013-04-23T13:53:31+00:00

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday analyzed at a packed hearing the elements of immigration reform at a time when last week’s deadly bomb attack in Boston has made the political climate more problematic for moving forward on the issue. Although on a much smaller scale than the 9/11 attacks, which buried immigration reform in 2001, the emergence of a pair of Chechen immigrant brothers as the suspects in the Boston bombings has caused several Republican leaders to ask for a delay in implementing any reform. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, who is in serious condition at a Boston hospital, immigrated to the United States legally in 2003 and obtained citizenship on Sept. 11, 2012. His older brother, 26-year-old Tamerlan, who died in a shootout with police on Friday evening, was a legal resident. “Last week opponents of comprehensive immigration reform began to exploit the Boston Marathon,” the chair of the judiciary committee, Sen. Patrick Leahy, said at the start of Monday’s hearing. “I urge restraint in that regard.” “Let no one be so cruel as to use these heinous acts of two young men last week to derail the dreams and futures of millions of hardworking people,” the Vermont Democrat said. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), one of the authors of the bipartisan immigration bill introduced last week, complained that some people were trying to use the bombings “as an excuse to wait many months or years.” “I never said that!,” shouted Iowa’s Charles Grassley, the ranking Republican on the judiciary committee, who has been saying since last week that immigration reform should not be “rushed.” One of Schumer’s colleagues in the bipartisan “Gang of Eight,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), said the events in Boston “should urge us to act quicker, not slower,” on reforming the system. “I think now is the time to bring all of the 11 million (unauthorized immigrants) out of the shadows and find out who they are. Most of them are here to work but we may find some terrorists in our midst who’ve been hiding in the shadows,” Graham said.

Mexican Grandfather and Youth Coach Wins Deportation Reprieve

2013-04-22T19:03:35+00:00

U.S. immigration authorities lifted a deportation order against Eduardo Mireles, an undocumented Mexican immigrant who coaches youth soccer teams in North Carolina. Vincent Picard, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, confirmed Monday to Efe that the agency decided to reopen the case and administratively close the voluntary deportation that a judge signed last December after an “exhaustive review.” “ICE has adopted clear priorities for the identification and deportation of those people who have violated existing ... laws, those who have just crossed the borders, and ... fugitives from the immigration courts,” Picard emphasized. The Mireles case captured national attention when his 8-year-old granddaughter, Sharytin Hernandez, during a vigil tearfully asked ICE not to separate her from her grandfather. “All of us in the family are very happy because they will not deport me to Mexico, and above all the girl. It was a difficult situation, but my recommendation to people is not to remain quiet, and to tell your story,” Mireles told Efe on Monday. He obtained the help of the NC Dream Team, which several weeks ago launched a signature collection campaign online to gather community support to prevent his deportation. Viridiana Martinez, the founder of the group, confirmed Monday to Efe that at least 500 people joined the campaign to help the Mexican man, who immigrated 14 years ago to the Charlotte area from Mexico City and, since then, has coached little league soccer and volunteered with the Boy Scouts. Mireles was arrested in August 2010 for driving with an expired license. A few days later he was sent to an immigration detention center in Atlanta but was released when his family paid bail of $5,000. Over the past few months, ICE has halted the deportations of a number of undocumented foreigners in North Carolina who had been detained by local authorities, most of them for minor traffic infractions.

Catholic Bishops’ Migration Chair Welcomes Immigration Proposal

2013-04-22T02:04:52+00:00

The introduction of U.S. Senate bipartisan legislation to reform the U.S. immigration system was welcomed by Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, April 17. Archbishop Gomez also pledged that the U.S. bishops would carefully examine the legislation and work with Congress to ensure that any final measure respects the basic human rights and dignity of migrants. Archbishop Gomez commended the so-called “Gang of Eight” senators for their leadership on the issue. He also said that once it has completed its review of the voluminous bill, the USCCB may seek improvements upon the proposed legislation, consistent with principles for reform laid out for decades by the bishops’ conference. In their 2003 pastoral letter, “Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope,” the U.S. bishops outlined several goals for immigration reform, which include: A path to citizenship for the undocumented that is achievable, set within a reasonable time frame and includes the maximum number of persons The protection and enhancement of the family-based immigration system—based on the union of a husband and a wife and their children—including the reduction of backlogs and the shortening of waiting times A program which allows low-skilled migrant workers to enter and work in the United States legally and safely, includes appropriate wage and worker protections, allows for family unity, and provides workers the option to apply for permanent residency and eventual citizenship The restoration of due process protections for immigrants removed by the 1996 Illegal Immigrant Responsibility and Immigration Reform Act The adoption of policies which address the root causes, or push factors, of irregular migration, such as persecution and the absence of living wage jobs in sending communities The protection of other vulnerable populations, including refugees, asylum-seekers, and unaccompanied children

