Media

The SAFE Act: Shortsighted and Costly

June 19, 2013

WASHINGTON, DC – The House Judiciary Committee approved its first immigration bill late last night. Ali Noorani, Executive Director at the National Immigration Forum, made the following statement regarding the SAFE Act and what it means for law enforcement and immigration reform:

"We are this close to passing broad immigration reform because we have had the support of the law enforcement community. It's a shame that the SAFE Act, which kicks the can to cash-strapped local law authorities to do the work of federal agencies, passed out of the House Judiciary Committee late last night.

"Leaders in the law enforcement community from all political stripes have said that an enforcement-only bill is futile. Requiring state and local law enforcement to do both their job and the job of the federal government is a strain on important local resources. Plus, it breaks down trust between communities and law enforcement. Let’s support legislation that focuses resources on dangerous threats.

“The SAFE Act is a shortsighted, costly approach that is unworkable and would make us less safe. A bipartisan, commonsense bill, like the Gang of 8's, is truly the best way forward for our country."

“CBO —the push Congress needs to move immigration reform past the finish line.”

June 18, 2013

WASHINGTON, DC – Following the release of scoring data regarding the S. 744, Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, by the Congressional Budget Office, Ali Noorani, Executive Director at the National Immigration Forum, released the following statement:

“The Congressional Budget Office’s report confirms what business leaders have been saying all along: Commonsense immigration reform is good for the economy. Both the 10- and 20-year numbers show that reforming our broken immigration system does not add a cent to the national deficit. Rather, the Gang of 8 bill will result in net savings of about $197 billion in the first ten years, and up to $700 billion in 20 years.

“This is the push Congress needs to move broad reform past the finish line.”

Gowdy Immigration Bill Would Be a Burden

June 18, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the House Judiciary Committee holds a hearing this morning on H.R. 2278, the “Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement (SAFE) Act,” Ali Noorani, Executive Director at the National Immigration Forum, released the following statement.

“We need broad immigration reform that makes our communities safer. Extreme bills that reinforce our broken immigration system are simply a waste of valuable time and resources.

“Immigration reform can and must bring honor to the rule of law. Far-reaching reform will require the federal government to accept its responsibility for immigration enforcement, not abdicate it. And it will bring hardworking aspiring Americans out of the shadows so law enforcement can root out true criminals and keep all of us safe.”

On DACA Anniversary, Momentum for Reform Continues to Build

June 14, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On June 15, 2012, the Obama administration announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which temporarily removes the threat of deportation from young DREAMers — people under the age of 30 who were brought to the United States before age 16 and who meet certain residence, education and public safety requirements. A year in, this policy has become a reality for over 365,000 young immigrants — and momentum for broad, commonsense and permanent immigration solutions has only continued to build.

"As over 365,000 young hard working people have bravely come forward this past year, the country has stood behind them in support. And now a vast majority of Americans are urging Congress to finish the job by making commonsense immigration reform a reality. Deferred Action has proved to be a successful and commonsense program that protects hardworking undocumented young people from deportation," said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. "And, even more, it has given us a hint of what’s to come from immigration reform.

“DACA helped to show what conversations on smart immigration policy can and should look like. Americans have said in study after study that it’s time for common sense solutions that fix our broken immigration system. DACA demonstrated that there must be a permanent, legislative that gives aspiring Americans a chance to contribute fully to the only country they call home. ”

As the immigration reform debate gets under way on the Senate floor, two polls released Thursday, June 13, show the dynamic support for broad immigration reform that has developed. In a Fox News poll, 76 percent of respondents said that passage of immigration reform legislation is important this year, and 74 percent said reform should include a roadmap to earned citizenship for aspiring Americans who meet certain requirements. Separately, a poll sponsored by the Alliance for Citizenship, Partnership for a New American Economy and Republicans for Immigration Reform found very strong support for reform in 29 states.

In the past year, support for reform also has broadened among faith, law enforcement and business leaders across the country. On Wednesday, more than 100 leaders in the Bibles, Badges and Business for Immigration Reform (BBB) network came to Washington and met with more than 80 congressional offices to show their support for immigration reform. One of the most inspiring stories of the day was that of Jesus Loya, a Utah angel investor and former DREAMer.

“My American story is one of hard work and perseverance, but it is not unique — I feel compelled to share it on behalf of the millions of aspiring young Americans, like me, who want to give back to the only country they know and love,” Loya said. “That’s why I’m here: to make sure that stories like mine are told, and to help ensure Congress knows that Americans are calling on them to fix our broken immigration system once and for all.”

As the debate in Congress continues to unfold, voters across the political spectrum are watching.

“We have come a long way on the road to immigration reform, but the fight is far from over,” Noorani said. “Deferred Action is a Band-Aid where we need a cure. We look forward to the passage of comprehensive immigration reform that puts into law a path to citizenship for DACA recipients and other aspiring Americans.”

Senate to Continue Voting on Amendments Next Week

June 13, 2013

WASHINGTON, DC -- The following is a quote from Ali Noorani, Executive Director at the National Immigration Forum, regarding the close of Senate floor debate for the week:

"This week's floor debate brought us closer to the goal line. The overwhelming bipartisan support on the motion to proceed proved that both Democrats and Republicans are serious about making immigration reform a reality this year.

"So far, senators have filed over 100 amendments, signaling that the Senate proceedings are an open process and fertile ground for compromise. This is the way America wants Congress to work. We are confident Senators on both sides of the aisle will keep their eye focused on the ultimate goal: practical, affordable, commonsense immigration reform."

Progress on S. 744 Bill

June 11, 2013

WASHINGTON, DC -- The following is a quote from Ali Noorani, Executive Director at the National Immigration Forum, regarding President Obama's remarks on immigration reform earlier today and the motion to proceed that passed in the Senate by an 84-15 margin:

"President Obama was right. The Senate's immigration bill is the best chance we've had at reforming our broken system in decades. With the Senate's procedural votes today, the debate has officially begun and momentum continues to grow. Though some senators are still on the fence, it is encouraging that they agree this bill is worthy of floor debate.

"As the Senate debate moves forward to passage before July 4, we encourage leaders in the House to move quickly toward mending our immigration policies and to find workable solutions for all Americans."

Speaker Boehner To Prioritize Immigration Reform

June 10, 2013

WASHINGTON, DC—The following is a quote from Ali Noorani, Executive Director at the National Immigration Forum, regarding Speaker Boehner's timeline for immigration reform:

“It is encouraging that Speaker Boehner plans to prioritize immigration reform in the House of Representatives this summer by urging a House vote before the August break. As the speaker recognizes, we urgently need a new immigration process to replace our broken system. American voters of all political stripes clearly agree that reform is urgent.

“We agree with leaders in both parties who recognize that comprehensive reform is the only way to prevent a patchwork of laws that would be prone to mismanagement. And we support the bipartisan efforts in both the House and the Senate for broad reform. The debate over commonsense reform must be one of statesmanship, not political gamesmanship. Congress must seize this moment.”

Senate to Debate Broad Immigration Reform on Floor Next Week

June 05, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Next week, the full Senate will begin floor debate on S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-5 in favor of the bill in May and, during markup, senators approved more than 140 of the nearly 300 amendments submitted. Most represent good-faith efforts to improve the bill and to make government more accountable for its effective implementation. The vast majority of amendments that passed did so with bipartisan support.

The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“There’s no doubt we’ve come a long way to get where we are with immigration reform. Getting the Gang of 8 bill over the hurdle of passing the Senate Judiciary Committee was a great victory, but in many ways we are still at the starting line.

“As the Senate takes up floor action on the bill, it is vital that key players in the Senate continue to work in the spirit of compromise and cooperation and that we continue to build upon the momentum that got us this far.

“The American people have said time and time again that they want commonsense immigration reform. And that means reuniting families, recognizing the importance of immigration to our economy and our communities, and including a roadmap to citizenship for aspiring Americans. The bill headed for the Senate floor next week does exactly that.

“As we move full speed ahead, let’s keep our eyes on the end-goal and ensure that this broad and balanced bill gets the full support it needs in the Senate.”

Judiciary Committee Sends Broad Immigration Reform to Full Senate

May 21, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a bipartisan vote today, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-5 to send S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, on to the full Senate.

Senators on the Judiciary Committee submitted about 300 amendments, of which more than 100 were approved. Most represent good-faith efforts to improve the bill and to make government more accountable for its effective implementation. The vast majority of amendments that passed did so with bipartisan support.

Debate on the Senate floor is likely to begin in early to mid June. Just as the bill heads to the floor, leaders from the Bibles, Badges and Business for Immigration Reform network are coming to Washington June 12 to hold meetings with congressional leaders and show their renewed support for broad, bipartisan reform.

The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“Today’s vote represents a major step toward a new immigration process. The bill soon headed for the Senate floor is exactly what America needs. It honors the aspiring Americans who will strengthen our communities and our economy for generations to come. It also honors our history as a nation of laws.

“Americans across the political spectrum recognize that we need commonsense reform. And they support political leaders who show the courage to transcend partisanship, reach across the aisle and develop long-term, broad solutions. That’s what we need to replace our broken immigration system.

“The full Senate must carry this momentum forward and pass a bill that keeps the best interests of our nation in mind. The House also must follow the lead of American voters, Republican and Democrat alike, and pursue wide-ranging reform that respects human dignity and provides for secure borders, safer communities, a stronger economy and a roadmap to citizenship for hardworking American immigrants.

“Much work lies ahead. But today’s bipartisan vote shows the great strides we are making toward an immigration process that works for all Americans.”

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Bipartisan House Group Agress in Principle on Immigration Reform

May 17, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers announced that they have reached an agreement in principle on immigration reform that includes a roadmap to citizenship. The announcement came a day after members of the group had suggested Thursday was a make-or-break moment for agreement.

The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“The announcement by the House represents major progress and gives immigration reform remarkable momentum. Much work lies ahead in both houses of Congress, but the diverse House group’s willingness to come together is a strong sign of just how far we have come.

“Americans are ready for Congress to show its resolve and continue debating immigration reform in the bipartisan spirit that has prevailed so far. As the debate over the bill in the Senate continues to progress, the House group’s announcement marks an exciting step forward.

“We await the details of the House agreement and bill. The legislation needs a clear and fair road to citizenship, and it must recognize the importance of immigration to our economy, our families and our communities.

“The tide has turned. Political leaders in both houses and both parties are recognizing that we need broad immigration reform this year. They must continue to work together until reform is reality.”

Innovative Citizenship Initiative Launches in Los Angeles

May 14, 2013

Innovative Citizenship Initiative Launches in Los Angeles.
Employees Attend Free Citizenship Workshop at American Apparel

LOS ANGELES — Today, the National Immigration Forum joined American Apparel employees to launch The Bethlehem Project in Los Angeles. Through this innovative citizenship initiative, businesses partner with local immigrant-service organizations such as NALEO, APALC, CARECEN and Catholic Charities to offer their immigrant employees onsite services such as English classes, civics instruction and legal assistance for citizenship applications.

Across the country, it’s business that is increasingly leading the charge to help new Americans integrate. Following the launch of the Bethlehem Project in Miami in April, American Apparel becomes the first Los Angeles–area business taking a leadership role by investing in its immigrant workforce — in a city where nearly 1.6 million people are eligible for citizenship.

“In the end, the most important parties involved — our employees — left well-informed and seemingly energized to make the step toward a better life for them and their families,” said Marty Bailey, President of Manufacturing at American Apparel.

The Bethlehem Project is designed to meet the needs of employees and the businesses they work for. Hardworking immigrants gain essential skills on the worksite that will increase their earning potential and allow them to fully engage as citizens in their new homeland, and businesses will benefit from increased loyalty and better-trained workers.

“The L.A. Area Chamber applauds the efforts American Apparel is putting forth, in conjunction with the National Immigration Forum’s Bethlehem Project, to help eligible immigrant workers pursue citizenship,” said Gary Toebben, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. “This is a model that should be replicated nationwide. Encouraging citizenship will improve economic prosperity for all stakeholders involved.”

“The Bethlehem Project is a unique opportunity for employers to support their workers in their journey to becoming American citizens,” added Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “From Miami to Los Angeles and beyond, we’re hearing from business leaders and employees who view this service as good for the bottom line and great for employee morale.”

Senate Moves Toward Substance in Immigration Reform Debate

May 09, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a markup this morning of S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, Congress takes another important step forward as it considers broad, commonsense immigration reform. With about 300 amendments introduced this week, senators are clearly prioritizing a new immigration process as they navigate the debate and move forward in bipartisan fashion.

The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“As senators take up the debate, they must remain focused on the end goal: broad, bipartisan reform. We need a new immigration process that reunites families, recognizes the importance of immigration to our economy and our communities, and includes a roadmap to citizenship for aspiring Americans. Our country will realize its full potential only when Congress has passed a bill that creates this process.

“It’s great to see the legislation moving. This is concrete progress. As the Judiciary Committee considers the wide range of amendments, the spirit of compromise and cooperation that has brought us this far must be senators’ guiding light. Congress must continue a rational debate in the same bipartisan fashion that has given reform so much momentum.”

Paul Singer Makes Significant Contribution to the National Immigration Forum Action Fund

April 29, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the Senate introduction of bipartisan immigration reform legislation, the National Immigration Forum Action Fund received a strong show of support from hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer to continue the bipartisan effort for common sense immigration solutions.

Mr. Singer is the founder and CEO of Elliott Management, and is providing a six-figure contribution to the National Immigration Forum Action Fund’s “Bibles, Badges and Business” project to encourage Republicans and Democrats to support immigration reform that strengthens our nation’s competitiveness and helps us attract the world’s best talent and hard workers.

The passionate level of involvement and cooperation from both Republicans and Democrats on immigration reform sends a resounding message that this immigration battle is different than that of decades past. Rather than fall back into the stagnation and polarization that plagues so many of today’s political disagreements, immigration reform has produced robust coalitions and unlikely collaborations. This donation by Paul Singer is one of many signs from business leaders that American businesses are not sitting on the sidelines for this immigration reform battle.

The bipartisan Senate bill is a strong start. It includes the core elements necessary for reform like commonsense fixes to our legal immigration system that ensures our competitiveness and creates a tough but fair road to citizenship for contributing immigrants already in the country.

Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum Action Fund expresses the importance of Mr. Singer’s contribution: “We are grateful for the leadership and support of Paul Singer at this critical juncture. Across the country, those who read a Bible, wear a badge or own a business demand Congress build a common sense immigration system. Introduction of bipartisan legislation is only the first step. In the months of debate ahead, we know the opposition is prepared to spend millions of dollars to try and defeat immigration reform yet again. But, this time it is different. Not only are faith, law enforcement and business leaders working together. But, civic leaders like Mr. Singer are investing their hard earned resources in the path to victory.”

Representatives Gutierrez and Carter Talk to San Antonio Residents about Immigration Reform

April 29, 2013

On Monday, April 29, lawmakers gave San Antonio a front row seat to the latest developments on immigration reform

As the Senate moves forward on immigration reform, two members of the House of Representatives group that has been negotiating behind the scenes to develop a compromise immigration reform bill will sat down with San Antonio residents to share some of the latest developments on immigration reform and discussed the path forward for the bill.

The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hosted Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and Rep. John Carter (R-Tex.) in San Antonio for “Left. Right, Forward,” an in-depth conversation on immigration reform.

Congressmen Gutierrez and Carter will engaged with San Antonians in a unique and open discussion on the path forward for immigration reform and the national immigration debate.

The event was livestreamed. Watch a video recording below:

“Left. Right. Forward.” Event Sets Tone for National Conversation on Immigration

April 29, 2013

Leaders of the bipartisan effort in the House of Representatives on immigration reform make the case for comprehensive and sensible changes to immigration law.

