This week, much of the focus for those of us at the campaign was on a couple of announcements from leaders across America that are joining in the call for reform. For a round-up of some of the blog happenings this week, make sure you check out our last post, a weekly round-up from the folks at America’s Voice.
The movement for comprehensive immigration reform grew in strength and number this week, after announcements from labor and civil justice leaders voicing unequivocal support.
The AFL-CIO, together with the American Rights at Work and the National Employment Law Project, released a report that found the current immigration system guilty of undermining efforts to protect worker rights and perpetuating policies that have harmed immigrant and native-born workers alike.
Bolstering the call for reform were the united voices of police executives. On a conference call this week, three police chiefs from cities around the country described the benefits immigrants bring to their communities, and the ways in which our broken immigration system contradicts this spirit, by making fear and crime a more distinct priority. As Chief of Police Rick Braziel of Sacramento, CA said:
Our city is one of the most diverse and integrated cities in America. We celebrate our cultural heritage and differences and strive to be inclusive. We can’t afford to have a group of residents be afraid of reporting crime because they believe we may report them for deportation. To allow that fear to exist in the minds of victims or witnesses endangers them and the rest of the community and lets criminals off the hook.
Last week we heard about the the National Association of Evangelicals, asking for support for reform based on the moral foundation of the issue. And this week, police officers and thousands of laborers are asking for a place at the table in upcoming talks for reform. In addition to adding to the growing voice for change, these groups combine to represent America’s communities in ever clearer ways: together, we make up the faithful, the hard-working, the true enforcement mechanisms of this country.
The Week in Politics
The Week in Politics was dominated this week by health care, which surprised few after the House unveiled their hotly-anticipated bill. Those of you who have been following both immigration and health care know that the issues are intricately woven together. The Migration Policy Institute recently published a report titled Immigrants and Health Care Reform: What’s Really at Stake?, which truly lays out the stakes:
The scope and success of reform[...]will be affected substantially by lawmakers’ decisions regarding the eligibility of legal immigrants for health benefits, and their approaches for screening out undocumented immigrants. Their decision will help determine how close Congress comes to its goal of reducing the ranks of the nation’s 46 million uninsured.
Indeed, there is already cause for concern. An article featured on TPM, “Anti-Immigrant Hysteria Will Block Access to Health Care,” illuminates the consequences of H.R. 3200’s anti-immigrant amendments. In addition to continuing laws that currently keep millions of immigrants off the health care rolls regardless of their status, it turns out that many of the additional measures Congress is legislating into the health care reform process would preclude millions of African Americans from their own access to health care.
Finally, in what is becoming a welcoming tradition in the Week in Politics, we’ll leave you this week with some causes to celebrate:
President Obama Lifts Ban on U.S. Entry of Those with HIV/Aids
President Obama’s move to end the two-decade old ban on entry of those with HIV/AIDS represents yet another step towards progress. Following week’s triumph over the infamous “Widow Penalty,” the latest move from Washington ends a discriminative process that has kept thousands from entering the US and joining their families and has certainly damaged the US’s image abroad. Put in place with just the sweep of his pen, the ban also reminds us of the President’s power. Of course, nobody holds the expectation that a simple solution will end the rampant injustice and discrimination currently ailing our immigration system. But we do expect the President to lead with the power of his influence on the issue.
And we’re not the only ones. We will leave you this week with a letter from 110 members of the House of Congress, who implore the president to do similarly.
From all of us at the Campaign, have a great weekend, and here’s to November!
Categories: California, Uncategorized