Immigration Bill Compromise Is A Potential Political Sea Change

2013-04-20T15:07:37+00:00

By Victor Landa, NewsTaco It’s 844 pages long. It’s been a long time coming. And it’s a compromise. So it’s a daunting read, a sigh of relief and…better than nothing. I’m not a big fan of compromises, because both sides lose something in the process. I’m a fan of innovative thinking, where two opposing sides see a common goal and invent a new way to achieve it that wasn’t there before; that honors and understands both sides and helps each side grow. The immigration bill presented in the U.S. Senate by the fabled “gang of eight” is not that. Still, it’s the best we could hope for, given the present political circumstances. So in that sense one step, in compromise, is better than no step at all. But because it’s a compromise there will be folks on both sides who will find things to hate about it. You can take that to the bank. Make no mistake, this bill is not about immigrants, it’s about politics, and votes – it’s easier to understand what’s written in the 844 pages if we go into it from that point of view. Republicans see the demographic trend and want to soften their image among Latinos, and Democrats see a potential blue wave rising across the country. They both think that immigration reform is the key to their aspiration – straight to the heart of the Latino voter. And if the issue were that simple congress would vote on it soon and we’d be done with it, and that would be that. If the problem were that easy to resolve, it would have been fixed long ago. It happened today because the political atmosphere was right – that’s just the way Washington politics works. But this political compromise will have economic and cultural repercussions for generations to come. Latinos have known this all along. So if the votes are ever cast and counted on this thing, if we’re able to get passed the argument that is sure to erupt in the next days, politics will be changed in a definite way. In the mean time, we have a bill that’s 844 pages long. You can click HERE to read it. Have at it. This article was first published in NewsTaco. NewsTaco provides you with innovative and insightful news, critique, analysis and opinion from a Latino perspective in a 24-hour world.

Controversial Anti-immigrant Billboard Goes Up in Georgia

2013-04-20T12:07:55+00:00

A billboard along a highway in north Georgia urging the undocumented to move to South Carolina has sparked resentment among activists who say it is an example of the anti-immigrant atmosphere that exists in this state. “South Carolina welcomes the undocumented!” the sign says, adding that “Sen. Lindsey Graham says His State has a Labor Shortage and Wants More Immigrants.” Graham, a Republican, is one of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” who this week introduced an immigration-reform proposal. A group calling itself the Dustin Inman Society is behind the billboard. “Though the Dustin Inman Society has the right to publish that message on a billboard, it’s unfortunate that Georgia is falling behind by the rest of the country and is still putting up barricades against possible future citizens who work and live in the state,” Azadeh Shahshahani, attorney for the ACLU of Georgia, told Efe. The ad also urged area residents to join forces to “stop the RubiObamaAmnesty,” a way of describing the efforts of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl) and President Barack Obama to bring about immigration reform. The Dustin Inman Society, which defines itself as a coalition of people “who recognize that illegal immigration and homeland security are the most critical issues in America today,” is headed by columnist and anti-immigrant activist D.A. King.

Border Patrol Arrests Prolific Mexican Immigrant Smuggler in San Diego

2013-04-19T23:19:21+00:00

U.S. Border Patrol is announcing the arrest of one of San Diego’s most prolific immigrant smuggler, Martel Valencia-Cortez. Cortez was captured when several illegal border crossers were arrested in Boulevard, California shortly after entering the country illegally. The undocumented immigrants from Mexico identified Cortez as their foot guide and claimed Cortez was coming through in a couple hours with more undocumented Mexicans. Agents prepared to capture Cortez in nearby Campo, California. Several hours later Border Patrol encountered 12 Mexicans with Cortez as their guide already having crossed the border illegally. Cortez attempted to escape by jumping in a nearby lake. He was last spotted in San Diego in December, 2012 after a traffic spot in Alpine, California. He evaded capture even after an intensive manhunt. He has over 30 prior apprehensions by Border Patrol and an extensive criminal record. Valencia-Cortez was arrested on a prior Federal warrant and will be charged with alien smuggling.