SAN ANTONIO, TX – In a wide-ranging discussion moderated by Texas Tribune Editor Evan Smith, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and Rep. John Carter (R-Tex.) argued for a bipartisan, comprehensive solution to immigration and border issues. A growing consensus among members of the faith, law enforcement and business communities makes that solution attainable even in a highly polarized political environment.

“Today in San Antonio, Representatives Carter and Gutierrez showed us exactly why the time is now for immigration reform. They came together to talk with San Antonians about the urgency and need for both parties to continue working together on comprehensive and bipartisan reform,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “This isn’t about Democrats or Republicans getting everything they want on immigration – it’s about the left working with the right, and the right working with the left to move us forward on immigration reform.”

“Part of the conversation that Congressman Carter and I are having here today with you is an educational experience, not only for us, but for the rest of the American people,” said Congressman Gutierrez. “If they can hear a Republican and a Democrat speak in sensible terms, then I think that goes all the way down to the local police officer or constable who are also going to change their minds.”

“If the far left and the far right, which is quite honestly what our group is made up of, can come to a compromise, then it ought to be easy for the rest of the Congress to come to a compromise,” noted Congressman Carter. “We’re as far apart politically as you can get, but we’re very close right now because of this project we’re working on. We’re very proud of the product we’re moving forward.”

Both congressmen observed that national security is enhanced and the U.S. economy is invigorated by enacting rational immigration policies that allow law enforcement and border security agencies to focus on legitimate threats while allowing needed laborers and entrepreneurs to enter the U.S. workforce.

“For residents of San Antonio and South Texas who know border issues better than anyone else, the bipartisan effort led by Congressmen Gutierrez and Carter is a breath of fresh air,” said Eddie Aldrete, Senior Vice President, IBC Bank and board member of the National Immigration Forum. “Their work is vitally important for our economic and national security. More Americans need to hear them and support their effort to create sane and humane immigration laws.”

Legislative Process Kicks Off in the Senate

April 26, 2013

The Senate's Comprehensive Approach Presents the only Viable Path for Success

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday’s start of the mark-up session in the Senate Judiciary Committee represents an important step forward toward a commonsense and fully comprehensive immigration reform bill. Congress has been discussing this issue for the last 10 years, and all other piecemeal attempts at immigration reform have failed. But changing public opinion on immigration reform reinforces the notion that the time is now for reform – and the Senate’s balanced approach is the way forward.

S744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act is the most extensive and wide-reaching plan for truly reforming the nation’s antiquated and unrealistic immigration system since the Reagan administration’s 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. It comes as a result of years of debate and an unprecedented momentum and energy from the public and affected industries like labor, technology, agriculture, faith communities, and law enforcement.

“We’re excited to see the Senate’s Gang of Eight Bill moving full speed ahead. We’ve already had three marathon hearings – and we expect much more deliberation as mark-up picks up,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “As we begin to move forward with the process, we can’t lose sight of the goal. The Senate’s approach to one, delicately balanced bill is the only plausible way to get across the finish line on this much needed reform. Efforts to break down the bill into separate legislative pieces will fall well short of what Republican voters seek: a complete overhaul.”

Over 100 Current and Former Attorneys General Send Letters to Congressional Leadership Urging Action

April 24, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, 36 current state attorneys general and 76 former state attorneys general signed and delivered letters to House and Senate Leadership outlining their positions on immigration reform and pushing both Chambers to move quickly to solve this issue. The signatories represent the consensus among this group of national and bipartisan law enforcement leaders for immigration reform that secures our border, keeps families together, sensibly deals with those already in our country and improves public safety at the local level.

“With these two letters, the nation’s attorneys general signal the need for broad immigration reform that corrects the many harms caused by the current immigration system,” said former Attorney General Mark Shurtleff (R-Utah). “From improving border security to rebuilding trust between undocumented immigrants and their local law enforcement officers, the time is now to address these problems."

“The message sent by these leaders who have dedicated their lives to keep our communities safe represents the far reaching momentum that exists for commonsense immigration reform,” added Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “With the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act, Congress has an opportunity to apply their recommendations and make America safer.”

Miami’s Business Community Launches Innovative Citizenship Initiative

April 23, 2013

The InterContinental Miami, the Betsy Hotel and Miami-Dade College Participate in National Immigration Forum's Bethlehem Project

MIAMI, FL. —Today, the National Immigration Forum inaugurated Miami as the official launch city for “The Bethlehem Project”. Through this innovative citizenship promotion initiative, businesses partner with immigrant-service organizations like the International Rescue Committee to offer their immigrant employees on-site services such as English classes, civic instruction and legal assistance for citizenship applications.

The business community is increasingly leading the effort to integrate our nation’s aspiring citizens. Miami companies like InterContinental Hotel--Miami, The Betsy Hotel--South Beach and Miami-Dade College are taking their leadership to a new level by recognizing the value of investing in their immigrant workforce and promoting citizenship and integration in the workplace. While many opportunities exist for English learning, civics instruction and naturalization assistance at different sites like churches, community colleges and immigrant service organizations, virtually nobody integrates all three needs in one site like the workplace.

Immigrant employees praised the project because it adds the invaluable convenience of accessing citizenship assistance at their place of work.

“Becoming a U.S. citizen is a very important step to me because I feel that this country is my home,” said Ráquel Araujo-Escobar, an employee at InterContinental Miami. “Having my employer support me in this important step by providing citizenship assistance at my place of work is a true blessing."

Similarly, business leaders stressed the Bethlehem Project’s practicality and benefits to employees and companies alike.

“This program is easy to handle and coordinate. The Bethlehem Project supported us through the different stages of the program and provided flyers and easy-to-understand information that we could share with our staff in multiple languages,” said Nilmarie Almovodar, Human Resources Director at The Betsy - South Beach.

“With this partnership we are demonstrating to our employees that we care and support their best interests, and that we care for our community,” added Leonie Timothee of the Human Resources Department at The InterContinental Miami.

The city of Miami is a symbol of the convergence between business and immigration. Noted worldwide as an entrepreneurial city, Miami also boasts a significant immigrant population – with over 60% of its residents hailing from other parts of the world.

“In Miami-County we have over 520,000 individuals who are legal permanent residents who have not yet become citizens,” said Eduardo Padrón, President at Miami-Dade College. “Becoming a citizen not only provides you with greater responsibility for civic engagement and voting, but it also helps you and the companies involved to get a better return on your investment.”

The Bethlehem Project is designed to meet the needs of employees and the businesses they work for – on the one hand, hard-working immigrants achieve essential skills such as English language training that will increase their earning potential and allow them to fully engage as citizens in their new homeland. On the other hand, businesses will benefit from increased productivity from better trained workers.

“The Miami business community, many of whom are immigrants themselves, has long understood the importance of nurturing the innovation, energy and spirit of the immigrant community to build a more prosperous Miami,” noted Manny Díaz, Mayor of the City of Miami. “Today, we make another plea to our business community. Work with us as we try to bring these half-a-million citizen eligible residents in our community to become an even greater part of the American mainstream.”

“For hard-working immigrants in Miami, this assistance will mean the ability to realize the American Dream; for our partner businesses, this program will pay off in increased effectiveness and opportunities for advancement of their employees,” added Ali Noorani, Executive Director at the National Immigration Forum.

For more information and to join this groundbreaking initiative, please visit: www.joinbethlehemproject.org

Bibles, Badges and Business for Immigration Reform Urge Swift Action

April 22, 2013

Current and Former Attorneys General release broad sign-on letters

WASHINGTON, D.C – Earlier today, the Senate Judiciary Committee held its first hearing for Senate bill S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. The hearing featured pivotal testimony from witnesses representing the many groups affected by our immigration system.

Bibles, Badges and Business for Immigration Reform were represented at the hearing by Mark Shurtleff, Republican Former Attorney General of Utah, David Fleming senior pastor of Houston’s Champion Forest Baptist Church, and frequent collaborator, Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform.

“Today’s hearing was a testament to the broad support commonsense immigration reform enjoys in America, from the National Association of Attorneys General to 76 former state attorneys general to the Evangelical Immigration Table,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “The thoughtful presentations by the full range of faith, law enforcement and business witnesses inform the negotiations that lie ahead. We are optimistic that a road to citizenship and a stable immigration system for all of America’s families and businesses will be the ultimate outcome.”

Bipartisan Senate Leaders Plan to Announce Broad Immigration Reform Legislation

April 16, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following months of discussion and negotiation, multiple press reports suggest that the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” in the Senate plans to announce a broad bill today to address and improve our nation’s broken immigration process. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“It is with a heavy heart for the victims and families of Boston that we embark on a new journey for immigration reform. Our thoughts and prayers go to Bostonians.

“When you read the news about immigration reform and Republicans and Democrats working together to create real solutions, it becomes very clear: This is what America wants. Voters across the political spectrum are championing a broad, commonsense immigration process to replace our broken system. For the benefit of our economy and our communities, reform must happen.

“The bipartisan legislation is a strong start for the immigration debate this year. People on both sides of the political spectrum have concerns about certain parts of the package. But that’s the nature of compromise: yielding on something each of us cares about to move forward on what all of us care about.

“We applaud the bipartisan Senate working group for making progress on much-needed reform of our immigration laws. We urge Republicans and Democrats in the Senate and in the House to support fair and practical immigration solutions that include an earned path to citizenship for immigrants who are currently living here, contributing to the progress and well-being of our communities.

“Congress must continue the rational debate and move us forward by passing real reform into law. Make no mistake: This is immigration reform’s time.”

Across the Country, Energy for Broad Immigration Reform Builds As Congress Returns to Washington

April 05, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As members of Congress wrap up a two-week recess and gear up for the introduction of immigration reform legislation in both the Senate and House, momentum for broad, commonsense immigration reform has continued to build in their home districts. In an article today, POLITICO points to the broad support for reform from all parts of the political spectrum, including an “entirely new front from the right on immigration reform”. Lawmakers will return to D.C. bolstered by constituents, including conservative voters, who made clear that they support bipartisan reform and that the time is now.

Evangelical communities, law enforcement officials and business leaders across the country are taking the consensus they have been building for more than two years and putting it into action. They also are putting money behind the effort to pass commonsense immigration reform in 2013. For example, a Christian radio ad campaign by the Evangelical Immigration Table has expanded from South Carolina to Colorado, Florida, North Carolina and Texas.

“We see the immigrant as a person created in the image of God. They’re husbands and wives, they’re parents, they’re children,” Rev. Dr. David Fleming, Senior Pastor at Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, said upon the announcement of the new ads. “White evangelicals have been listening to the voice of the extreme, but give education to our people, they are changing their minds on this issue…I believe and my experience has been here in Texas that conservative Christians and evangelicals are rising to support a biblical approach to this very complex issue.”

In addition, at more than a dozen pro-reform events in Illinois, Indiana, California, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee. “Bibles, Badges and Business” leaders are showing that their constituencies will support courageous lawmakers who act on broad immigration reform in coming weeks and months. In Modesto, California, 1,500 people joined a forum on immigration at the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church featuring Rep. Jeff Tenham (R-CA) and Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC), the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Immigration. Participants called on lawmakers to make broad immigration reform with an earned path to citizenship a priority in Congress.

In Indianapolis, a business-oriented forum featured the Indiana Restaurant & Lodging Association, the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and the senior vice president of Indiana’s largest integrated communications company speaking on the urgency for reform. “The recent federal court decision striking down Indiana’s immigration law as unconstitutional reinforces that fact that we must convince Congress to act swiftly to update and reform our country’s outdated immigration laws,” said Mike Murphy, Senior Vice President of Hirons and Company and a Republican who served for 16 years in the Indiana General Assembly. “Immigrants must once again be considered our nation’s strength, not a liability.”

And at an in-person press conference this week at the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales reiterated the need for reform from the law enforcement perspective. “It is past time for the president and Congress to do their job and pass comprehensive immigration reform that enhances our national and law enforcement security, bolsters our economy, and is consistent with the rule of law and our notions of fairness and compassion,” Gonzales said.

Other events featuring faith, law enforcement and business leaders include:
• a Kansas roundtable discussion featuring the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and the former Republican Attorney General.
• a Good Friday discussion in northern Colorado about the “I Was a Stranger” immigration prayer challenge.
• a press conference in Winston-Salem, N.C., with Baptist clergy urging Sens. Hagan and Burr to support immigration reform.
• an evangelical event in Jacksonville, Fla., to discuss a biblical way forward on immigration.

“Today’s immigration debate is different than the immigration debate of 2006 and 2007,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “Once you get outside of the Beltway you find energy and momentum from the ‘Bibles, Badges and Business’ communities for prompt action on broad immigration reform. There is no other policy issue under consideration by Congress right now that has the depth and breadth of bipartisan support that immigration reform enjoys.”

Added Noorani, “The collective energy these events are generating around broad immigration reform translates to a clear call to members of Congress: We need accountable and practical immigration reform that strengthens our economy and reflects our tradition as both a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws.”

For more information about the Evangelical Immigration Table’s immigration radio ad campaign, please click here.

For more information about events with the law enforcement, faith and business community, please click here.

Business, Law Enforcement, Faith Leaders Urge Congress to Act on Immigration Reform

April 04, 2013

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With both the Senate and House gearing up to introduce immigration reform legislation as soon as next week, faith, law enforcement and business leaders spoke today about the strength and support for reform that their constituencies are building locally across the country. Events during the two-week congressional recess should give lawmakers confidence as they return to Washington that their constituents support broad, commonsense reform.

In a press call, leaders emphasized that their rising network is making sure members of Congress hear Americans’ call for accountable and practical reform that strengthens our economy and reflects our tradition as both a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. Efforts include more than a dozen events in the South, Midwest and West, as well as a new phase of Evangelical Immigration Table radio ads that launched this week on Christian radio in four key states.

The following quotes are from speakers on today’s press call:

Alberto Gonzales, Former U.S. Attorney General and Doyle Rogers Distinguished Chair of Law, Belmont University:
“I approach this issue from the perspective of being a grandson of immigrants, someone who grew up in a border state, and of course as a former chief law enforcement officer of the United States. … When [state and local law enforcement officials] are diverted to enforce federal immigration law, that means that they cannot go after local bank robbers, car thieves and drug dealers. The truth of the matter is, this is very much a federal problem.”

Dr. Richard Land, President, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention:
“The time has come. Americans are ready … Immigration is an issue where people of different political parties and different philosophies can come together and do the right thing. It is time for us as citizens to demand that our politicians quit acting like politicians who are looking at the next election and start acting like statesmen who are looking at the next generation. We will continue to work across the country to educate and to mobilize our fellow evangelical Christians to support just and fair immigration reform, and we’re taking our message to Washington.”

Ralph Schulz, President and CEO, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce:
“We’re pleased as a [business] community to be a part of this effort and [we’re] encouraging our legislators, and our business people are encouraging our legislators directly and personally, to engage in resolving this issue as soon as possible so that we can maintain our prosperous trajectory as a community.”

Ali Noorani, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum:
“Once you get outside the Beltway, you find that a new consensus on immigrants and America has emerged. This week alone, we at the Forum have found that whether you are in Nashville, Tennessee; Costa Mesa, California; Columbia, South Carolina; or Kansas City, Kansas, those who hold a Bible, wear a badge or own a business want a commonsense solution to the immigration system. The fact is that there is no other public policy issue under consideration by Congress at this moment that has the depth and breadth of bipartisan support that immigration reform enjoys.”

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For more information about the Evangelical Immigration Table’s immigration radio ad campaign, please click here.

For more information about events with the law enforcement, faith and business community, please click here.

Senators Visit A More Secure Border

March 27, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Sens. John McCain (R-Arizona), Jeff Flake (R-Arizona), Charles Schumer (D-New York) and Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) will be visiting the Arizona border with Mexico to view security conditions as they continue to work on a broad immigration reform bill. The U.S. has met or surpassed most border security benchmarks the Senate developed during immigration reform debates in 2007, and the senators will find a border with increased Border Patrol staffing, better infrastructure and fewer people trying to cross. The following is a statement from Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“Maintaining a secure border is an important part of immigration reform. The senators’ visit to the border serves as a reminder of how far we’ve come.

