May 14, 2007
NOW IS THE TIME TO TELL YOUR SENATORS:
WE WANT COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM
TAKE ACTION NOW! Click here to contact your Senators no later than May 16 and urge them to:
- Support the motion to proceed (cloture vote) to begin consideration of S. 1348, a new version of the bill that passed the Senate last year.
- Enact comprehensive immigration reform that includes:
- A workable program that legalizes the status of undocumented immigrants, promotes family unity and a realistic path to citizenship;
- A new guest worker program that protects workers, living wage levels, and a path to citizenship; and
- Preservation of family reunification programs that maintain all family preference categories and reduce visa backlogs.
WHY THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT: The Senate is expected to begin its work on a new immigration reform bill this week. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has indicated that he will proceed with floor consideration of S. 2611, the bill the Senate passed last year, on Wednesday, May 16 unless a new bill is introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators trying to broker a deal. The U.S. Catholic Bishops, Catholic Relief Services and the Justice for Immigrants Campaign supported passage of S. 2611 last year.
WHY WE SHOULD GET INVOLVED: Our faith teaches us to uphold the dignity of every person and to act in solidarity with our brothers and sister around the world, especially the poor. As an expression of these Catholic social teachings, CRS serves displaced people, refugees, migrants and victims of human trafficking worldwide, daily confronting the suffering and exploitation of migrants and families separated across borders often for years. CRS also works with the Catholic Church throughout the world to create economic opportunities so that people are not forced to migrate.
The Catholic Bishops of the United States, Mexico and Central America have consistently called for comprehensive immigration reform. The Bishops noted that: “we judge ourselves as a community of faith by the way we treat the most vulnerable among us.” In response to the Bishops’ call, CRS has joined the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Justice for Immigrants Campaign in support of fair, comprehensive immigration reform.
TALKING POINTS: Click here to send your Senators a message in support of comprehensive immigration reform today or call the Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121 to be connected to your Members’ office. Make sure to convey the following:
- Support the cloture vote on the motion to proceed with consideration of S. 1348.
- Enact comprehensive immigration reform that includes:
- A workable program that legalizes the status of undocumented immigrants, promotes family unity and a realistic path to citizenship;
- A new guest worker program that protects workers, living wage levels, and a path to citizenship; and
- Preservation of family reunification programs that maintain all family preference categories and reduce visa backlogs.
For further information contact:
Tina Rodousakis, Legislative Network Specialist, 1-800-235-2772 x 7462; trodousa@crs.org
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