NHCLC Applauds Proposed Senate Immigration Reform Bill

2013-04-19T01:13:52+00:00

We Are Inches Away from Crossing the ‘Jordan’ of Reform The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the nation’s largest Christian Hispanic organization, the Hispanic Evangelical Association, and NHCLC President, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, applaud the proposed Senate bill on immigration reform. Rodriguez will join Senator Marco Rubio and the bipartisan Senate “Gang of Eight” in a press conference in Washington, D.C on Thursday, April 18, 2013, as they outline their proposed immigration reform bill. The Senate introduced legislation, which serves to solve the immigration reform process, at 2 a.m. this morning (http://www.schumer.senate.gov/forms/immigration.pdf ). Rev. Rodriguez, praising this movement and momentum for reform, said, “Engaging a biblical narrative as a metaphor, the immigration cause no longer resides in the Egypt of political apathy or the desert of inevitable deportation. Today, this just cause stands before the ‘Jordan’ called reform. With prophetic courage, spiritual fortitude and political will, we will cross into the promise land of integration thus protecting our values, borders and dream. “Ironically the same issue that once polarized our nation now serves as a conduit for bipartisan collaboration. Now is the time.” Today, on the same day that the Senate introduced immigration reform legislation, hundreds of evangelical congregants and leaders from over 24 states descended upon Washington, D.C. for the first-ever national “Evangelical Day of Prayer and Action on Immigration Reform.” Dr. Carlos Moran, Board Member, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and NHCLC Immigration Spokesperson is one of several leaders speaking at this event in D.C, many of whom believe the Unites States is on the verge of a major and much anticipated breakthrough on immigration reform. Dr. Carlos Moran, said, “As Evangelicals, as born again believers, as the spiritual heirs to the mantles of Billy Graham and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we affirm our conviction that it is the time to reconcile border security with security of our values; values that include faith, hope and charity. Values that prompt us to worship our Lord and welcome the stranger. For at the end of the day, passing immigration reform is not, as Rev. Samuel Rodriguez reminds us, about advancing the agenda of the donkey or the elephant. Immigration reform is about living out the agenda of the lamb.” Rev. Wilfredo “Choco” DeJesus, profiled along with Rev. Rodriguez’s description of the Latino Reformation in the April 15th TIME magazine feature story, and Pastor of New Life Covenant Church, NHCLC Vice President and NHCLC Illinois Chapter Director, said, “Comprehensive Immigration Reform is long overdue. As long as a pathway to citizenship remains at the heart of this bill I remain hopeful that undocumented families will be offered the opportunity to stay together and not be torn apart by our current broken immigration system. These families are woven into the fabric of our daily lives – their children attend school with our children, they worship and are active in our churches, they are contributing members of our society. As a pastor and NHCLC Vice President of Social Justice, I will continue to advocate and stand for the millions of undocumented families that deserve a pathway to citizenship as the word of God instructs me to do.”

National Coalition for Immigrant Women’s Rights Commends Gang of 8’s Proposal

2013-04-18T17:10:53+00:00

The National Coalition for Immigrant Women’s Rights (NCIWR) commends the U.S. Senate on its introduction of the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act,” a bipartisan proposal for immigration reform. The NCIWR applauds the tireless work of the Senators leading the effort, known as the “Gang of Eight”—Michael Bennet (D–Colo.), Richard Durbin (D–Ill.), Jeff Flake (R–Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R–S.C.), John McCain (R–Ariz.), Robert Menendez (D–N.J.), Marco Rubio (R–Fla.), and Chuck Schumer (D–N.Y.) and congratulates them on reaching an agreement on this important issue. “Immigrant women are key contributors to the success of the U.S. They contribute to the economy, keep their families strong and invest in their children’s education. However, heavy-handed enforcement policies are violating their rights and tearing their families apart in inhumane, costly and counterproductive ways,” notes Michelle Brané, Director of the Migrant Rights and Justice Program with the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC), a member of NCIWR Steering Committee. Brané continues, “The introduction of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act is an important step forward in affording immigrant women the opportunity to become full citizens of the United States and to build a better future for their families and their communities.” “While we’re encouraged to see this process moving forward, we are disappointed that the Senate did not seriously address the damaging barriers to health care for immigrant women and their families. As currently proposed, immigrant women and families would have to wait at least 13 to 15 years for access to affordable health insurance options. For a mother suffering from undetected breast or cervical cancer, 15 years can be the difference between life and death,” comments Jessica González-Rojas, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH), a Steering Committee member of NCIWR. She adds, “We urge Congress to address this glaring oversight and ensure that the roadmap to citizenship provides greater opportunity for aspiring citizens to contribute to and participate in affordable health care, and to live with health, dignity, and justice.”

