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Next step in the fight: keep immigration reform on the table

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(Image and stats from Nate Silver)

News is still rolling in from elections all over the country, but the question on everyone’s mind is: what now?

Yesterday, some of you told us that since we stood up on Election Day, it’s Congress’s turn to stand up for us. Michael Honda, a congressman from San Jose, CA, wrote with Scott Fujita in today’s San Francisco Chronicle that he’s going to do his part:

Limiting immigration flows has proved to be economically unsound and harmful to American families. Lengthy waits waste precious government resources and can discourage potential applicants from using legal channels to join their families in the United States.

Yet our family-based immigration system has not been updated in 20 years. Nearly 6 million people are stuck in perpetual waiting, which is both unproductive and inexcusable. Five-year separations are quite common; so are 20-year estrangements from siblings and elderly parents.

… It is time to reunite America. No family excluded.

In the Senate, majority leader Harry Reid has promised to bring back the DREAM Act. Reid knows that our community is counting on him to do what’s right. Polling firm Latino Decisions broke it down — 90 percent of Latino voters voted for Harry Reid”

Latino contribution is the net amount Latino votes contributed to the overall margin for the winning candidate. It is calculated by taking the partisan vote advantage for one candidate (i.e. 90% to 8% = partisan advantage of +82) and multiplying it by the Latino share of the electorate. If Latinos provide Reid with a +82 vote advantage, and comprise 12% of the electorate, that translates into a net contribution of 9.8 points towards Reid’s overall margin.

If you want to thank Harry Reid for promising to push for the DREAM Act, call and let him know. The number is 866-877-5552.

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  • CRISTIAN

    INSTEAD TO TRY APROVE DE DREAM ACT, WHY MR. PRESIDENT DONT SIGN A NEW LAW 245i, HELPING 10 MILLION OF PEOPLE,LIKE HE PROMISSE.

  • Yajaira

    I am a senior in high school and i know how it feels when lots of doors shut just because a stupid social security number! i can’t apply for anlit schoolarships or colleges because of my status! I want to go to college but it is very difficult to achieve it. I still have hope and i pray to God that the Dream Act and the redorm pass! Cause i am pretty sute that once that dream act is passed the reform is also going to take event!

  • Christian in Austin
  • Mayra Penaloza

    I totally agree that homeland security or who ever is in charge of the laws need to change and update them. My husband can’t come back in 20 years that is when our daughter is going to be 20 years old. Just because we got tricked. I wouldn’t mind paying a fine or waiver to reduce the years.. All I want with all my heart is to be able to live like a family again together.

  • sayed

    What after 2 elections in November
    Confident and sure that they not only positions have not only the destruction of families and their homes, their families and gentlemen is why members of Congress and President Obama 0 and n are tired after that life stray Americanised!!!
    Where is the mercy and where the freedom you are talking about all of them running down behind the sound and not for private conscience, which ceased to exist under the voices of advocacy for the positions 0
    We hope that as soon as Tndzoa ~ immigration law for illegal immigrants ~
    Illegal does not mean they are homeless or criminals versa are sincere people and the most honorable of Akthernas here because they are educated and sincere with their families and their business and respect all the laws and whether those people have no families of U.S. nationals and U.S. Mamaan reunite these families and the people 0
    After 10 years with my wife that I love and like me she and her children and all its people how to live after Ahjrha and how to live is what every distraction I do not think that members of Congress feel that those people and can not think of one of them make them very happy!! And very curious to go here and there because he said AT liberate edit any of the world and we are inside the United States were destroyed and editors 0
    Charoa those who are honest and who have years with their families for many years 2 to 10 0 and surprising here working for the displacement of Guanyin ~ such as the work to stop a driver’s license and work permit for married couples and their families! How to be a life without the basics like you live Adjallona Wawa board live one day as we will face destruction and bitter Taatdhuqon 0
    I hope the Lord guide you to try and speed up the resettlement of those people fed and happy life Hiniip 0 and you make the hatred in their hearts and hatred
    And if he were one of his 10 years here and lives with his wife of 10 years does not differentiate how the income Hnaalbuld because you know very well acquainted with all of his life here and place it in the country Ahteke life and Asaadohm with their families and their children because they spent huge amounts of money more than 10 thousand ~ to 15 thousand between lawyers and procedures T. courts and leaves the passport is that the years 4 and 5 long in the proceedings that did not see where the parents optimal Analm I see my mother is sick and even when he died but I had an accident sexy hands of ~ amputation of hands ~ and you to work legally dimensions obtained from the Passport R_khaspaml and now I could not renovated and the reason because the visa, which entered Bhaamirka Visa ~ da ~ for if Trkiony all this time and I will be Li’s family here and that means ~ Life interim ~ to imagine I do not know the life of human beings temporary This is what happens anywhere in the world and, unfortunately, after all this still I am in life, temporary destruction of moral and mental and physical I hope that you be afraid of God and Tamiloa good for all and no difference between black and white and between that and that and no difference between this visa to enter and that visa and all will be America Amirkaotan skies and God bless America for all 0
    Thanks 0

  • Megan J.

    Continuing my previous post…

    Why have we not focused on affecting opinions of the general public? Obviously those who are strongly anti-immigrant will not be changed, but they are the minority. The opinions of the majority can be affected.