“We have made tremendous progress on border security, and it’s time to stop moving the goalposts. Our border will be stronger and even more secure once our immigration system is reformed.

"Commonsense immigration reform will improve every aspect of the immigration process, easing pressure on the border and streamlining border security. These bipartisan Senate leaders and their colleagues in Congress should come back from their recess ready to push reform across the finish line.”

ICYMI: Majority of Republicans, Evangelicals Support Earned Citizenship

March 21, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a new, large survey released today by the Brookings Institute and the Public Religion Research Institute, 63 percent of Americans — including 56 percent of white evangelicals and 53 percent of Republicans — support a roadmap to earned citizenship as part of immigration reform. The findings increase the pressure on bipartisan leaders in Congress to include steps to earned citizenship as part of reform.

The survey suggests that support for earned citizenship among evangelicals is growing as evangelical leaders intensify their push for immigration reform rooted in biblical principles. As both the Washington Post and Politico have reported this week, evangelical leaders are stepping up pressure on Congress to pass broad, commonsense reform that emphasizes human dignity and family unity.

As the articles point out, earlier this week the Evangelical Immigration Table released a statement supporting earned citizenship as part of a revamped immigration process. And last week, a radio ad campaign launched on Christian radio in South Carolina. It too includes citizenship as a key immigration reform principle.

Earlier findings indicate that support for reform increases when evangelicals hear messages from their pastors about welcoming immigrants.

“The tide for broad, commonsense immigration reform continues to grow. And across the spectrum, more and more Americans recognize that reform must include earned citizenship,” said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum. “The message from evangelical leaders is loud and clear, and members of Congress are hearing the same message from their constituents: It is time to follow through and create a better immigration process.”

Evangelical, Other Faith Leaders Press for Immigration Reform in Meeting with President

March 08, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Members of the Evangelical Immigration Table and other faith luminaries met with President Obama today to discuss the need for commonsense immigration reform and the building momentum for it in Congress. The meeting took place as evangelical leaders and pastors encourage their flocks to reflect on the Bible’s words regarding how we treat our immigrant neighbors and mobilize in support of a better immigration process.

Evangelical leaders continue to support broad, bipartisan action as leaders in the Senate — four Democrats and four Republicans — develop legislation that will modernize and strengthen our out-of-date immigration process. The 40-day “I Was a Stranger” immigration prayer challenge encourages evangelicals to read a passage of scripture daily that relates to immigrants and pray for immigrants in their communities — and encourage their members of Congress to do the same. In addition, pastors are planning media campaigns in key states such as South Carolina to emphasize the urgent need for reform in 2013, including an eventual road to citizenship.

The following quotes can be attributed to faith leaders who met with the president today.

Stephan Bauman, President and CEO, World Relief:
“In our meeting, we reiterated the importance of the faith community in not just advocating for immigration reform but in being a bridge to provide services to immigrants if immigration reform passes. We specifically encouraged the President to consider the implications of passage of reform and to partner with faith-based organizations in helping immigrants in the integration process, specifically by providing immigrant legal service, and English and civics classes.”

Dr. Barrett Duke, Vice President for Public Policy and Research, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention:
“I was very encouraged by the immigration reform meeting with the President today. He spoke clearly about his desire to see us achieve passage of legislation this year. While many details remain to be worked out, the big pieces are in place. Secure borders, workplace enforcement, legal status for undocumented immigrants who qualify, and a citizenship process for those who desire to be U.S. citizens are all within reach.”

Jose Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles and Chairman, USCCB Committee on Migration:
“Our collective faith groups are prepared to support just and humane reform of a broken immigration system. With the president's leadership and cooperation between both parties in Congress, we can achieve this goal within the year. We agree with the president and bipartisan Senate leaders who are stressing the importance of a path to citizenship for the undocumented. We should not sanction a permanent underclass in our society.”

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference:
“Today's meeting invigorated me with hope and optimism. The president's resolve in conjunction with evangelical support facilitate the prescription for a comprehensive resolution addressing America's immigration crisis. I am convinced that with prayer and prophetic activism we will live out Matthew 25 and welcome the stranger in the name of Jesus. The collective commitment to incorporate a pathway to citizenship as an integral part of any legislative solution secures a complete integration process. Both the president and faith leaders understand that citizenship must be earned, yet denying it will create a two-tier society attempting to live one dream: the American dream.”

Rev. Gabriel Salguero, President, National Latino Evangelical Coalition:
“Today's meeting with President Obama is a clarion sign for Latino Evangelicals that immigration reform is possible. We need strong bipartisan leadership from Republicans and Democrats that finally creates a just and humane solution. Latino Evangelicals stand committed to see this through in ways that provide an earned path to citizenship while addressing any security concerns. Immigration reform now!”

Rev. Jim Wallis, President and CEO, Sojourners:
“The building momentum for immigration reform is proof that it’s still possible to lift up the common good, and not just political ideology, in Washington, D.C. The faith community has called for political action on immigration for years and is encouraged to see the leadership the president is taking. President Obama made clear how high a priority immigration reform is for him and the White House and that the involvement of the faith community will be an integral part of ensuring it passes. If the bully pulpit of the White House and the pulpits of the faith community speak to the moral issues at stake in this debate, we can accomplish a genuine, bipartisan solution to fixing our broken immigration system. I’m leaving the White House today encouraged that it can and will happen.

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Immigration Reform Must Include Roadmap to Citizenship

March 05, 2013

Washington, D.C — In a newly published book, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and co-author Clint Bolick suggest that immigration reform need not include a pathway to citizenship. The following is a statement from Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“A path to citizenship will be a key part of immigration reform that Congress is working on this year. The bipartisan ‘Gang of Eight’ in the Senate have included citizenship in their principles, and their colleagues in both houses are following their lead and recognizing that the American dream dims for all of us if we create a class of people for whom citizenship is out of reach.

“Republicans and Democrats alike are following the lead of the American people, who recognize that hardworking immigrants should have a roadmap to citizenship so they can become fully participating Americans. Poll after poll shows strong support for a road to citizenship, among Americans of all political stripes.”

“Now is the time for reform that truly unites us and brings all aspiring Americans out of the shadows. As Congress takes up serious legislation, we expect that a workable roadmap to earned citizenship will be a central piece.”

Press Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 202-347-0040

President Obama Meets with Sens. McCain and Graham on Immigration Reform Legislation

February 26, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republican senators John McCain (Arizona) and Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) will meet with President Obama today to discuss immigration reform legislation. Both senators are part of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” group that in January released a framework for immigration reform. This is President Obama’s most direct involvement in the Senate negotiations to date.

Business, faith and law enforcement voices across the country continue to express support for congressional action to fix our immigration laws once and for all. Today in Arizona, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Greater Phoenix Leadership, the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and more than 125 members of Arizona's business community unveiled a letter commending the efforts of Republican senators John McCain and Jeff Flake. The letter states, “In order to ensure the competitive standing and economic strength of Arizona and the United States, we must have a robust and fair immigration process that promotes legal immigration while securing our nation’s borders."

Bryan Derreberry, President and CEO of the Charleston (S.C.) Metro Chamber of Commerce, reinforced the economic urgency: “South Carolina's modern economy, with a growing high-tech sector and a booming tourism industry, demand immigration laws that fit the realities of today's economy. For our state to continue to grow and prosper, it is critical that Congress finally fix our broken immigration system. We are glad to see Senator Graham addressing this difficult issue head-on and look forward to a solution that works for South Carolina businesses of all sizes and in all sectors.”

And in Texas, leaders from the law enforcement, business and faith communities have come together to urge Congress to move forward on immigration solutions at the Texas Immigration Summit in Austin and in the launch of the Texas Compact.

Sheriff Guadalupe “Lupe” Treviño of Hidalgo County, Texas, praised today’s meeting, stating, “I’m encouraged by the continuing bipartisan spirit in Washington for prompt action on immigration reform legislation. As the sheriff of Hidalgo County, I know firsthand the importance of long-term improvements to our immigration system to strengthen the partnerships between local police and the immigrant community and to promote public safety for everyone.”

“Today’s talks offer a bipartisan light unheard of in a divided Washington,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “Congress is moving full steam ahead on immigration reform as both Democrats and Republicans realize that an improved immigration process is smart politics and smart policy for the nation.”

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www.BBBimmigration.org

ICYMI: Texas Immigration Summit, Compact Highlight Breadth of Support for Immigration Reform

February 22, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As bipartisan momentum for immigration reform builds in Congress, leaders across the country and the political spectrum are appealing for broad, commonsense reform this year. A shining example is Texas, whose representatives in Congress are no longer witnessing only silence on immigration reform from their constituents.

Since last week, bipartisan voices in Texas have emerged in force, seeking broad, commonsense immigration reform on the federal level. Moderate and conservative voices were prominent at both the Texas Immigration Summit in Austin and in the launch of the Texas Compact.

At the Feb. 13 summit a new network, Bibles, Badges and Business for Immigration Reform, joined the Texas Immigration Solution to emphasize the need for reform. (Watch newly posted video from the summit.) Faith, law enforcement and business leaders urged action now.

“For us, this is a sacred issue,” said Dr. David Fleming, Senior Pastor at Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston. “God has an opinion on what we ought to do. We look into His word and we discover what His word says, and we just have a moral imperative to see this problem solved for the sake of the people who are caught in the system.”

“This has become a political debate instead of a good policy debate,” said Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo. “We need to focus on good policy, and if both parties do that, you can't really argue against comprehensive reform. [Then] we can get back to the business of fighting crime. There is no value in taking our very precious resources in law enforcement and try to get us to start chasing the nanny. That does absolutely nothing for public safety.”

“Texas should be the leader, and I would venture we are the leader in this debate,” said George Antuna, Co-founder of Hispanic Republicans of Texas. “We are No. 1 in terms of business growth in the country — one of the strongest reasons is the Hispanic community. We need a multifaceted immigration plan that includes border security and a guest worker program, and we are communicating these needs with our leaders.”

On Tuesday, a second group of faith, law enforcement and business leaders gathered to launch the Texas Compact, a declaration of principles to guide the immigration debate in Texas and urge immigration reform at the federal level. The principles include emphases on law enforcement, families, the economy and a free society. Initial signatories include Henry Cisneros, Chairman of CityView and Former Mayor of San Antonio.

“We are hoping that this Texas Compact, led by faith leaders, social service leaders, education leaders and business leaders, will give [Congress] the courage to take the correct action and move forward comprehensive immigration reform,” said Mike Nichols, Co-chair of the Texas Compact and Retired Senior Vice President of Administration and General Counsel, Sysco Corp.

“If we say we follow Christ, then we are commanded to love and welcome the stranger — immigrants. We must seek justice for them,” added Deborah Fikes, Executive Advisor to the World Evangelical Alliance and Board Member of the National Association of Evangelicals.

Texas leaders’ strong support for immigration reform now should serve as a wake-up call to legislators in Washington. As Mark Shurtleff, Member of the Board of Directors of the National Immigration Forum and Republican Former Attorney General of Utah, said upon the launch of the Texas Compact, “We’re building a tidal wave heading towards Washington, D.C., giving strength and support and guidance and direction, hopefully, to our members of Congress. … The timing is now for comprehensive, just, compassionate, commonsense immigration reform.”

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Chamber of Commerce, AFL-CIO Announce Shared Principles for Immigration Reform

February 21, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO released a statement of principles on immigration reform. The following quote can be attributed to Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

"Today's announcement by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AFL-CIO confirms that we are on track to pass bipartisan immigration legislation this year. All of the pieces of the immigration reform puzzle are falling into place — on and off Capitol Hill. When labor and business move forward in a unified fashion, their power to move policies for the American worker and the American economy is a game changer.”

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White House Immigration Proposal Shows Urgency for Prompt Legislative Action

February 19, 2013

Congress Must Put Pen to Paper on Broad and Bipartisan Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Saturday night, USA Today published a leaked draft of the White House’s immigration reform proposal. The draft bill features a direct path to legal permanent residency within eight years for undocumented immigrants if they meet certain requirements. It expands security funding and requires employers to check the legal status of their workers. The White House has stated that the leaked legislation was not final and it was meant to be a backup plan. The following is a statement from Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“While political guesswork focuses on how a White House leak might influence the negotiation process in Congress, the fact is that immigration reform remains on track, propelled by broad public support and a steady pro-reform movement of conservative ‘Bibles, Badges and Business.’

“Look no further than the Lone Star State for proof of the turning tide in the immigration debate. Last week in Austin, conservative business, faith and law enforcement leaders in Texas urged their congressional delegation to support broad immigration reform during the Texas Immigration Summit. And today, conservative leadership from these constituencies launched the Texas Compact, a declaration of Texan values for sound immigration policy.

“The political bipartisan spirit exists now for prompt action on immigration solutions. The time for partisan bickering is over. It’s time for serious legislating to begin on a balanced package that includes a meaningful path to earned citizenship. We are confident that the White House and Congress can find a reasonable course forward to get reform done, get it done right, and make it work.”

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Leaders Announce “Texas Compact” as Immigration Reform Gains Momentum

February 19, 2013

**To listen to a recording of today’s call, visit http://tinyurl.com/Compact0219**

TEXAS — This morning, Texas leaders in the faith, law enforcement and business communities announced the Texas Compact, a declaration of principles to guide the immigration debate in Texas and urge immigration reform at the federal level. As momentum continues to build for broad, commonsense federal reform, these principles serve to remind the Texas delegation in Congress that Texans support broad, bipartisan reform.

Initial signatories comprise faith, law enforcement and business leaders from Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, including Henry Cisneros, Chairman of CityView and Former Mayor of San Antonio. The compact follows the immigration-focused Texas Summit in Austin last week and paves the way for “Immigration Summit 2.0” in Houston on Wednesday.

The quotes below can be attributed to the following speakers at today’s press conference:

Mike Nichols, Co-chair of the Texas Compact and Retired Senior Vice President of Administration and General Counsel, Sysco Corp:
“There seems to be a fear by many Texas congressmen to support immigration reform. We are hoping that this Texas Compact, led by faith leaders, social service leaders, education leaders and business leaders, will give the courage to take the correct action and move forward comprehensive immigration reform.”

Marlin R. Suell, Chief Deputy at the Dallas County Sheriff's Department:
“As law enforcement leaders, our first priority is public safety. That is why we are here. That is what the communities and the citizens that we serve require from us. We see how communities can become less safe when residents don’t trust local law enforcement. We have to be allowed to do our job and keep our communities safe and not spend time and efforts on federal immigration laws. We feel like with a collaborative effort, we can make the right decisions and continue to protect but also provide a community for everyone here in Texas.”

Deborah Fikes, Executive Advisor to the World Evangelical Alliance and Board Member of the National Association of Evangelicals:
“Scripture — Old Testament and New Testament — repeatedly commands followers of Christ to care for the stranger, to welcome them. Sometimes laws need to be changed, and I feel like our laws have been very, very draconian. It has hurt families tremendously. ... We can no longer justify not being on the forefront of this issue, because if we say we follow Christ, then we are commanded to love and welcome the stranger — immigrants. We must seek justice for them.”

Laura G. Murillo, President and CEO of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce:
“Certainly with Texas and our proximity to Mexico, which is the U.S.’s second-largest trading partner, we understand the importance and the value that immigrants bring to this country. We need to continue to promote commerce, trade, tourism. For Texas in particular, that’s truly a huge, huge economic factor for us.”

Marcia Nichols, Co-chair of the Texas Compact:
“One of the reasons we have the breadth, the hard work of individuals trying to come to our country is because we have done something very right in the past. We have provided platforms through education, through opportunities, through a system of laws, for individuals with hard work and with a vision of themselves that exceeds their present reality — they have been able to be a part of this great experiment called democracy. … We have an opportunity to align our political creativity with our highest values.”