DREAMers Release Statement on Immigration Bill

2013-04-18T02:03:06+00:00

The Dream Action Coalition commends the progress of the “Gang of 8” and will launch a grassroots and online effort to take on Senators John Cornyn (R-Tex) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala) so they don’t stand in the way of debate. While we commend the progress, Dream Action Coalition is also ensure to improve vital provisions: 1) DREAMers should have immediate path to Legal Permanent status then three years for citizenship rather than provisional status for five years 2) those previously deported should have a guaranteed and quick process to apply for return and reunify with their families in the U.S. 3) legislation should provide practical waivers for those who have not committed violent or aggravated felonies 4) family unity should continue to be an integral component under the new immigration system The Senate is making headway with key provisions, however, we will continue to press to ensure that the legislation is fair, practical, and serves our communities and economy without having to wait for border security to be defined and implemented. Careful evaluation is critical, but there is an urgency: Americans are expecting Congress to reform our system, which everyone on both sides of the aisle agrees is “broken.” Senator Sessions, immigration’s staunchest opponent, should not stand in the way of modernizing our system, and Senator Cornyn should not followed his lead. The Dream Action Coalition will work to ensure the American people are not fooled by Sen. Session’s disguised effort to delay and ultimately kill immigration reform. Lines are currently being drawn within the Republican Party on immigration between those who would reform the GOP’s image with Latinos and those who would stay the “self-deportation” course. We hope that more reasonable voices and Senator Cornyn follow their Latino constituencies, and ignore the extreme positions of their other, less in touch colleagues.

Agreement Reached in Class Action Lawsuit on Work Authorization for Asylum Seekers

2013-04-17T17:06:55+00:00

The Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security have agreed to settle a nationwide class action lawsuit challenging the denial of work authorization to asylum seekers who have been waiting six months or more for a decision on their asylum applications. If approved by a federal judge, this agreement will help ensure that asylum seekers, who have fled persecution in their home countries, are not unlawfully prevented from working and supporting their families while the government adjudicates their cases. The settlement agreement represents the culmination of years of advocacy by the American Immigration Council’s Legal Action Center (LAC) and other groups on behalf of deserving asylum seekers. The agreement stems from a case filed in December 2011 by the LAC and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), with co-counsel from the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and the Seattle law firm Gibbs Houston Pauw. The complaint challenged widespread problems with the “asylum clock”—the system government agencies use to determine when immigrants who have applied for asylum may obtain permission to work lawfully in the United States. The case, filed on behalf of asylum-seekers around the country, alleged that the current system unlawfully denies asylum applicants the opportunity to obtain employment authorization if their asylum application has been pending for six months or more. Some end up waiting several months or years for the government to make a decision on their asylum application. Indeed, one plaintiff from China has been waiting nearly 10 years for his case to be resolved. Employment authorization is critical given that most applicants have fled their home countries without any resources, and thus have no means to support themselves. Because the suit involves a class action, the settlement agreement, filed April 12, 2013 in a federal district court in Washington State, will have to be approved by Judge Richard Jones, the judge overseeing the case.