    I’m not willing to simply wait until we again have a Democratic control of both houses and the presidency. Even with this, we weren’t even able to bring immigration reform up for a vote. So, I strongly object to simply trying to get easier legislation passed until we have a more favorable political climate. We have to create a more favorable political climate. Yes, it would be easier to do this in better economic times, but that is not today’s reality. The civil rights movement did not wait a more favorable political climate, they created it. That is the reality of social change.

    Let’s begin a campaign to change public opinion. Let’s put commercials on TV explaining the economic benefits of immigration, commercials showing how unfairly the immigration system is affecting people’s lives. Let’s give presentations in churches and anywhere they’ll let us in. I’ve worked with the grassroots in this movement and we can raise large sums of money if it is to support the reform.

    Let’s get going and make this a real movement for social change. I don’t think I’m the only person unwilling to become complacent.

  • Megan J.

    These are the times in which I feel very strongly that we (those who support immigration reform) have wasted the past three years due to poor strategy.

    The only strategy we have had is to energize and get our base out to vote. Then, lobby the legislature to support the reform. Affecting the opinions of the general populous has been almost entirely ignored except for brief periods before a vote on immigration issues. In contrast, in political campaigns, almost all of the efforts are focused on voters who are undecided about the candidates.

    The vast majority of Americans do not have a clear idea of how the immigration system works in the U.S. Depending on how immigration-related poll-questions are asked the answers vary widely.

    Perhaps those in leadership positions in the immigration reform movement do not often speak with politically moderate Americans from non-recent immigrant families. My family and I do. Many people will say that they are against a legalization until you inform them of some very very basic facts. Many people ask us: Why don’t the immigrants just come here legally?

  • jacob

    PLEASE everybody support the DREAM ACT, millions of young educated students need the opportunity to attend college and join the armed forces.

    “The Defense Department Strategic Plan explicitly says the passage of the DREAM Act is critical to shape and maintain a mission-ready all-volunteer force.” Again, we see bipartisan support, as indicated by both Colin Powell and the AFL-CIO issuing pro-DREAM Act statements

  • karen

    Its better to go for the DREAM ACT during the lame duck season, Harry Reid already said he’s bringing it for a vote during the lame duck season 2010, so lets begin with little possible legislation passing like the dream act, instead of bitting off a big piece thats to hard to accomplish at this time like CIR. So throw your weight behind the DREAM ACT please reform immigration for America.

  • karina

    I’m like Mary, I’m devastated too. And I know Dream act is good, but what about the rest of the families??????? The day they approve the dream, or any other SMALL PiECE of legislation, the others can FORGET IT, plain and simple. I’m truly very sad.

  • vicente

    now what?… nothing like always politics just used latinos to get elected then do nothing like always
    They will do something but not anytime soon only untill latinos are mayority and vote so nothing will happened untill maybe 4 or 5 years…. maybe

  • Christian in Austin

    Mary…………….just do not be discouraged! I know it is hard. Take all that energy being upset and use it to convince others to support CIR. Now IS NOT the time to quit or be discouraged, it is time to keep the pressure on! Honda could indeed be a savior to us all. Call Honda and tell him thanks :) .

  • http://www.templodefe.com Jose Garciarivas

    Keep fighting people, that’s precisely what makes us Americans, never give up, keep loving, keep learning, never hate, keep working hard, keep expressing until we get it, have faith in God, and hope in the American People. Do not relax, be sober, be watch full, because our days are coming. The last thousand of a second of a runner is the hardest and more uncertain when it come to win. If you feel disappointed, weary or about to give up, DO NOT! press harder, dream higher, love more intensively. God is on our side:

    Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

    Jas 2:5

  • http://www.templodefe.com Jose Garciarivas

    11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 1 Cor 11-14

  • http://www.templodefe.com Jose Garciarivas

    But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Heb 11:16)

  • Jau Yao

    We need to get more latinos to vote. People need to apply for citizenship and vote. Off course some state like Alabama the latinos will not make a lot of difference but California, Florida, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona we can make a difference.

  • Mary Okorn-Jimenez

    I am devastated by the election outcomes. I feel as though nothing will ever change – not in my lifetime, anyway – and that thousands of families will never reach their full potential, or live a life without fear.
    Absolutely devastated.

  • Rocket

    Something needs to happens. Something is always better then nothing. But those people in congress, all of them, from both parties need to stead up for the people of America, forget about being better or doing better then the other and do what they are there for. The people and what’s best for this country. A high % of Americans want immigration reform. Don’t they say, what does America want, what does the people of America want…..it’s time to start listening….immigration reform has been said over and over. Fix the board, do the job employer fine thing but hey also give a passway for people to apply and try to become legal. Not so much as a amnesty where its just, here is you papers but something like the 245i law, where you had to work hard to get approved and pay a fine to be forgiven. Pass a background check and be approved and pay a fine. Hey there are ways to do this where they can see who should stay and who shouldn’t. It’s not that hard. They need to also think money, I know people that would pay big bucks to do the right thing in getting a passway to stay and be here. Dream act is awesome but there should also be something for the parents of those kids, who just wanted a better life for the whole family. Well, immigration reform is a very big thing to talk about but it’s a easy thing to fix. The 254i would be a great choose to bring back to the table.

  • yaki

    Many would like to see CIR, but because of the results of the elections, it is better to focus on any quick fix like visa recapture, dream act, Ag jobs & S.1085 on lame duck, this is just fair for the legal immigrants. It is difficult for illegals to get amnesty at this stage, it will just be voted out.

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