Mark Shurtleff, Member of the Board of Directors of the National Immigration Forum and Republican Former Attorney General of Utah:
“We’re building a tidal wave heading towards Washington, D.C., giving strength and support and guidance and direction, hopefully, to our members of Congress. They are now finally talking about a bipartisan approach to comprehensive immigration reform … The timing is now for comprehensive, just, compassionate, commonsense immigration reform. The word needs to get to those members of Congress that you can do the right thing.”

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White House Immigration Proposal Released to USA Today

February 16, 2013

Summary includes path to citizenship and enforcement – no details on future flow system

Washington, D.C — Today, USA Today reported details of the White House immigration legislation. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“The scant details provided offer a glimpse of what looks to be very moderate White House proposal. On one hand, we are pleased a clear, achievable road to citizenship is proposed for the undocumented. On the other hand, the resources necessary for an unspecified number of Border Patrol and a massive increase in immigration judges would be better used at ports of entry and reducing the backlog for legal immigrants.

“Most importantly, the lack of attention paid to the future of America’s legal immigration system must change. America’s economy needs the President and Congress to craft a stable immigration system that serves our economy and our workforce. Commonsense immigration reform must include a functioning immigration system for the future; reform does not begin and end with citizenship and enforcement alone. We hope the bipartisan process underway in the Senate achieves this goal.”

Drive for Immigration Reform Gathers Strength Within and Outside Washington

February 15, 2013

Texas Events Encapsulate Broad Push

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Congress prepares to move from immigration principles toward legislative action, the voices encouraging bipartisan, commonsense reform are broadening. This week, interwoven with the State of the Union address and the first Senate hearing on immigration reform, faith, law enforcement and business leaders underscored their support for reform this year.

On Monday, the new “Bibles, Badges and Business for Immigration Reform” network officially launched. The network is the result of two years of alliance-building among conservative faith, law enforcement and business leaders who have forged a new consensus that we need a better immigration process. Bibles, Badges and Business leaders from across the country already are pressing members of Congress to make immigration reform an urgent priority.

Texas provides a strong example of the changing conversation around immigration. Less than a week ago, the Associated Press noted a “Texas-sized silence” around immigration. By Wednesday, the silence was broken when the Bibles, Badges and Business Network joined the Texas Immigration Solution for a Texas Summit that emphasized the need for reform. This coming Tuesday, another group of faith, law enforcement and business leaders will come together to announce the Texas Compact, a declaration of commonsense principles to guide Texas’ immigration discussion and encourage federal action. (For details, contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 202-347-0040.)

The tone of the debate is shifting in Washington, too. After President Obama spoke of immigration reform in the State of the Union, including a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who aspire to be fully American, Republicans praised the president’s comments. Meanwhile, polls continue to indicate that American voters, including a majority of Republicans, strongly support creating a roadmap to earned citizenship.

“There can be no question that Americans are ready for a rational, bipartisan and broad response from Congress that improves our immigration process and welcomes hardworking immigrants who want to contribute fully to our communities as citizens,” said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum. “We are glad that Congress is picking up the ball, and we expect them to follow the example of Bibles, Badges and Business across the nation and forge an immigration consensus that is good for America. The time has come to act.”

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Investment in Citizenship Will Strengthen Country, Assist Promising Americans Now Priced Out

February 14, 2013

Advocates launch “Becoming Americans” campaign calling on Congress, U.S.C.I.S. to support legal “green card” holder immigrants who dream of American citizenship

An investment in citizenship and reduction of naturalization fees will strengthen our democracy and will keep the United States economically competitive globally, a group of researchers and immigrant advocates said on a national media call today. A new report — “Nurturing Naturalization: Could Lowering the Fee Help?” — indicates that for working poor immigrants with less education and income, the $680 cost of applying for U.S. citizenship has become a major barrier to becoming Americans — especially for Mexican immigrants.

The “Nurturing Naturalization” report was conducted by the University of Southern California Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration (CSII) and commissioned by the National Partnership for New Americans (Partnership). Together with a report released last week by the Pew Hispanic Center (“The Path Not Taken”), the new report shows that the American dream of citizenship has become unaffordable for many immigrants to the U.S.

“When the fees went up, the share of those who are less educated who applied went down dramatically, the length of time between entering the country and naturalizing went up dramatically, and the share of Mexican immigrants, who tend to be more working class, went down dramatically,” said Dr. Manuel Pastor, Co-Director of CSII and report co-author. “The cost of the naturalization fee is having an impact on who are able to apply.”

According to original analysis in the “Nurturing Naturalization” report, “Fee increases trigger a dramatic decline in the naturalization of less educated (and likely lower income) immigrants, an increase in the number of years immigrants wait to become citizens, and a change in the national origin of the naturalizing population, in particular a relative reduction in those who were born in Mexico.” In addition, the report indicates:

• The percentage of immigrants with less than a high school education becoming U.S. citizens has declined by 50% since 1996, from 30% of the total down to 15% currently. Most of the decline has come since 2007, when the cost of citizenship increased from $395 to $675.
• The percentage of Mexican immigrants becoming U.S. citizens also declined dramatically, from a high of 24% of the total in 1996 to a current low of 13%. Again, most of the decline has come since the 2007 fee increase.
• Working poor immigrants, those with less education and income, are deeply sensitive to price increases.
• The significant increases in the cost of applying for U.S. citizenship — which cost only $95 as recently as 1997 — have resulted in a systemic barrier to U.S. citizenship for the working poor.

As noted in the “The Path Not Taken,” despite these barriers, fully 93 percent of Latino immigrants want to become U.S. citizens.

“We at the Partnership take naturalization very seriously, having helped 14,448 immigrants to naturalize last year,” said Joshua Hoyt, National Partnership for New Americans Co-Chair and Chief Strategy Executive for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). “Much of the national debate has centered on a path to citizenship for the undocumented; however, largely overlooked are the 8.5 million legal permanent residents who are eligible for citizenship and eager to naturalize. We believe that helping them to become full citizens is better for them and better for our nation.”

“It is as true today as in the early days of our nation: Immigrants are eager to become full-fledged Americans,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “As Congress gets to work on fixing our immigration laws to include a road to citizenship for immigrants without papers, our naturalization process must continue to improve. As a proud nation of immigrants, we should be encouraging, not burdening, contributing immigrants in their journey to citizenship.”

The Partnership, together with the National Immigration Forum, announced the “Becoming Americans” campaign, to allow hardworking immigrants to pursue their dream of becoming U.S. citizens. The advocates called on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (U.S.C.I.S.) to examine its fee structure and to reduce the costs of U.S. citizenship, especially for the working poor. The groups called on Congress to recognize the value of citizenship by investing in immigrant integration and putting naturalization fees within reach for our newest Americans.

“CHIRLA works with immigrants who want to become citizens every day. They want to be fully integrated and they want to give back to the country that they love, but price is a major barrier,” said Angelica Salas, Executive Director of The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), a member of the Partnership. “The fact that the poorest among us are not becoming citizens should show us that we need to change the fees so that the decision to become a citizen is about allegiance and not about affordability. It is up to Congress and U.S.C.I.S. to decide if they are going to open a golden door of opportunity to all or shut it because of the high cost of citizenship.”

“When I was a child, I wasn’t always clear on the difference between being a legal permanent resident and a U.S. citizen. But as I grew up, I became aware of what citizenship means,” said Margarita Gutierrez, a Mexican immigrant and college graduate living in Portland, Oregon, who has delayed becoming a citizen due to high fees. “As farmworkers, because of their lack of understanding of the process and the high fees, my parents haven’t been able to naturalize.”

The “Nurturing Naturalization” report has been delivered to U.S.C.I.S. Director Alejandro Mayorkas, and the Partnership has met with him several times asking that he address and reduce the obstacles preventing new Americans from becoming U.S. citizens.

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About The Partnership
The National Partnership for New Americans (Partnership) advances the integration and active citizenship of immigrants to achieve a vibrant, just, and welcoming democracy for all. The Partnership is a national multiethnic, multiracial partnership that harnesses the collective power and resources of 12 of the largest immigrant advocacy organizations in the country to mobilize millions of immigrants for integration and transformative social change. The Partnership creates and implements innovative programs that help immigrants become active and engaged citizens working for a stronger and more inclusive democracy and a vibrant nation.

About CSII
The Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration (CSII) has as its mission to remake the narrative for understanding, and the dialogue for shaping, immigrant integration in America. CSII brings together three emphases: scholarship that draws on academic theory and rigorous research, data that provides information structured to highlight the process of immigrant integration over time, and engagement that seeks to create new dialogues with government, community organizers, business and civic leaders, immigrants and the voting public.

About the National Immigration Forum
The National Immigration Forum advocates for the value of immigrants and immigration to our nation. In service to this mission, the Forum promotes responsible federal immigration policies, addressing today’s economic and national security needs while honoring the ideals of our Founding Fathers, who created America as a land of opportunity. The Forum has worked to advance sound federal immigration solutions through its policy expertise, communications outreach and coalition building work, which forges powerful alliances of diverse constituencies across the country to build consensus on the important role of immigrants in America.

Bipartisan Framework for Immigration Reform Receives Boost in State of the Union

February 12, 2013

Now Congress Must Move Forward

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In his State of the Union address tonight, President Obama reaffirmed his commitment to bipartisan immigration reform in 2013, including a path to citizenship for those who aspire to become fully American. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“It is good to hear the president emphasize again the importance of commonsense, bipartisan immigration reform in 2013. The president’s comments are in line with the strong framework recently announced by a bipartisan group of senators, which should serve as the starting point for the imminent immigration-reform debate in Congress.

“The senators’ principles include a roadmap to earned citizenship for hardworking immigrants. A process that ends in citizenship is not extreme, as some members of the House Judiciary Committee implied last week. Across the board, American voters strongly support earned citizenship and are uncomfortable with the idea of creating permanent second-class residents for whom the American dream is always just beyond reach.

“The call for a 21st century immigration system is loud and clear, not only from the president but also from Americans of all political stripes. Including, as we have seen over and over again over the past two years, Americans who hold a Bible, wear a badge or own a business. It is time for Congress to seize the moment and work together to make reform a reality.”

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Senate Passes Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act

February 12, 2013

Bill Includes Important Protections for Immigrant Women

Washington, D.C — Today the Senate overwhelmingly passed S. 47, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. The bill expands protections for immigrant women by broadening the qualifications for a U Visa, a visa for immigrant survivors of crimes who assist law enforcement. However, unlike a similar reauthorization bill in 2012, the 2013 version does not increase the number of U Visas available each year. In 2012, that increase stalled the bill in the House of Representatives. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“We are glad to see the Senate once again stand up for the rights and safety of all women, including immigrant women. Our nation’s values call on us to protect every survivor, no matter where she was born, and so should its laws. Not just women but all of us will benefit from the safer communities that will result when this bill becomes law. The Senate has addressed last year’s sticking point in the House, and we expect to see the House pass the bill in short order.”

‘Bibles, Badges and Business for Immigration Reform’ Launches, Encourages Bipartisan Legislation

February 11, 2013

**To listen to a recording of today’s call, please visit http://tinyurl.com/reform-feb-11**

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the debate in Congress over immigration reform heats up and the president prepares his State of the Union address, faith, law enforcement and business leaders today launched the “Bibles, Badges and Business for Immigration Reform” (BBB) network. This national network is the fruit of two years of alliance-building between conservative faith, law enforcement and business leadership in the Mountain West, Midwest and Southeast who support a better immigration process and are ready to press Congress for action on reform.

On Wednesday, the BBB network is partnering with the Texas Immigration Solution for the Texas Summit: Taking a new consensus on immigrants and America to Congress. The summit will bring together conservative business, law enforcement and faith leaders in Texas who are ready to show the Texas congressional delegation that an improved immigration process can be consistent with conservative values.

“The business community in Texas is united in its effort to bring comprehensive immigration reform to Texas and to the country,” said Bill Hammond, President and CEO, Texas Association of Business. “Immigration reform will keep the economy in Texas going strong and treat those who are already here fairly. We are committed to bringing this change at the federal level, and we hope to be successful this year.”

“Right now we are at an unprecedented moment in American history where we have strong bipartisan support,” said Gabriel Salguero, President of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition and a member of the Evangelical Immigration Table. “For evangelicals, it’s a humane, moral issue. We’re bringing the values voters to the table to say: We need immigration reform because it's the right thing to do economically, morally, and for the families being divided … We want laws that respect human dignity, and one of those things is earned path to citizenship. For us as evangelicals, we want earned legal status so that no one is permanently in the shadows.”

“Conservative principles and those underlying the Bibles, Badges and Business network can really bring people together,” added Mark Shurtleff, Member of the Board of Directors of the National Immigration Forum, Republican Former Attorney General of Utah and a Partner with Troutman Sanders. “I’m very excited to support and continue to work with Bibles, Badges and Business to now convince Congress, in particular conservative Republican members of Congress, that it’s time to work together across the aisle and with the White House in order to bring a commonsense, pragmatic resolution this year to the issue of immigration.”

“Local and state law enforcement, especially in southern Texas, is very excited about the bipartisan efforts that are being made toward comprehensive immigration reform,” said Guadalupe “Lupe” Treviño, Sheriff, Hidalgo County, Texas. “Workable immigration reform is probably the best step that can be taken in order to continue to enhance border security. We need our state and local officers to concentrate on local crime and not on federal immigration issues. Immigration reform actually would strengthen security in our communities all across the country, not only in the great state of Texas.”

Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum, concluded, “While the president must continue to shape the debate through the use of the bully pulpit, ultimately, it is up to Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill to follow in the footsteps of Bibles, Badges and Business to forge a congressional consensus on immigrants and America. With Democrats and Republicans recognizing the moral, economic and political imperative to improve our immigration process, the 113th Congress marks the best opportunity for commonsense immigration reform in nearly a decade.”

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www.BBBimmigration.org

President Discusses Immigration Reform with Business Leaders, Advocates

February 05, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the White House continued its intense focus on immigration reform, in meetings this morning with immigrant advocates and this afternoon with business leaders. As bipartisan leaders in Congress begin the work of reforming immigration policy, President Obama continues to emphasize the need for broad, commonsense reform, including a roadmap to earned citizenship, and the opportunity for Congress to push ahead with reform in coming months.

“I am encouraged by the President’s leadership in prioritizing immigration reform this year. Ongoing leadership from the White House is crucial,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

“The onus is on Congress to answer the clarion call on immigration by the American people including those who hold a Bible, wear a badge or own a business,” Noorani continued. “The political dynamic on immigration has changed. Republicans and Democrats are finally realizing that immigration reform is smart politics for both, and smart policy for the nation.”

Steve Case, Chairman and CEO of Revolution LLC and Co-founder of America Online, participated in the business leaders’ meeting.

“I was encouraged by today's immigration discussion at the White House,” Case said. “The President and his team listened to numerous proposals, outlined many of their own and expressed a desire to build a bipartisan consensus regarding comprehensive immigration reform.

“I focused my comments on the reforms we need to attract and retain the world's most talented innovators and entrepreneurs, as they have been and will continue to be critical contributors to our nation's economic success. I look forward to doing whatever I can to help pass comprehensive immigration reform in the months ahead — and ensure it includes strong provisions regarding high-skilled immigration, so we are positioned to win the global battle for talent.”

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House Hearing Opens Conversation on Immigration Reform in Congress

February 05, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House Judiciary Committee is holding the first hearing on immigration reform of the 113th Congress. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“Today is a new day on Capitol Hill for immigration. We hail the bipartisan consensus, both within and outside Congress, that has brought immigration reform to the fore, and we are pleased to see the House Judiciary Committee prioritize the conversation around improving our immigration process. The conversation now beginning in Congress provides Republicans and Democrats a real opportunity to come together for the good of our economy and our communities.