2 Page Summary of 844 page Bill from Sen. Rubio Office - Immigraiton Reform Bill Summary

2013-04-17T17:53:04+00:00

MYTH: “180 days after Obama signs bill, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano submits two border security plans to Congress. No further action is required.” (Conn Carroll, “The Gang of Ocho’s Path to Citizenship in 7 Easy Steps,” Washington Examiner, 4/16/13) FACT: Not only is a plan submitted, the plan has to be funded by Congress and implementation of the plan has to begin. MYTH: “Prove they have been in the U.S. since December 2011.” (Conn Carroll, “The Gang of Ocho’s Path to Citizenship in 7 Easy Steps,” Washington Examiner, 4/16/13) FACT: Prove you have been in the U.S. since before December 2011. MYTH: “Ten years after obtaining RPI status, immigrants may apply for ‘Lawful Permanent Resident’ status.” (Conn Carroll, “The Gang of Ocho’s Path to Citizenship in 7 Easy Steps,” Washington Examiner, 4/16/13) FACT: Ten years after obtaining RPI status, immigrants may apply for ‘Lawful Permanent Resident’ status provided the security triggers have been met.” Immigration reform bill summary by Brett LoGiurato

Obama Calls on Senate to Approve Immigration Bill Quickly

2013-04-17T14:07:34+00:00

President Barack Obama on Tuesday urged the U.S. Senate to quickly approve a comprehensive immigration reform package that would allow the legalization of undocumented immigrants. Obama met behind closed doors with Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), with whom he reviewed the contents of the reform plan prepared by the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” starting in January. “I urge the Senate to quickly move this bill forward and, as I told Senators Schumer and McCain, I stand willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that comprehensive immigration reform becomes a reality as soon as possible,” said the president in a statement released by the White House. The bill, Obama said, “is clearly a compromise, and no one will get everything they wanted, including me. But it is largely consistent with the principles that I have repeatedly laid out for comprehensive reform.” The bill will continue to strengthen security along the southern border and will punish companies that knowingly hire undocumented workers, but it will also open a path to “earned citizenship” for the 11 million undocumented foreigners living in this country, the president said. The Gang of Eight is scheduled to formally present the bill on Tuesday, although Senate sources told Efe that their staffs and advisors still “are finalizing the technical language” of the plan.

Read The Senate Immigration Bill Outline Here

2013-04-16T14:54:42+00:00

Outline of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 Millions of illegal immigrants would be put on a pathway to legal status and eventually have the chance to apply for citizenship in exchange for paying fines and taxes, under the terms of the immigration overhaul unveiled this week. According to an outline of the bill released, the massive legalization program would be twinned with a multibillion-dollar effort to boost border security. Outline of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 Link to document

Poll of Undocumented Immigrants Reveals Strong Family and Social Connections in America

2013-04-15T22:05:38+00:00

Groundbreaking poll of Latino undocumented immigrants shows 85% have U.S. citizen family members; and 87% would plan to apply for citizenship if immigration reform passes A new poll of Latino undocumented immigrants finds they have deep roots in America, with strong family and social connections to U.S. citizens, painting a portrait of a community that is very integrated into the American fabric, and hopeful of a chance to gain legal status and ultimately citizenship. Today, Latino Decisions releases a ground-breaking poll of undocumented Latino residents of the United States, conducted on behalf of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund and America’s Voice Education Fund. In the midst of the debate over the future of immigration policy in the United States, the time was right to assess the social and familial ties between undocumented immigrants and American citizens. The poll finds a very strong connection between immigrant communities and other Americans. [PDF of poll results] The key findings from the poll include: Undocumented Immigrants are closely tied to the American citizens. 85% of undocumented immigrants have a family member who is a U.S. citizen. Among these, 62% have at least one U.S. born child, and 29% have a spouse who is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. Beyond children or spouses, an additional 20% have another family member who is a U.S. citizen, such as a sibling, niece or nephew, aunt or uncle. Immigrants come to the United States to work and better their families. Opportunity is identified as the principal reason for coming to the United States. Overall, 77% came to the U.S. for better economic opportunity, or to create a better life for their family. Approximately 39% of our respondents said “better jobs and economic opportunity” as the reason for migration, while another 38% said “to create a better life for [your] family and children.” Another 12% came to reunite with family members. Immigrants are here as families. Whether citizens, legal permanent residents, or something else, a vast majority of undocumented immigrants have other family members also living in the United States. Across all questions about family members, 95% of respondents have at least one other family member in the U.S. About three-quarters (74%) have children living here in the U.S., 62% have a spouse in the U.S., and the same amount, 62% have a brother or sister here, and 61% have a cousin. Undocumented immigrants are overwhelmingly in family environments, not in isolation. Undocumented immigrants want to be American citizens. When asked what they would do if the law changed to allow a process for them to eventually apply for citizenship, an overwhelming 87% indicated their intention to become a U.S. citizen. Undocumented immigrants are hopeful that the time for comprehensive immigration reform has come. Over two-thirds describe themselves as more optimistic and hopeful about the chances for CIR compared with other years’ efforts. Undocumented immigrants are incorporated into the American economy. Large majorities (71%) are in households that own cars, and 15% reported owning their home. Undocumented immigrants are young, with long work-lives ahead of them. With baby-boomers rapidly aging toward retirement, undocumented persons significantly lower the age of the taxpaying population. The poll finds nearly a quarter of undocumented persons arrived in the U.S. below the age of 18, and 81% of all undocumented respondents arrived at or below 30 years of age. Undocumented immigrants have deep roots and are not newcomers. Over two-thirds of respondents (68%) have been living in the U.S. more than a decade. By contrast, 22% have been here between 5 and 10 years and only 11% of respondents had been here 5 years or less. About the poll: Latino Decisions interviewed 400 Latino adult immigrants self-identifying as non-citizens and not “Legal Permanent Residents” or not having any other type of visa or documentation. The poll was conducted between March 4 and March 29, 2013, and all respondents were selected at random in both landline and cell-phone only households. The nominal margin of error is +/- 4.9%. Interviews were conducted in Spanish and English at the subject’s discretion. Additional data points will be released later this week. Read the entire report here

