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ACTION ALERT
CONTACT YOUR SENATORS TODAY
U.S. SENATE TO CONSIDER IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION
Background. Democratic and Republican Senators, along with the Bush Administration, are currently negotiating compromise immigration reform legislation which could be considered on the floor of the U.S. Senate beginning the week of May 14. Should these negotiations falter, the Democratic leadership could choose to bring the STRIVE Act, or a similar bill, to the floor for immediate consideration. It is important that you contact your Senators in the next few days and ask for their support for a just and humane immigration reform bill.
USCCB Position. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and other organizational members of the Justice for Immigrants (JFI) Campaign are working to ensure that any compromise immigration legislation includes the principles set forth by the U.S. bishops. Any legislation which would warrant USCCB support would include:
1. a legalization program for the undocumented which includes family unity and a realistic path to citizenship;
2. a new worker program with worker protections and a path to citizenship; and
3. the preservation of family reunification as a cornerstone of our immigration system and the elimination of family backlogs and waiting times.
Action and Message. Attached you will find talking points and a sample letter to send to your Senators. It is important that your Senator hears from you as soon as possible, since negotiators are currently working at reaching an agreement. The message to send Senators is that any just immigration reform legislation should contain:
1. a legalization program which includes family unity and a path to citizenship;
2. a new worker program with worker protections and a path to citizenship; and
3. the preservation of family reunification and elimination of family backlogs and waiting times.
To contact your Senators, call 202-224-3121. The sample letter can be accessed via the JFI website at www.justiceforimmigrants.org or can be faxed to the Senators’ offices.
Talking Points and Sample Letter
TALKING POINTS ON SENATE NEGOTIATIONS
Background. Democratic and Republican Senators, along with Administration officials, are currently negotiating a potential compromise immigration reform bill. USCCB and other JFI agencies have focused upon three areas to influence the discussions:
1. a legalization program which is workable and achievable;
2. a new worker program with appropriate worker protections and a path to citizenship; and
3. the preservation of family reunification in our immigration system.
The Bush Administration has proposed an immigration plan which would undermine family immigration in several ways. It would:
1. eliminate several categories of family reunification, including adult sons and daughters, siblings, and parents of U.S. citizens;
2. prevent persons legalized under the legalization program from bringing in immediate family members (spouse and minor children); and
3. prevent temporary workers from bringing with them immediate family members. These family members would be re-directed toward an employment-based “point” system which would make family ties only one of several criteria considered for admission.
Church position. Any compromise immigration reform legislation must include essential components in order to warrant Catholic support. First, any earned legalization program must be fair, workable, and achievable for all eligible participants, must include a path to citizenship, and must allow for families to remain together. A new worker program must include important labor protections, family unity, and a path to citizenship. In addition, family reunification categories must be preserved and family backlogs must be eliminated. USCCB is strongly opposed to the elimination of family reunification categories in any immigration reform legislation and to the separation of families in a new worker program or in any new legalization program.
TALKING POINTS:
- The Senate may soon consider compromise immigration legislation which is currently being negotiated between Democratic and Republican Senators and the Bush Administration. It is important than any legislation:
1) includes a legalization program with a path to citizenship for immigrants and their families; 2) a new worker program with worker protections, family unity, and a path to citizenship; and 3) the preservation of family reunification as a cornerstone of the U.S. immigration system.
- Any legalization program and new worker program must include a path to citizenship for those who are eligible as well as family unity for immediate family members. Otherwise, we will create a permanent underclass of persons in this country as well as unintended social consequences in our immigrant communities.
- We/I am strongly opposed to the elimination of family reunification in any comprehensive immigration reform legislation. Family reunification has been the cornerstone of the U.S. immigration system for decades and has served our nation well.
- The Administration has proposed the elimination of several categories of family immigration, including the adult sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, and parents of U.S. citizens. Their plan also would prevent the reunification of immediate family members (spouse and minor children) in a new worker program and in any legalization program.
- These proposals could lead to family breakdown and to unintended social consequences in immigrant communities and throughout the nation. Immigrant families are the backbone of immigrant communities and help each other assimilate into their new homes and communities. Immigrant families:
1) start new businesses;
2) reduce government dependency among their members; and
3) promote good stewardship and citizenship.
- Studies have shown that family-based immigration may lead to the creation of businesses that otherwise would not be created. A study by the Urban Institute and the National Science Foundation found that immigrant communities that are facilitated by family ties may lead to the development of businesses that otherwise might not be created.
- Family members are less likely to become dependent on government programs if they are supported within a family unit. Immigrant families come from cultures in which the family is supportive of each member and from countries in which there is not a well-developed government welfare system. They take care of one another in times of economic, physical or emotional hardship.
- Immigrant families also promote good citizenship and stewardship. Having family members with them in a country strengthens their ties to the country and encourages the respect of that country’s laws, customs, and resources.
- The family reunification system only allows for the petitioning of close relatives, not extended family members such as cousins, uncles, and aunts. U.S. citizens are allowed to petition for parents, spouses, minor and adult children, and siblings. Legal permanent residents are allowed to petition for spouses and unmarried children.
- Family immigration does not lead to ‘chain’ migration, in which one immigrant will petition for all his or her relatives. Governmental reports and academic studies show that chain migration does not occur on a geometric scale. After the implementation of the 1986 legalization bill, the General Accounting Office reported that massive chain migration was not occurring. A Georgetown University report of October 2006 found that historically a new immigrant will sponsor only 1.2 dependents.
- Preventing immediate family members from joining their loved ones in a new legalization program or new worker program could lead to family breakdown and disruption in immigrant communities. In addition, it could lead to additional undocumented immigration, as close family members seek to enter the U.S. illegally to join loved ones.
- Abandoning our family-based immigration system would be short-sighted. It could lead to unintended social consequences and would deprive our country of the industry and vibrancy that immigrant families bring to us.
Sample Letter
Dear:
I write to ask for your support of comprehensive immigration reform legislation.
As I understand, Democratic and Republican Senators are currently negotiating a compromise immigration reform package. I ask that you ensure that any bill includes a fair and achievable path to citizenship for the undocumented in our nation, a new worker program with worker protections and a path to citizenship, and the preservation of family reunification as the cornerstone of the U.S. immigration system.
Any new legalization program and new worker program must include a path to citizenship for those eligible and must keep immediate family members together. Absent these elements, we would create in our nation a permanent underclass of workers and family breakdown in immigrant communities.
In addition, I ask that you support family reunification as an essential element of the U.S. mmigration system. The Bush Administration has proposed a plan which would weaken immigrant families in several ways. First, it would eliminate several categories of family-based immigration, including the adult sons and daughters, siblings, and parents of U.S. citizens. It also would prevent immediate family members (spouses and minor children) from joining their loved ones in a new worker program or a new legalization program.
In my view, these policy proposals are short-sighted and would harm, not help, our nation. Immigrant families are the backbone of immigrant communities across the nation. They start businesses, support each other at times of economic hardship, and promote good citizenship.
I ask for your support of comprehensive immigration reform consistent with the above elements.
Sincerely,
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