“As Congress moves forward from strong general principles and begins to hash out policy details, legislators must acknowledge that Americans across party lines recognize the need for a better immigration process.

“Leaders who hold Bibles are highlighting the importance of family unity and ensuring that immigrants have the opportunity to become fully American through earned citizenship — with both the freedoms and the obligations that citizenship entails. In the words of evangelical leader Mathew Staver today, a just immigration process ‘must end with citizenship — not a permanent second-class status.’

“Law enforcement leaders who are dealing with the results of a broken system look forward to reform that allows them to focus their limited resources on community safety, not on immigration enforcement. And business leaders support reform that ensures a skilled workforce across the labor spectrum, from the adept farmworker to the expert engineer.

“These ‘Bibles, Badges and Business’ leaders have joined opinion makers and elected officials in both parties in calling for a rational conversation that leads to broad, commonsense reform. Now Congress must take the next step.”

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Senators to Announce Bipartisan Principles on Immigration Reform

January 28, 2013

Framework Is Powerful, Practical Start

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bipartisan group of senators will officially release a framework today for broad immigration reform that includes a conditional path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The plan also includes reforms to the legal immigration system based upon the needs of the economy, creation of an employment verification system and an improved process for admitting future workers. Many of the details have yet to be hammered out, but legislation is expected to be drafted by March.

The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“We are pleased to see our political leaders in both parties prioritize broad, commonsense immigration reform, starting with their announcement of these principles. For these Republicans and Democrats to be leading their parties forward speaks volumes. Creating a 21st century immigration process won't be easy, but the framework the senators are proposing is a powerful and practical start to the legislative process, and it will make the peaks and valleys ahead much easier to traverse.

“The bipartisan support surrounding immigration reform is unlike nearly any other issue facing Congress because people who hold a Bible, wear a badge or own a business want a commonsense immigration system. And today's debate on immigration is fundamentally different from previous reform efforts for exactly the same reason.

“These ‘Bibles, Badges and Business’ leaders have worked together over the past two years to forge a new consensus on immigrants and America. Thanks to their leadership in the Mountain West, Midwest and Southeast, and in Washington, D.C., today's framework is an articulation of that bipartisan consensus.

“From the leadership of the Evangelical Immigration Table to the vision of the Utah Compact to conservative voices speaking publicly for reform, momentum is on our side.

“What lies ahead will not be easy, and compromise will be necessary. But leaders in both parties are clearly ready to do their jobs and create an immigration process that serves the needs of all Americans.”

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To read the Senate’s principles for immigration reform, please visit:
http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/News/transcript-bipartisan-framework-comprehensive-immigration-reform/story?id=18330912

Opening Shot for Immigration Overhaul as Administration and Congress Unveil Visions for Reform

January 25, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — All signs point to major action on broad immigration reform in the coming weeks. Today, the White House announced that President Obama will debut his plans for an immigration overhaul during an event Tuesday in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, a bipartisan working group of senators is likely to release broad principles for reform next Friday. Congress is expected to move forward on legislation as early as this spring. According to the Washington Post, the Senate’s “timetable would aim for a bill to be written by March or April and potentially considered for final passage in the Senate as early as the summer.”

“The momentum behind immigration reform is growing stronger each day. We welcome efforts by Congress and President Obama to bring immigration to center stage,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

Last week alone, prominent evangelical, business and law enforcement leaders voiced their support for the federal government to get to work on immigration reform that achieves real results. In hundreds of churches across the country, evangelical Christians are participating in the “I Was a Stranger” challenge, inviting pastors, congregants, and members of Congress to read a short passage of Scripture each day for 40 consecutive days that speaks to God’s love for immigrants and to pray for the immigrants in their community.

Added Noorani, “When it comes to crafting workable immigration solutions, people who hold a Bible, wear a badge or own a business are ready to work with both Democrats and Republicans to reach a consensus on a reasonable course forward on immigration. And as recent public opinion polls show, an overwhelming majority of Americans want federal action on commonsense immigration solutions that include a road to citizenship. American voters know it’s the right thing to do. Now, our nation’s leaders are finally realizing that it’s also very smart politics. Progress on immigration reform this year is within Washington’s grasp.”

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For more information on the Evangelical Immigration Table’s I Was a Stranger challenge, visit: http://evangelicalimmigrationtable.com/iwasastranger/

To read a summary of news coverage from last week’s business, law enforcement and faith events on immigration, as well as poll results, please visit:
http://immigrationforum.org/images/uploads/2013/clips/Week-of-Jan14-NewsHits-Web.pdf

New Day For Immigration Reform as New Administration and Congress Get to Work

January 18, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As President Obama takes the oath of office on Monday and the 113th Congress gets to work, momentum for immigration reform is building among voters and leaders across the political spectrum. This week alone, business, faith and law enforcement leaders have issued clear calls for Congress and the President to make reform a reality, and a new poll shows that American voters — Republicans and Democrats alike — support a better immigration process that includes a path to citizenship.

On Monday, the Evangelical Immigration Table launched the “I Was a Stranger” immigration prayer challenge, in which pastors will invite both their congregants and their members of Congress to read a passage of Scripture relating to immigrants and immigration daily for 40 days. Then, on Thursday, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas J. Donohue and Barrett Duke of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission joined other business, law enforcement and faith leaders and named immigration reform as one of their top legislative priorities in 2013.

Congress needs to catch up with the American public on a bipartisan immigration strategy. A poll released Friday shows that voters overwhelmingly support far-reaching changes to create an immigration process that works over the long term (see additional information below). Nearly two-thirds, including majorities of both Republicans and Democrats, believe that people without documents should have the opportunity to legalize and move toward citizenship

“Republicans and Democrats alike need to gather around a table to develop rational immigration policy that serves the interests of every American family,” said Jeb Bush Jr., chief operating officer at Jeb Bush & Associates and Member of the Board of Directors at the National Immigration Forum. “Now it is time for our national political leaders to get the cues from the American public and move forward with responsible reform — reform that ensures our security and respects the rule of law, but also acknowledges the importance of immigrants to our economy and our communities.”

“A new day has arrived in the push for legislative reform,” said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum. “Leaders in both parties know we urgently need a better immigration strategy, and they have the support of the American public. We expect Congress to advance long-term immigration solutions in 2013.”

---------------------------------


For Immediate Release
Jan. 18, 2013
Contact: Gebe Martinez 202-714-2136 or Pili Tobar 305-890-3076

New Poll: Strong Bipartisan Support for Immigration Reform That Includes Earned Citizenship
Common Sense Solution Favored over “Enforcement First” Option

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A solid majority of U.S. voters favor common sense immigration reform that includes a path to earned citizenship for current undocumented immigrants, and strong accountability measures, according to a groundbreaking, bipartisan poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, a Republican polling firm, and Hart Research Associates, a Democratic firm.

The national survey of 1,003 registered voters, sponsored by Service Employees International Union, America’s Voice Education Fund, and National Immigration Forum, showed voters wanting a long-term fix for the immigration system that includes a path to full citizenship for immigrants here without papers.

Almost four out of five voters said they support a system that requires immigrants to pay taxes, holds employers accountable for hiring legal workers and prevents them from exploiting immigrant labor, improves border security and ensures that undocumented immigrants have a chance to work towards citizenship. The plan is broadly favored across partisan, ideological, regional and ethnic groups; more information is available here.

When asked directly about support for creating a path to full citizenship for immigrants versus temporary status, 87 percent of Americans said “it would be better to give people a chance to eventually earn citizenship at some point after they register for legal status, pass a background check, learn English, and pay taxes,” while just 7 percent said “they should be allowed to qualify for legal status and work in the United States but should never be given the chance to earn citizenship.” Support for citizenship was strong across party lines, with 83% of Republicans, 91% of Democrats, and 82% of Independents choosing full integration.

Other key findings include:

• When asked to choose between deporting undocumented immigrants “because they are taking away jobs that Americans need” versus allowing them to become legal taxpayers, “so they pay their fair share and can work toward citizenship in the future,” a solid 73 percent favored the citizenship option over deportation, which received only 22 percent.

• When asked to choose between focusing first on securing the border versus requiring immigrants to “become legal and pay taxes, while also improving border security,” 64 percent favored the combined solution versus 31 percent for border enforcement “first.”

• After hearing pros and cons about the complete reform package, support remained solid and strong. While 77 percent expressed support for the plan and 14 percent said they were opposed at the outset, support rose to 80 percent and opposition stayed at 14 percent after respondents heard arguments against the proposal.

• Voters support politicians who lean into this issue and support a fair and permanent solution. Fully 53 percent of Americans (including 53% of Republicans) said they would be more likely to vote for their Member of Congress if he or she voted for this plan, while only 8 percent of all voters (and 8 percent of Republicans) said they would be less likely to vote for him or her. One-third said that the Member’s vote on immigration reform wouldn’t matter either way.

While Congress has numerous top issues on its plate, three out of four voters agree the current system is not working well and almost half of the respondents said that fixing the immigration system is a very high or high priority.

According to Geoff Garin, President, Hart Research Associates, “There is a clear message in these findings that Americans from across the political spectrum understand the need for broad-based immigration reform, and if Congress acts on a comprehensive plan the public is ready to support it."

Said Guy Molyneux, Partner at Hart Research Associates, “For immigration reform to become a reality, Washington just needs to find as much common ground on immigration as the American people have already discovered."

Bill McInturff, Partner and Co-Founder at Public Opinion Strategies added, “This survey tells us addressing concerns like taxes and border security helps create the foundation for a plan that many voters see as ‘accountable.’ This is particularly important to Republicans and Independents to support immigration reform."

Jeb Bush Jr., COO at Jeb Bush & Associates and Member of the Board of Directors at the National Immigration Forum said, “The results of this poll confirm that Americans of all political stripes agree that the current patchwork of immigration policies is not working for our nation’s best interests. I’m encouraged to see that a strong majority of Republican voters recognize the need for a long term solution that includes a path to citizenship.”

According to Eliseo Medina, Secretary-Treasurer, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), “This poll confirms what we have long believed, that fixing the broken immigration system is not just a Latino priority, but also a high priority for the American people. The full package of immigration reforms, including a roadmap to citizenship, is the solution voters want and is not the third rail of politics that politicians have long feared. We look forward to a robust discussion, one that will be based on what is best for America, our economy, for business and for immigrants, and not on scapegoating or wedge issue politics.”

Added Frank Sharry, Executive Director at America’s Voice Education Fund, “Those of us who have in the past been skeptical of getting Republican support are seeing signs that the GOP lawmakers may finally be catching up to the American people. And given the strong support for broad reform from voters in both parties we think these findings will be informative and inspiring to members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
• Link to top-line poll results: http://seiu.me/toplines0113
• Link to crosstabs: http://seiu.me/crosstabs0113
• Link to PowerPoint presentation on results: http://seiu.me/ppt0113
• Link to call recording: http://seiu.me/audio0113

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U.S. Chamber, Southern Baptists Make Immigration Reform One of Their Top Legislative Priorities

January 17, 2013

**Video available at www.c-span.org**

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Days before the inauguration and just as the 113th Congress is settling into place, the CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a former Secretary of Commerce under President George W. Bush joined law enforcement and faith leaders at a press conference today to urge Congress to work together and pass broad immigration reform in 2013. With Democrats and Republicans recognizing the moral, economic and political imperative to improve our immigration process, the new Congress marks the best opportunity for broad immigration reform in nearly a decade.

These leaders from the national, state and local level discussed the new consensus on immigrants and America that has emerged in the past 18 months as Americans across the political spectrum have come together to seek a new, workable immigration process. Most recently, local faith, law enforcement and business leaders from around the country gathered in Washington in December to meet with legislators and underscore the need for a rational bipartisan conversation that leads to broad, commonsense reform.

The statements below can be attributed to the following speakers at today’s press conference:

Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce:

“Our current immigration system is broken. It’s not serving the interests of our economy, our businesses, or our society. Immigration reform is an opportunity to fundamentally improve our global competitiveness, attract and retain the world’s best talent and hardest workers, secure our borders, and keep faith with America’s legacy as an open and welcoming society.

“We need a lawful, rational, and workable immigration system that secures our borders, provides the workers we need at all skill levels, and protects the rights of citizens, businesses, the undocumented, and those legally pursuing citizenship. The Chamber will make passage of immigration reform legislation one of our top priorities.”

Indiana Attorney General Gregory F. Zoeller:

"The federal government has failed to perform its duty establishing immigration policy and enforcing existing immigration laws even though the U.S. Supreme Court has made clear this is primarily a federal, not a state, responsibility. Local and state law enforcement officers are reluctant to step into the role of being federal immigration agents over rightful concern of lawsuits, while immigrants are often victims of crime yet fear going to law enforcement. This is an opportunity for Congress to demonstrate it can achieve meaningful reform on a bipartisan basis.”

Dr. Barrett Duke, Vice President for Public Policy and Research, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention:

“Just immigration reform is a top-priority issue for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. We do not intend to let this fail. We will stay on top of this issue until Washington, D.C., and Congress do right by the 11 million undocumented immigrants here in our country. Millions of hardworking, peace-loving immigrants are caught in a no-man’s-land in this land of opportunity. They cannot improve life for themselves and their families and they dare not come out of the shadows to ask for help. It falls to us who value them as human beings created in the image of God to make a pathway for them out of despair and into hope. It’s what love would do.”

Carlos Gutierrez, Vice Chairman, Citigroup; former U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President George W. Bush:

“The whole economy is suffering because we can’t grow without immigration. If we don’t get this right, shame on us, because this is about the future of our country, this is about competitiveness, this is about who is going to be a global leader in the 21st century. This has to become the No. 1 priority for the president, for Congress, to come together and say, ‘We’re going to fix this problem.’ ”

Ambassador (Ret) Johnny Young, Executive Director, Migration and Refugee Services, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

“Congress and the Administration must seize the moment on immigration. Because of our broken system, families are being divided and migrants are dying in the desert. We must repair the system and end this suffering.”

Ali Noorani, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum:

“There are many important issues for the 113th Congress to address. But there are few issues that have a past, a present and a future of bipartisan support like immigration reform. Today’s event is another indicator of the new consensus on immigrants and America that has emerged.”

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www.ForgingConsensus.org

Illinois Driver’s License Bill Exemplifies Bipartisan Consensus around Immigration

January 08, 2013

Washington, D.C. — Behind strong bipartisan support, the Illinois legislature voted today to grant a special temporary driver’s license to immigrants who are in the country without authorization. This commonsense public-safety measure will ensure that all drivers on Illinois roads will have been tested on their driving skills and on the rules of the road, and that they will have insurance. It now goes to Gov. Patrick Quinn, who supports the legislation.

Support for the bill transcended party lines, a sign of a shift in the immigration debate. With support from business, health and faith leaders including the Illinois Restaurant Association, the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council and the Catholic Conference of Illinois, Republicans and Democrats united around the importance of keeping Illinois families together and keeping everyone on Illinois roads safe.

“The reality is that people need to drive in order to feed their families,” said Mark C. Curran (R), Sheriff of Lake County, Ill. “Having drivers who are uninsured, untrained and untested comes at a high cost to all of us. This bill will ensure that all Illinois drivers have licenses, which will make our roads safer for all drivers. It is the right move.”

The bill began in the Illinois Senate, where co-sponsors included 16 Democrats and five Republicans. It passed the Senate 41-14. In the House, a similar bipartisan majority approved it 65-46.

“The Illinois Legislature has shown the way forward on immigration,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “More and more, political leaders around the country and in both parties are recognizing a new consensus among their constituents, one that recognizes the importance of immigrants and immigration to our nation and that demands a better immigration process.

“It is time for our leaders on the federal level to heed the call of law enforcement, business, faith and community leaders nationwide and create a better immigration process that keeps our families together, makes our communities safer and makes our economy stronger.”