JUST IN: Senate Judiciary Committee Delays Hearing Immigration Bill, Need More Time

2013-04-15T17:54:16+00:00

A U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing scheduled for Wednesday on the soon-to-be-introduced immigration reform bill has been delayed. The bipartisan group of Senators, known as the “Gang of Eight” are set to present the new comprehensive immigration bill tomorrow. Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio made the TV talk show circuit this weekend providing details on what to expect. After the bill is introduced protocol requires hearings to be held in the Judiciary Committee. The new hearing date is set for Friday. Immigration experts are concluding the delay reflects how complex the bill is expected to be. Early leaks as to what is in the bill indicate a 13-year path to citizenship, no citizenship for undocumented individuals that arrived in the country after 2011 and immigration reform will be tied to a major boost in border security. Rubio note: “The alternative we’ve created is going to be longer, more expensive and more difficult to navigate… It would actually be cheaper if they went back home, wait ten years and apply for a green card.” Immigrant advocates and the majority of Latinos that are urging for immigration reform will remember Rubio’s words when he formally seeks the office of President in 2016.

Survey Shows 69 Percent of Americans Favor Legalization of Undocumented

2013-04-12T23:01:48+00:00

Almost seven out of every 10 Americans would vote for a law giving undocumented immigrants a chance to become legal residents, according to a Gallup Poll published Friday. The survey was taken April 9-10 with a random sample of 1,018 adults in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 6 percent. The study comes just as a bipartisan group in the Senate prepares to introduce an immigration reform bill in the next few days that is expected to include a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented estimated to live in this country. While 69 percent of the sample said they would vote in favor of a law allowing undocumented immigrants living in the United States to become legal residents if they comply with certain requisites, 65 percent are open to idea of citizenship for the undocumented. In general terms and for both hypothetical measures, voters who identify themselves as Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents supported them more strongly than voters identified as Republicans or Republican-leaning.

REPORT: New Immigration Bill Will Deny Citizenship to Those Who Arrived after 2011

2013-04-12T17:37:20+00:00

As the bipartisan group of U.S. Senator’s known as the “Gang of Eight” gets ready to introduce comprehensive immigration reform legislation details are slowing leaking out as to what the bill will contain. AP is reporting that any undocumented individual that illegally entered the U.S. after December 31, 2011 will not be granted a path to citizenship. Individuals deemed qualified to apply for citizenship must show gainful employment and “financial stability” to ensure they will not be a burden to the government. Citizenship candidates cannot have a criminal record, which could include misdemeanors. The path to citizenship for qualified individuals will be a 13-year process. It is not known how many of the estimated 11 million undocumented will qualify for citizenship under the current proposed guidelines. Another aspect of the proposed legislation will require employers to verify the legal status of their workforce. Many states already mandate employers verify legal status through the E-Verify program. Once the immigration bill is introduced, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold hearings which could happen as early as next week. The bill could be ready for a Senate vote as early as May 6, 2013 some insiders say. The proposed legislation may dramatically alter through the hearing and vote process.