Citizens for Immigrants
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Showing posts tagged immigration reform
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Congressional Representative Luis Gutierrez speaks at a press conference on December 15 as he introduces an immigration reform bill, dubbed “CIR ASAP”. More here on the event, the bill and on how you can do your part to support immigration reform.
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Immigration Reform is Critical Part of the Road to Recovery for America's Workers
Article on Huffington Post by Eliseo Medina and Joe Hansen:
“The legislation upholds our values as a nation of immigrants and embraces the vitality and diversity that are the fabric of a vibrant and strong society. It truly could not have come soon enough for America’s workers — both immigrant and native born.”
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via Racialicious blog: CIR ASAP - Working Toward a Comprehensive People of Color Coalition
Latoya Peterson writes: “Alongside the Health Care bill, another major piece of legislation working its way through the United States Congress is The Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity (CIR ASAP) Act of 2009. Designed to rectify a litany of concerns facing those currently immigrating or tangled somewhere along the way in our legal system.” [Read the rest here.]
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”Americans should resolve to be more like immigrants by shedding their sense of entitlement, rediscovering a work ethic, and showing empathy for those who — whether we like to admit or not — bear a striking resemblance to the immigrant ancestors staring back at us from black-and-white photos in the family album.
Ruben Navarrette Jr. writes in an opinion piece for CNN: “Tackle immigration reform in 2010”
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”We’re committing what I call national suicide. Somehow or other, after 9/11 we went from reaching out and trying to get the best and the brightest to come here, to trying to keep them out. In fact, we do the stupidest thing, we give them educations and then don’t give them green cards.
via Reuters: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg pledged on Friday to promote a more open U.S. immigration policy during his third term, much as he made a campaign against illegal guns a hallmark of his second term.
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Immigration Reform Will Benefit the Middle Class
Alex DiBranco writes for Change.org’s Immigrant Rights blog: “Reports of the economic benefits of comprehensive immigration just keep on coming. In the latest, the Drum Major Institute has released an analysis of Rep. Luis Gutierrez’s CIR ASAP bill that comes to the cheering conclusion that its passage will be a win for the middle class.” Read more here.
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The Economic Benefits of Immigration Reform
A new report, “Raising the Floor for American Workers: The Economic Benefits of Comprehensive Immigration Reform,” by Dr. Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda, finds that comprehensive immigration reform that includes a legalization program for unauthorized immigrants and enables a future flow of legal workers would result in a large economic benefit—a cumulative $1.5 trillion in added U.S. gross domestic product over 10 years. In stark contrast, a deportation-only policy would result in a loss of $2.6 trillion in GDP over 10 years. [Read more here.]
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”When I was sheriff, you would be surprised how many news reports of skeletons they found in the field: of women, children, females who died on their way to the United States. This is painful… When you give these people an opportunity to be legally here, you allow them to come out.
Rep. Solomon Ortiz talks to the Houston Chronicle about the House of Representative’s immigration reform bill. Read the article here.
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Immigration Reform: Biblical No-Brainer, Political Non-Starter?
David Gibson writes for Politics Daily: “You don’t fix a bridge during rush hour,” said Jen Smyers of Church World Service. “You fix it now, so when there is an uptick in immigration we’re ready.”
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Christians Stand for Immigration Reform
via RI4A: @Sojourners Magazine focuses on the issue of immigration reform this month. Read excerpts here.
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Frank Sharry, the founder and Executive Director of America’s Voice, talks about the two sides of the immigration debate and what Comprehensive Immigration Reform means.
One side believes in “attrition through enforcement,” while the Catholic Church and others believe the current system is out of date. Many immigrants would line up to apply for legal papers, he says, if there was a line for them to get into. “Our system does not allow for enough slots … for those who are coming here to work.” -
Why I’m Marching: Youth Pastor Ian Danley
Pastor Ian Danley of Phoenix, Arizona talks about why he’s marching in DC on March 21: For me, immigration reform is a faith issue, not a political one. I look to scripture for guidance and insight — and the scripture says to protect the stranger and the immigrant amongst us. So I’m coming to Washington, DC to tell politicians that there are moral imperatives in this issue. We are not allowed to continue to take advantage of hard work and labor, while disrespecting the lives and families of undocumented people. [Read the rest here.]
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”Break our hearts for what breaks yours, Lord. For our immigrant brothers and sisters, who endure hostility and marginalization simply on the basis of their ethnicity or immigration status, we ask your strength. And for those of us who call ourselves followers of the welcoming Christ, grant us the strength to stand with and for those who live as equals before you, even if not equals before the law or equals in the eyes of some. Amen.
via Sojourners’ Prayer of the Day