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New Report Shows Record Immigration Enforcement Spending

January 07, 2013

In Belt-tightening Era, Government Should Choose Quality over Quantity

Washington, D.C — The Obama administration has made immigration its highest law enforcement priority, according to a report released today by the Migration Policy Institute. The federal government spent nearly $18 billion in immigration enforcement in fiscal year 2012, an amount approximately 24 percent higher than the combined spending on all other federal law enforcement agencies including the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Secret Service.

The fact is that our borders are much safer and better monitored that they have been in decades. Unprecedented manpower, infrastructure and technology deployed in the last ten years for border security efforts led to a drop in apprehensions at the Southwest border to a level not seen since the 1970s. The plunge in apprehension is widely viewed as an indication that fewer immigrants are crossing illegally into the U.S.

“In this belt-tightening era, our government can’t afford to continue to spend billions of dollars on immigration enforcement without a national immigration strategy,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “Immigration enforcement spending should be examined through the lens of eliminating wasteful government spending, strengthening America’s global standing, and keeping the nation secure.

“Congress should eliminate government programs that are wasteful and burdensome, like Operation Streamline, which has inundated our court system and wasted precious judicial resources without any proven benefits. Effective border security policies will use taxpayers’ dollars wisely by focusing enforcement resources on the most serious security threats.

“The border is as secure as it can get without a functioning legal immigration infrastructure provided by broad immigration reform. Congress should get to work right away on long-lasting, practical solutions that fundamentally improve our immigration process.”

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For more Forum resources on immigration enforcement, please read:
Cut Here: Reducing Wasteful Spending On Immigration Enforcement; Save More Than $2.6 Billion: http://immigrationforum.org/images/uploads/2011/Immigration%20Enforcement%20Fiscal%20Review%20Nov%202011%20.pdf
Immigration Enforcement Today Measured Against Benchmarks Set in 2007: http://www.immigrationforum.org/images/uploads/2011/EnforcementBenchmarks.pdf
The “Border Bubble”: A Look at Spending on U.S. Borders: http://www.immigrationforum.org/images/uploads/2012/BorderBubble.pdf

New Congress Must Renew Commitment to Improve Immigration

January 03, 2013

Washington, D.C — Today starting at noon, the 113th Congress is being sworn in. Following an election in which both parties competed for new American voters, Republicans and Democrats alike recognize that now is the time to transcend partisan politics and create a better immigration process. Whether they are up to the challenge or not is the question.

“As we welcome the new Congress to Washington, we also welcome the new, bipartisan climate around immigration that has emerged in the past year,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “With Democrats and Republicans recognizing the moral, economic and political imperative to fix the immigration system, the 113th Congress marks the best opportunity for broad immigration reform in nearly a decade. Americans across the political spectrum are ready for action on immigration. Now is the time.”

Members of Congress who show leadership on immigration reform will find broad support among voters. A December Politico/George Washington University poll showed that 62 percent of Americans support a roadmap to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including an edge of 49 percent to 45 percent among Republicans.

“Key faith, law enforcement and business leaders — the political base for congressional Republicans — have forged a new consensus on immigrants and America and are on the cusp of launching grassroots efforts to support their legislators,” Noorani added.

Local “Bibles, Badges and Business” leaders from around the country gathered in Washington last month to meet with legislators and underscore the need for a rational bipartisan conversation that leads to broad, commonsense reform, and they are keeping the pressure on in the new year, bringing a local perspective on the importance of reform.

“The contribution of foreign-born labor to the Idaho economy is substantial,” Kenneth McClure, counsel for the Idaho Business Coalition for Immigration Reform, said at the December event. “In Idaho, a vibrant economy demands labor that our local labor force can’t supply. If we’re to grow, if we’re to prosper, we need [immigrant] labor at both ends of the [economic] spectrum.”

“Immigration is not a political issue for us, it’s a moral, biblical, personal issue for us,” added Dr. David Fleming, Senior Pastor, Champion Baptist Church, Houston. “We are building a consensus [on immigrants and America] outside the Beltway that will have implications inside the Beltway.”

Since the election, momentum for reform has only increased as national conservative leaders have joined these leaders in “Bibles, Badges and Business” in acknowledging the social and economic need for change.

“It’s time for Congress and the president to rise above partisan rhetoric and negotiate a new immigration process that strengthens our economy, our families and our security,” Noorani said. “To keep America competitive and prosperous, the 113th Congress must pass, and the president must sign, broad immigration reform.”

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New Immigration Rule Keeps Families Together, Promotes Legal Immigration

January 02, 2013

Washington, D.C — Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published the final rule for the family unity waiver, a new process that will allow U.S. citizens’ spouses and children who are eligible for a green card to file their applications for family unity from within the U.S. The process will be effective on March 4.

Currently, immigrants who are eligible for legalization because they have a U.S. citizen spouse or parent must return to their home countries to be interviewed for their visa. An immigrant who has been in the country for more than six months without legal status is banned from returning for either three or ten years once he or she departs.

This prohibition can be waived in cases of extreme hardship, but only once someone has left the country. The waiver decision can take months, during which time immigrants are separated from their families and are stranded abroad. They also may have to wait in dangerous locations such as Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, the “murder capital of the Americas.”

As a result of these overly harsh restrictions, many immigrants prefer not to risk long-term separation from their U.S. citizen spouses and children and instead choose to remain in the country without documents, even if they are eligible for a green card.

“The family unity waiver is an important improvement to our immigration process,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “It removes a major obstacle to legal immigration and fixes bureaucratic hurdles that separate American families. Eligible immigrants will be able to come forward and legalize their status, and husbands, wives and children will not have to risk their lives to get their lawful visas.

“More can be done to make this good rule better. All immigrant families should be eligible for a family unity waiver, including the families of legal permanent residents — well on the road to citizenship — who experience equally compelling hardships of lengthy family separation.

“In the long run, Congress holds the key to effective, top-to-bottom improvements to our immigration process, and they must pass laws that address harsh immigration policies that only serve to keep American families apart."

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Bipartisan Push for Immigration Reform Intensifies with Colorado Compact

December 12, 2012

Leaders Across the Political Spectrum Unite, Urge Congress to Act

Denver — Building on strong bipartisan momentum for immigration reform next year, Colorado leaders across the political spectrum are launching the Colorado Compact, a set of principles to encourage real and lasting federal reform. The effort was spearheaded by Democratic Senator Michael Bennet and Republican former Senator Hank Brown and includes a diverse list of over 100 prominent signers from across the state, including Bennet’s 2010 Republican opponent, Ken Buck.

The Compact outlines six immigration principles to guide the conversation on immigration including keeping families together, having a visa system that responds to economic needs, ensuring our national security and recognizing that immigration policy is a matter that belongs to the federal government.

The statements below can be attributed to the following speakers at the press conference:

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado:
“Nearly eighteen months ago, we began a journey to chart a new path on immigration, away from the extreme rhetoric then engulfing the national conversation. We knew that the politics playing out on immigration did not represent our state — where Coloradans value working together, despite our differences and backgrounds, to solve problems in the best interests of our people and future generations. We now have the benefit of Colorado’s voice to inform the work of the new Congress. There undoubtedly will be some tough conversations and disagreements ahead, but I am confident that by bringing a little bit of Colorado common sense and grit to Washington, we will fix our immigration system by ensuring it is more aligned with the needs of our economy, families and communities.”

Former Sen. Hank Brown, R-Colorado*:
“Coloradans know how to work together to solve problems and get things done. With the current immigration system hurting so many sectors of our state, I was glad to help lead this effort with Sen. Bennet. The wide-reaching group of signers we’ve assembled is sending a message to Washington that it’s time for action.”

The Honorable Mark Shurtleff (R), Utah Attorney General:
“The Colorado Compact is further proof that momentum is building across the country to finally take a reasonable and bipartisan approach to immigration reform that will protect our borders, help our economy and protect families. We hope these principles would help guide federal legislation and guide our federal government to adopt a pragmatic and uniquely American approach to immigration.”

Kelly Brough, President and CEO, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce:
“In Colorado, we effectively focused on the needs of industry and of our workforce and found the economic imperative for immigration solutions. If a politically diverse state like Colorado can take a sensible, nonpartisan path forward on immigration, then Washington should be able to do the same.”

Ali Noorani, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum:
“The Colorado Compact shines as an example that bipartisan collaboration is possible and that a 21st century immigration process is achievable. Colorado joins the growing chorus of voices outside of Washington who demand a rational and collaborative approach to immigration.”

* Former Sen. Brown was unable to join the press conference but sent a statement.

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Conservative Leaders Push for Action on Immigration Reform in 2013

December 04, 2012

National Strategy Session Is "Opening Shot" for Reform Efforts

Video of the press conference and National Strategy Session available at: http://forgingconsensus.org
Pictures from the press conference available at: http://tinyurl.com/ForgingNSS

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over 250 faith, law enforcement and business leaders from 26 states gathered today at the National Strategy Session to debut newly energized efforts — including Capitol Hill visits with key lawmakers — to push for broad immigration reform in early 2013.

This gathering builds on two years of hard work outside Washington, including successful regional summits, state compacts and other efforts in the Mountain West, Southeast and Midwest at which hundreds of business, faith and law-enforcement leaders have built new relationships, discussed state policies and urged pragmatic federal solutions. Now, these conversations are turning into action. This critical new alliance is ready to drive the issue to the fore and apply pressure on Republicans and Democrats in Congress and on President Obama to ensure that broad immigration reform is the first legislative priority in 2013.

The statements below can be attributed to the following speakers at the press conference:

Business:

Steve Case, AOL Co-founder and Revolution LLC Chairman:
“The story of America is the story of entrepreneurs starting new businesses and imagining whole new industries. Immigrant entrepreneurs are a central part of that story. We have the world’s leading economy in part because we have attracted the world’s most talented people. Ensuring that the best and brightest innovators and entrepreneurs start and help companies here in the United States, not in competitor nations abroad, will strengthen our economic competitiveness in the long term. This is why Democrats and Republicans should come together to fix our immigration system, as quickly and as broadly as possible, including urgent action on high-skilled visas.”

Kenneth McClure, Counsel, Idaho Business Coalition for Immigration Reform:
“The contribution of foreign-born labor to the Idaho economy is substantial. A vibrant economy demands labor that local supply is unable to supply. That’s why we need labor [immigration] solutions at both ends of the [economic] spectrum.”

Angela Smith Jones, Director of Public Policy, Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce:
“For the United States to continue to compete, we have to have an educated workforce, we need to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit of immigrants and we have to have immigration reform. The key to America’s success is to educate, strengthen the workforce, and bolster the economic core and tax base.”

Jeb Bush Jr., Chief Operating Officer, Jeb Bush & Associates, LLC:
“For immigration to move forward in the next year, we need leaders from both parties come together and say ‘enough is enough. Let’s move forward.’ [Immigration reform] is about being competitive. That’s the bottom line. You have to have a competitive workforce. You have to have a competitive product to succeed … it’s at the core of being a capitalist.”

Faith

Dr. David Fleming, Senior Pastor, Champion Baptist Church, Houston:
“Immigration is not a political issue for us, it’s a moral, biblical, personal issue for us … We are building a consensus [on immigrants and America] outside the Beltway that will have implications inside the Beltway.”

Stephan Bauman, President and CEO, World Relief:
“We are at the precipice of immigration reform. Our faith commands that we welcome immigrants, and our country has an opportunity to enact policies that reflect our biblical values of justice, compassion and hospitality.”

Law enforcement:

The Honorable Mark Shurtleff, Attorney General, Utah:
“The immigration issue is an issue of freedom, of human dignity and of a country coming together to do the right thing … America is uniquely rooted in the concept that no matter who you are or where you come from, you should be able to succeed here if you roll up your sleeves and work hard.”

Chris Burbank, Chief of Police, Salt Lake City:
“I do not believe that local law enforcement should be acting as immigration enforcement agents. Immigration is a federal issue.”

Mayor Paul Bridges (R), Uvalda, Georgia:
“My Republican friends here inside the Beltway need to look at this issue for what it really is … put that legislation out there and do it now. Fix the problem. I think that the new consensus that we have is the master mechanic that will fix this problem with immigration.”

Ali Noorani, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum:
“Americans are ready for a new immigration solution. Today, leaders who hold a Bible, wear a badge or own a business are taking the next step toward that solution. 2013 will be the dawn of a new day on immigrants and immigration.”

Follow the conversation at #NewConsensus and @NewConsensus.

Leaders Announce Energized Efforts for Immigration Reform in 2013

December 04, 2012

Video and pictures of the press conference and National Strategy Session available at http://forgingconsensus.org.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A powerful bipartisan alliance of faith, law enforcement and business leaders from across the country announced today newly energized efforts to push for top-to-bottom immigration reform in early 2013. Leaders spoke at a press conference inaugurating the two-day National Strategy Session, a gathering of over 250 leaders from 26 states including Arizona, Florida and Kansas.

This gathering builds on two years of hard work outside Washington, including successful regional summits, state compacts and other efforts in the Mountain West, Southeast and Midwest at which hundreds of business, faith and law-enforcement leaders have built new relationships, discussed state policies and urged pragmatic federal solutions. Now, these conversations are turning into action. This critical new alliance is ready to drive the issue to the fore and apply pressure on Republicans and Democrats in Congress and on President Obama to ensure broad immigration reform is the first legislative priority in 2013.

The statements below can be attributed to the following speakers at the press conference:

The Honorable Mark Shurtleff (R), Attorney General, Utah:
“This great nation needs to relight the fire that burns with the promise of the Statue of Liberty, ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.’ Reasonable and compassionate immigration reform will energize our country, enrich our economy and unite all of us with freedom and liberty.”

Brad Bailey, Co-founder and CEO, Texas Immigration Solution:
“For over two decades, families and business owners have been forced to operate in an outdated national immigration system. Both sides of the aisle have kicked the can down the road, putting even more stress on families, business owners and communities. It is time for our congressional leaders to stop complaining about the problem and lead in providing efficient, pro-family, market-based solutions to our nation’s broken immigration policy.”

Sheldon Brown, Dairy Farmer and Owner, Woody Hill Farms, Salem, N.Y.:
“Our dairy farm business would not be as successful were it not for the dedicated, hard-working, family-oriented immigrant labor staff we have worked with over the past 15 years. Congress must act on immigration solutions that provide a stable, skilled and legal workforce for dairy farms and for America’s businesses across the country.”

The Rev. Luis Cortés Jr., President, Esperanza:
“I believe we have the will on both sides of the aisle to hammer out a solution to the immigration dilemma that has confounded our nation for over a decade. The entire Hispanic faith community has been joined by thousands of evangelicals of all ethnicities in prayer for God’s guidance and wisdom for our elected officials.”

Mark C. Curran Jr., Sheriff, Lake County, Ill.:
“Twenty-first century policing has to be about community policing. However, the fear and uncertainty attached to law enforcement as a result of our current immigration policies makes community policing almost impossible.”

Natalie Gochnour, Executive Vice President of Policy and Communication and Chief Economist, Salt Lake Chamber:
“In Utah, the business community, interfaith leaders, law enforcement representatives and other community leaders and citizenry signed the Utah Compact in 2010, committing ourselves to a civil, constructive and compassionate immigration discussion. This principled approach resulted in groundbreaking state legislation that balanced the need for improved enforcement with the very real economic and humanitarian concerns associated with immigration in our state. We now turn our focus to the federal government and ask for equally groundbreaking federal legislation this coming year."

Dr. Richard Land, President, Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission:
“Fair and just immigration reform is first and foremost a moral issue. God has definite opinions about how we treat ‘the stranger in our midst’ (Lev. 19:33-34; Matt. 25:35). We must resolve our nation’s immigration crisis and reform its immigration system in ways that respect the rule of law and the human dignity of the undocumented.”

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference:
“Immigration reform is both a vertical and horizontal issue. Vertically, the heart of God stands moved by the plight of the immigrant and the suffering. Horizontally, passing immigration reform will serve as a reconciliatory prescription for a nation divided by partisan politics. At the end of the day, this issue is not about the agenda of the donkey or the elephant. Immigration reform is about the agenda of the Lamb.”

The Most Reverend Jaime Soto, Bishop of Sacramento, Calif., United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
“Immigration is a humanitarian issue with moral implications. Our country can no longer accept the toil and sweat equity of undocumented workers while at the same time scapegoating them, dividing their families, and denying them basic protections. This is the moral issue our nation and our elected officials must confront in the months ahead.”

Jim Wallis, President and CEO, Sojourners:
It’s quite an accomplishment to get Bibles, Badges and Business together all in one room and agreeing on something this big. This reminds us all that Christmas really is a time for miracles. The country is hungry to see our political leaders work together and find a bipartisan solution to an issue of this magnitude. And I have faith that comprehensive immigration reform is that common ground.”

Ali Noorani, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum:
“Eighteen months ago, faith, law enforcement and business leaders launched a campaign to forge a new consensus on immigrants and America. The consensus we discovered is steeped in the common values of family, work and security shared by conservatives and liberals alike. We found that Americans aren’t divided by the immigration debate; rather, politicians on both sides of the aisle use the immigration debate to divide Americans. That is no longer acceptable. The President and Congress must work together in 2013 to create a 21st century immigration process.”

Follow the conversation at #NewConsensus and @NewConsensus

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Evangelical Leaders and the President Agree: Immigration Reform Is Top Priority

November 14, 2012

Washington, D.C — President Obama spoke about immigration reform during his news conference this afternoon. "My expectation is that we get a bill introduced and we begin the process in Congress very soon after my inauguration," Obama said. The following is a quote from Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum, a nonpartisan organization that advocates for the value of immigrants and immigration to our nation:

"In the last 24 hours, influential evangelical voices have urged President Obama to show leadership and move immigration reform forward during the first 92 days of his second presidential term. Based on the president’s statement today, it is increasingly clear that immigration reform should be the first bipartisan legislative priority in 2013."

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Conservatives: GOP Needs New Direction on Immigration

November 08, 2012

Recording of today’s media availability: http://tinyurl.com/GOPnewdirection

Washington, D.C — Today key leaders from the law enforcement, business and evangelical communities highlighted the new political landscape on immigration in the wake of the presidential election. As the GOP commences a period of soul-searching, top Republicans are reading the demographic writing on the wall and calling on their party to embrace a pragmatic approach on immigration or risk continuing to alienate the fastest-growing segment of the electorate: Latino voters.

A new, powerful bipartisan alliance from across the country is gearing up to exert the grassroots pressure necessary to get immigration reform past the finish line in 2013. The curtain raiser for this bipartisan push for reform will be a national convening in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 4 and 5. Faith, law enforcement and business leaders from across the political spectrum will come together to call on the president and the new Congress to make immigration reform a must-pass priority.

The statements below can be attributed to the following speakers:

The Honorable Mark Shurtleff (R), Attorney General, Utah:
“There is an opening door right now for Congress to take up bipartisan immigration reform. I call upon the John McCains and Orrin Hatches in the Senate, who were strong advocates of workable immigration policies, to lead the way on immigration reform and reject the extreme right-wing rhetoric that has hurt our party with Hispanic voters.

“The House of Representatives needs to commit on pragmatic, just and uniquely American comprehensive immigration reform. I am confident that our nation can move forward on immigration.”

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference:
“The Republicans can begin to redeem the narrative with the Latino community by passing comprehensive immigration reform. GOP leaders in the House of Representatives have a historic opportunity to realign themselves with the values of Lincoln and Reagan. We encourage business, faith and law enforcement officials who respect the rule of law but also appreciate the opportunities embedded in the full engagement of this community to pressure Republican congressional leaders to pass immigration reform.

“The question arises: Is the Hispanic alienation by the GOP temporary or permanent? Going from 44 percent Hispanic support of the GOP ticket in 2004 to today’s reality, can the Republicans afford not to pass immigration reform? It’s the family values things to do. It’s the moral thing to do. It’s the evangelical and Christian thing to do. It’s the right political thing to do.”

Allie Devine, attorney and lobbyist for the Kansas Business Coalition:
“The Kansas business coalition continues to push for immigration reform and work authorization. Our economy needs for the federal government to address the immigration issue and to provide a stable workforce for America’s businesses.”

Ali Noorani, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum:
“To pass immigration reform in 2013 requires conservatives across the nation to encourage their members of Congress to be a part of a solution. As the base of the Republican Party, faith, law enforcement and business leaders will play an important role in this work. And, because of their work over the past two years to forge a new consensus on immigrants and America, these constituencies are ready.”

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• Recording of today’s media conference: http://tinyurl.com/GOPnewdirection
• Forging a New Consensus: National Strategy Session on December 4 and 5: http://www.forgingconsensus.org
• Post-election quotes from conservatives discussing the need to work on immigration reform: http://www.immigrationforum.org/images/uploads/2012/Conservative_Post-Election_Imm_Quotes.pdf

A Defining Moment for Immigration Reform

November 07, 2012

Washington, D.C. — The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum, a nonpartisan organization that advocates for the value of immigrants and immigration to our nation.

“Today our nation witnessed the strength of democracy in action. An extraordinary number of voters, including record numbers of Latino, Asian and New American voters, went to the polls clamoring for practical solutions that honor our values and move our nation forward.

“The message was clear: President Obama must fulfill his campaign promise and work with congressional leaders to create a common-sense immigration process that treats all people with dignity. And Republicans must choose pragmatism over extremism on immigration, putting forward practical solutions that create a roadmap to citizenship for aspiring Americans.

“In the words of CNN political analyst David Gergen earlier today, 'Whoever wins, we will get immigration reform. The Democrats want it and the Republicans need it.’

“President Obama can look to a growing alliance of conservative faith, business and law enforcement leaders who are laying the groundwork for bipartisan support on immigration reform.

“Look no further than Grover Norquist, a conservative power player, for a key example of the emerging consensus among conservatives and moderates on a common-sense approach on immigration. As Mr. Norquist recently stated, ‘Immigration is the most important thing to focus on if you’re concerned about America as an economic power. It’s not only good policy to have more immigrants to the United States … [and] a path forward for those people who are here; it's also good politics.’

“Today’s election marks the introduction of something different: a powerful bipartisan alliance that expects pragmatic immigration solutions from President Obama and the 113th Congress.”

Norquist Makes Economic Case for Immigration Reform

October 12, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS — On Friday, conservative activist Grover Norquist addressed more than 80 leaders from across the Midwest to discuss the need for common-sense immigration solutions. Mr. Norquist was the keynote speaker at the Midwest Summit: Forging a New Consensus on Immigrants and America, the first immigration summit in the Midwest to convene faith, law enforcement and business leaders from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Workable immigration policies are vital to the region’s future. The Midwest economy cannot prosper without a steady influx of new residents to offset the aging population and the net outmigration of the available workforce. That’s why some areas in the Midwest are looking at immigration as an opportunity to ease population loss, revive farms and business and stimulate economic growth.

At a time of heightened polarization of the immigration issue and in the midst of a major election, leaders from the Midwest are leading the way on finding a political middle ground on immigration.

The statements below can be attributed to the following speakers at the Midwest Summit:

Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform:
“Immigration is the most important thing to focus if you’re concerned about America as an economic power. Not only is it good policy to have dramatically more immigrants in the U.S. than we do today and a path for those who are here; it's also good politics. In fact, restrictionist policies are bad electoral policies.”

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller:
“State governments are understandably frustrated with the failure of the federal government to perform its duty establishing immigration policy and enforcing existing immigration laws. Our hope is that a candid discussion of the impact on states and communities will help refocus attention on states’ needs in terms of public safety, education and commerce as leaders reform U.S. immigration policies, consistent with our constitutional principles.”

Leith Anderson, President, National Association of Evangelicals:
“There is a massive shift on immigration that is occurring within the evangelical churches in America. We discovered that when pastors of our churches teach what the bible says, people’s attitudes change on immigration. If people read about what the Old Testament says on welcoming the stranger, people change their minds.”

Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, State of Utah:
“In Utah, law enforcement officers do not want to become ICE agents because they feel that is not their responsibility. Police officers are already busy doing their jobs and do not want an extra burden. As law enforcement officers, we believe that punitive immigration laws are actually harmful to public safety.”

Angela Smith Jones, Director of Public Policy, Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce:
“Immigrants create jobs, they boost American productivity and they help businesses stay competitive. In the Midwest, declining populations have reduced the number of available workers, creating a huge gap in the workforce. This is not even an immigrant issue. It’s an American issue. "

Jim Partington, Executive Director, Nebraska Restaurant Association:
“Immigrants are the backbone of America’s restaurants. A rational immigration policy is essential to our industry's continued growth. Immigrants not only make up a large portion of the restaurant industry's workforce, but they also make significant contributions as consumers in our nation's restaurants and as entrepreneurs, incorporating ethnic and cultural influences as they start up restaurants of their own.”

Chief James Hawkins, Garden City Kansas:
“Our police department believes that everyone should be treated fairly and equitably regardless of their immigration status. We are committed to establish a positive relationship with our community or we will not be able to solve our community's issues. To undo 30 years of gaining the trust of immigrant populations would be disastrous for our police department.”

Steve Tobocman, Director, Global Detroit:
“Immigrants create jobs. They don't take jobs, and that's particularly true in Michigan and in Detroit. Michigan is the only state that lost population in the last 10 years. A shrinking population means a poorer, weaker and less competitive Michigan. As we face a rapidly aging population, we really need the energy brought by immigrant workers. Immigration can be a successful strategy to reinvent the economy of the Midwest.”

Sheriff Mark C. Curran, Jr., Lake County, Illinois:
“If you want to keep the larger community safe, you need to have a relationship with the immigrant community so they have the trust and confidence to report crimes. We don't need higher deportation levels; we need to fix the system as it exists.”

Carl Ruby, Vice President for Student Life, Cedarville University:
“Cedarville University is a very conservative university, but our student body recognizes that immigration is a spiritual issue and a civil rights issue. We hosted the first G92 immigration conference in Ohio. It was a student-led initiative to talk about the importance of showing compassion to immigrants, whether they are documented or not. We found that the young generation of students is more open to immigration reform and more likely to advocate on behalf of immigrants.”

Ali Noorani, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum:
“The winds of the immigration debate are changing. From the Midwest to the Southeast to the Mountain West, people who wear badges, run businesses and carry bibles are building a new consensus on immigrants and America.”

Videos from today’s Midwest Summit will be available soon at the Forging a New Consensus website: www.ForgingConsensus.org. You can also follow the conversation on Twitter at #MidwestSummit.

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California Governor Vetoes “Anti-Arizona” Law

October 01, 2012

Washington, D.C. — On Sunday, California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed the “Transparency and Responsibility Using State Tools” Act, or TRUST Act (AB1081). This legislation limits local law enforcement implementation of the Secure Communities program by setting clear standards for local governments to comply with requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain people for deportation. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“Gov. Brown missed an opportunity to rein in Secure Communities, a program that has strayed far from its stated goal of identifying only the most dangerous criminals. As the state with the highest number of deportations under Secure Communities, California knows too well the damaging impact of this poorly-designed enforcement program.

“The TRUST Act would have helped California’s law enforcement prioritize their valuable resources to focus on the true threats to public safety. Moreover, by enacting this “anti-Arizona” law, the Golden State would have sent a clear message that states can do better than Arizona – that they can still keep Secure Communities within its bounds.

“All may not be lost for the TRUST Act. In his veto message, Gov. Brown promised to work with lawmakers to rework the legislation. We hope that California lawmakers and Gov. Brown can soon find a way forward for this important public safety and government efficiency measure.”

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Visa Reforms in Congress Should Address Broad Range of New American Talent

September 20, 2012

Washington, D.C. — The following is a statement from Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum, on the recent proposals by Democrats and Republicans in Congress to provide green cards to graduates with advanced degrees in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

“It is good to see Republicans and Democrats recognize the value of immigrants and immigration to America. No one would dispute that our nation is built on the backs of farmworkers and the brains of engineers from around the world.

“An increase in the number of STEM visas serves one important part of our economy.

“But the fact is, we in America value work in all parts of the labor market, and our nation welcomes diverse immigrant populations. Legislation to increase STEM visas should not take from other legal immigration channels. After all, both parties support legal immigration.

“We hope House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith will work with his allies across the aisle to craft a bipartisan compromise on STEM legislation that serves America's ideals as a nation of immigrants, setting the standard for broader, common-sense reform in the months and years ahead."

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No One to Harvest the Harvest

September 19, 2012

As Congress Considers Labor Shortage in Tech Industry, It Must Also Address Shortages in Agriculture

Washington, D.C. — September and the months ahead are the height of the harvest season. Yet many fruits and vegetables are simply rotting on the vine because farmers cannot find enough people to work the fields.

While the agriculture industry struggles with a labor shortage at this critical time, Congress and the Obama administration fail to act on workable solutions. This week, Congress is expected to consider immigration legislation to alleviate a labor shortage in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. But congressional leaders also should recognize the urgent need for workforce solutions across the economic spectrum.

“America’s economy needs the skilled farmworker as much as it needs the skilled engineer. It is time Congress and the administration reach a bipartisan compromise on STEM visas, as well as legislation to make sure our nation’s crops make it to our dinner tables. If Congress is unable to act, the administration must,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

Ralph Broetje, President of Broetje Orchards in Washington state, one of the largest privately owned orchards in the U.S., shed light on the crisis affecting farmers: “Despite the abundant harvest, asparagus growers had to leave 10 percent of their crop in the field this year due to lack of pickers. The skilled labor source that we depend on is rapidly disappearing. If Congress does not act soon, U.S. farms will move their operations to other countries that are more cost-effective and have an adequate labor supply. If you look at that apple juice label and see where it's coming from — it's already happening.”

The situation in New York underscores the workforce challenges that farmers face across the country. Lawmakers in New York, including Democratic Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, are taking steps to capitalize on the Greek yogurt boom and turn New York into the nation’s yogurt capital. But as one hand of government is seeking to spur economic growth in New York’s dairy farms, the other hand is undermining the effort. “The Department of Homeland Security has been doing the job it was hired to do. By aggressively conducting I-9 audits, they are taking away our experienced and skilled workforce,” said Maureen Torrey, Vice President of Marketing, Torrey Farms Inc., a 12th generation family farm in western New York. "The economic impact of downsizing production is loss of wages and loss of jobs, thus taking money out of the local economy,” she added.

State-based tough immigration measures are also leaving farmers without workers. Nan Stockholm Walden, J.D., Vice President and Counsel of the Arizona-based Farmers Investment Co., the largest grower and processor of pecans in the world, spoke about the business struggles in the wake of her state’s S.B. 1070 law. “Arizona’s immigration law has created a climate of fear. Our experienced workers are leaving our state and are moving to other states that don’t have these ambiguous clouds and legal sanctions hanging over the employers’ and employees’ heads. There's never been a greater need for federal action on immigration reform. If we want to be in charge of our food security and our economy, we need to support immigration reform for agriculture."

The North Carolina economy draws more than $70 billion — about 20 percent of the state’s income — from agriculture. Yet despite the essential role of agriculture in the Tar Heel State, Congress is not recognizing the urgency of addressing farm labor shortages. Larry Wooten, President of the North Carolina Farm Bureau, explains, “Our political leaders are not looking at this issue from a jobs standpoint and the impact on our economy. Both parties lack political backbone to look at this issue and stand up and say we've got to fix it."

"Right now, all across America, there's a flurry of activity on farms. And there's a flurry of activity in Congress to provide STEM visas,” said Craig J. Regelbrugge, Co-Chair of the Agricultural Coalition for Immigration Reform. “At the end of the day, we don't just need STEM, we need STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Math.” He added, “The safety of our food supply should not be a red or blue issue. Pro-business Republicans should be doing everything in their power to prevent U.S. farms from closing. And while we wait for bipartisan legislative action on this issue, the administration should use the tools at hand to prioritize immigration enforcement resources and safeguard our food supply. Both parties need to put politics aside and help us develop a 21st century solution for the farming industry."

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Road Clears for Heart of Arizona’s Immigration Law — for Now

September 06, 2012

Washington, D.C. — On Wednesday, district court Judge Susan R. Bolton paved the way for section 2(B) of Arizona’s immigration law to take effect. Section 2(B) will require law enforcement officers to determine the immigration status of those they “reasonably suspect” are not legally in the country. The following is a statement by Dr. Warren H. Stewart Sr., senior pastor of First Institutional Baptist Church in Phoenix and Board Chair of the National Immigration Forum:

“The district court’s “wait-and-see” ruling on Arizona’s immigration law will undermine the basic rights of our state’s native-born residents, as well as Latinos and new Americans. Arizonans deserve better.

“How can law enforcement know someone’s immigration status simply by looking at them? Discrimination — based on skin color, language and ethnicity — is inevitable under this law. A similar provision has been in effect since last year in Alabama, where it has divided communities, generated an atmosphere of suspicion and damaged the state’s reputation. As Arizona implements this law in coming weeks, our communities will struggle to overcome similar strain.

“However, yesterday’s ruling is unlikely to close the book on this misguided law. Judge Bolton, like the U.S. Supreme Court before her, strongly indicated that if S.B. 1070 is applied in a discriminatory manner, the court will re-examine its constitutionality. Because of the racial profiling that is inherent in section 2(B), we expect to see additional challenges to the law in the future.

“This is a watershed moment for states and for the federal government to choose where we want to go as a nation. We can follow Arizona’s footsteps to a path of confusing and discriminatory immigration laws, or we can work together as one nation and fight for practical immigration policies that reflect our commitment to the values of equality and fair treatment that defines us as Americans.”

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Homeland Security Launches Administrative Relief for DREAMers

August 14, 2012

Government to Accept ‘Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals’ Applications Starting Wednesday

Washington, D.C. — Application forms came online today for young people who wish to request deferred action. A grant of deferred action would, for two years, suspend deportation proceedings for young people who came to this country as children and provide them the opportunity to work legally in the United States. Those interested in applying must fill out three application forms: one for deferred action and two related to employment authorization. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will accept forms beginning tomorrow, August 15. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“We celebrate the beginning of the Obama administration’s initiative to allow many young aspiring citizens to remain in our country and contribute to our society by putting their diplomas to work or continuing their educations. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals will allow many hardworking, American-raised young people to take a significant step toward realizing their dreams.

“Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is a good example of smart prioritization of government resources. While U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reviews requests for deferred action, Homeland Security agencies that deal with immigration enforcement can focus on real public safety threats rather than law-abiding students.

“As we begin to realize the benefits of this temporary measure, we must continue to press for Congress to transcend partisanship and come together behind a permanent immigration process that recognizes the value of all who pledge allegiance to our country.”

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To read the USCIS guidelines on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, including guidelines and frequently asked questions, visit http://www.uscis.gov/childhoodarrivals.

Homeland Security Announces Strong Guidance on Administrative Relief for DREAMers

August 03, 2012

Washington, D.C. — On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released information about the process to request deferred action. A grant of deferred action would freeze deportation proceedings of DREAM Act–eligible youth and give them an opportunity to work legally in the U.S. — at least temporarily. Information released today clarifies details about fees, forms, processing of requests, how collected information will be used for enforcement, and disqualifying factors. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

“We welcome today’s guidance on this powerful initiative that will bring many aspiring young immigrants a step closer to realizing their dreams. Thanks to deferred action, these American-raised, hardworking young immigrants will finally have a chance to put their diplomas to work.

“The Obama administration made a smart law enforcement decision to prioritize the deportation of real public safety threats instead of going after our next generation of nurses and engineers. Homeland Security enforcement resources should be targeted at enemies of our country, not law-abiding students.

“Today’s announcement, which provides further information about the process, is a welcome one. The process must be clear, fair, uniform, accessible and affordable to ensure that all deserving youth that qualify benefit from this historic program.

“We are heartened by DHS’s inclusion of confidentiality protections in the deferred action process. This will help quell concerns among eligible DREAMers that their request for deferred action might put their undocumented parents or siblings at risk of deportation. Today’s announcement also shows that DHS is on guard against scammers looking to prey on desperation in immigrant communities.

“We look forward to effective implementation of this initiative and the economic and community benefits it will deliver. This temporary effort should inspire bipartisan congressional action to create a workable immigration process that allows these promising aspiring citizens to stay permanently in the only country they call home, and to have a fair shot at the American dream.”

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Indiana Attorney General Calls Parts of State’s Immigration Law Unconstitutional

July 31, 2012

Washington, D.C. — On Tuesday, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced that following review of the Supreme Court decision on Arizona’s immigration law, he will no longer defend portions of Indiana’s immigration law, SEA 590, in court. Attorney General Zoeller recognized that parts of Indiana’s legislation that are comparable to Arizona’s S.B. 1070 law, including provisions giving local police unprecedented power to make warrantless arrests based on assumed immigration status, are pre-empted by federal law. Another portion of the law, regarding state recognition of consular identification cards, will remain the subject of litigation. Legal challenges to SEA 590’s provisions regarding employer sanctions and day laborers also continue. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

“We applaud Attorney General Zoeller for recognizing that the writing is on the wall for critical portions of Indiana’s immigration law. The Supreme Court clearly blocked state immigration laws that interfere with the federal government’s immigration-enforcement authority. Other states inspired by Arizona also would be wise to slam the brakes on their unconstitutional legislation.

“The Indiana legislature need not look far for a common-sense approach on immigration. Last year, Attorney General Zoeller, a Republican, joined a bipartisan group of business, law enforcement, and religious leaders and advocates in signing the Indiana Compact, a set of principles to guide the immigration debate in Indiana, declaring that immigration enforcement should be handled at the federal level, not the state level.

“The Indiana Compact opened space for a reasonable debate on immigration in a solutions-oriented way. For the sake of all Hoosiers, Indiana legislators should follow the principles of the Indiana Compact and urge their federal delegation to move forward toward national solutions that create a workable immigration process.”

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Sec. Napolitano Defends Deportation Prioritization Measures

July 19, 2012

Washington, D.C. — On Thursday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano testified at a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing. Napolitano defended the administration’s immigration initiatives to focus enforcement resources, including suspending deportation for certain immigrant youth. Present in the audience were DREAMers who will benefit from this policy. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

“As the American public shows broad support for common-sense immigration policies, a select segment of congressional Republicans are hijacking the immigration debate.

“At today’s hearing, we saw political theater at its worst, as House Republicans spent most of their time grandstanding instead of proposing a workable immigration process that realistically addresses the situation of new American immigrants living among us today.

“Conversely, we also heard statements by leaders of the Evangelical Immigration Table, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church all supporting the administration’s decisions on prosecutorial discretion and deferred action. We agree with these religious leaders that the administration’s decision to prioritize resources and focus on legitimate threats to public safety rather than on deporting harmless, bright, young new Americans is smart law enforcement in action. If implemented adequately, this measure will provide much-needed relief to American-raised young immigrants who are eager to contribute to our culture and economy.

“But make no mistake: Deferred action is not a substitute for permanent solutions for these young aspiring citizens. Only Congress can deliver these permanent fixes by enacting the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform.

“Americans deserve real leadership on immigration and not the usual political blame game. It’s time for Republicans and Democrats to move forward with immigration policies that reflect our values as a nation and include a roadmap for people who aspire to be citizens. We encourage members of both parties to heed the calls of Christian leaders and the American public on passing meaningful immigration reform.”

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Improvements to the Visa System Move Forward in Senate

July 12, 2012

Washington, D.C. — Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa on Wednesday removed his “hold” on legislation that would adjust the distribution of employment and family-based immigrant visas. The “Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act,” H.R. 3012, passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support last November, but Sen. Grassley’s hold kept the bill from moving forward in the Senate. The legislation addresses the badly clogged system of employment-based and family-based visas. Current law limits any one country to 7 percent of immigration visa quotas, causing enormous backlogs for legal immigrants from high-demand countries such as India and China. The following is a statement from Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

“Immigration solutions have been held hostage to congressional partisan gridlock for far too long. We welcome efforts to clear the way for legislation that is pro-families, pro-jobs and pro-business.

“This bipartisan legislation serves the needs of our economy. It provides common-sense fixes to our arbitrary and inadequate immigration system that currently confines highly qualified engineers and surgeons to painfully long and slow-moving visa lines.

“Likewise, it addresses the long-term separation of families required under the current immigration system, which belies American values of family unity. Many families endure devastating waits — some as long as 23 years — for family-based visas. Meanwhile, U.S. citizens and permanent residents live without the companionship and support of their closest loved ones.

“Our visa quotas for immigrant workers and immigrant families need more than redistribution; they must be adjusted to reflect current demand. While this legislation will alleviate certain visa backlogs, Congress must do more. An immigration system that truly serves all Americans includes visas for skilled workers of all kinds. From the skilled engineer to the skilled farmworker, our economy depends on immigrants and immigration.
“We hope that this modest, yet important, effort lays the groundwork for broader reforms of our immigration system.”

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California State Senate OKs S.B. 1070 Antidote

July 06, 2012

Washington, D.C. — On Thursday, the California State Senate approved the “Transparency and Responsibility Using State Tools” Act, or TRUST Act (AB1081), by a vote of 21-13. This legislation sets clear standards for local governments to comply with requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain people for deportation. It also includes protections against racial profiling to guarantee that only those with serious or violent felony convictions will be turned over for deportation. The bill now goes back for a concurrence vote in the state assembly. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“The TRUST Act restores the public trust necessary for law enforcement officials to protect and serve all communities under their charge.

“When immigrant families and communities cannot trust their local police officers, crimes go unreported, victims are hurt, and everyone’s public safety is endangered. The state of California shines as an example for states across the country seeking to strengthen community policing to reduce crime.

“We commend California state senators for showing the nation that we can do better than Arizona. America needs smart immigration policies at the federal and local levels that are workable and move the country forward, toward tolerance and integration.”

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Former Arizona Attorneys General React to Arizona Supreme Court Ruling

June 26, 2012

A recording from the press conference is available at http://tinyurl.com/AZAttorneyGenerals

Washington, D.C. — On Tuesday, Republican and Democratic former Arizona attorneys general offered their law enforcement perspective on the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on Arizona’s overreaching immigration law. On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed with the Ninth Circuit that three provisions of S.B. 1070 improperly stomped on the federal government’s role of enforcing immigration law. Yet the Court let stand “the pointy end of the sword” of Arizona’s immigration law, Section 2(B), which requires law enforcement officers to determine the immigration status of those they stop, arrest or detain if there is a “reasonable suspicion” that the person is not lawfully present.

As Justice Anthony Kennedy delivered the Court decision, he cited the “friend of the court” brief authored by former Arizona attorneys general Grant Woods (R) and Terry Goddard (D) and endorsed by 42 other former state attorneys general. The amicus brief argued that Arizona’s immigration law weakens public safety and law enforcement.

Grant Woods, Republican former Arizona attorney general, was pleased that the court struck down three of the most overreaching provisions. "Yesterday’s ruling is an important victory for those who want fairness and equality in the enforcement of immigration laws,” said Woods. But he warned, “The remaining portion of S.B. 1070 will in all likelihood lead to racial profiling. A careful record must now be made, and if profiling is regularly occurring, the federal courts will be asked to step in again. Hopefully enough attention had been paid to this that profiling by law enforcement will be curtailed.”

“One of the liabilities of S.B. 1070 is the huge costs that it imposes on local law enforcement,” said Terry Goddard, Democratic former Arizona attorney general. “The clarity that Justice Kennedy provided in his opinion helps to reduce some of the costs, but there are still training costs factored in the implementation of Section 2(B). This provision is going to hurt public safety and law enforcement in Arizona because it diverts valuable law enforcement resources.”

Dr. Warren H. Stewart Sr., civil rights leader, senior pastor of First Institutional Baptist Church in Phoenix and board chair of the National Immigration Forum, brought a moral voice to the discussion. “As an Arizona civil rights leader, I’m concerned that the Supreme Court’s decision to allow law enforcement to check someone’s immigration leaves room for racial profiling. But yesterday’s ruling is not the final chapter of Arizona’s discriminatory law. The courts still need to examine whether its implementation leads to unfair discrimination against Latinos and other minorities.”

“The real solution lies with federal legislation such as comprehensive immigration reform,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “With open arms, we welcome concrete proposals and actions from both Democratic and Republican candidates for president. Politics as usual from either party is not solving the problem.”

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Evangelical Leaders: Supreme Court Immigration Decision Highlights Need for Federal Reform

June 25, 2012

Prominent Evangelicals Praise Arizona v. U.S. Supreme Court Decision, Maintain Racial Profiling Concerns

Ruling reinforces need for federal immigration reform that upholds faith values


Washington, D.C. — The Supreme Court, in a 5-3 decision, struck down three key parts of Arizona’s immigration enforcement law. The Court upheld the provision of the law requiring law enforcement officials to check the legal status of anyone of whom they have “reasonable suspicion” of unlawful presence, while keeping the door open to racial profiling challenges to the law.

The decision comes the same month that more than 150 evangelical leaders came together in an unprecedented manner to launch the Evangelical Immigration Table and call for immigration reform. The following signatories have released statements as individuals or organizations in reaction to the Supreme Court ruling. These statements represent the views and opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of other signatories.

Leith Anderson, President, National Association of Evangelicals
"America needs to change our immigration laws. On this just about everyone agrees. Common sense says that we can't change these outdated laws one state at a time for all fifty states. Today’s Supreme Court decision confirms that immigration is a federal responsibility. We've waited a long time for the Congress to get together and get this fixed. Now is the time for our national leaders to pass national immigration reform."

Noel Castellanos, CEO, Christian Community Development Association
"Today's Supreme Court ruling on Arizona's S.B. 1070 continues to reinforce the need for Congress to move on passing comprehensive immigration legislation as an urgent matter."

Jim Wallis, President and CEO, Sojourners
“Christians concerned about vulnerable immigrants have called laws like Arizona’s S.B. 1070 immoral, and now the Supreme Court has declared those laws unconstitutional. Our national immigration system is broken, and a patchwork of harsh state-level immigration laws isn’t the way to fix it. The decision to strike down key provisions of this legislation is a victory for everyone in the faith community who seeks to follow the Bible’s call for concern for the vulnerable and ‘stranger’ among us.”

Rev. Gabriel Salguero, President, National Latino Evangelical Coalition
"The Supreme Court has made it clear that we need comprehensive immigration laws at the federal level. Immigration is a federal responsibility. We do not need piecemeal state legislation but one national law. Republicans and Democrats need to roll up their sleeves and act. Moreover, we are hopeful that all laws will respect human dignity and not lead to racial profiling. As Christians, we pray for laws that respect the rule of law and justly integrate all immigrants."

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
“By striking down the major provisions of S.B. 1070, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed the values that make this nation great and in essence initiated the process of establishing a legal firewall against draconian measures as they pertain to immigration. The question at hand is whether the state has the right to violate the civil and human rights of individuals under the guise of "the rule of law." Arizona's measure and other attempts to usurp fundamental human rights required our highest court to intervene.

"Although a provision regarding proof of citizenship still stands in question, the court's decision conveys a clear message that 21st century jurisprudence will not tolerate measures that polarize and segregate our communities. Now is the time for our federally elected officials to rise up with the moral fortitude to pass comprehensive immigration reform. It's time for Republicans and Democrats alike to come together and declare that this generation will not tolerate any legislative measure that tears us apart rather than brings us together. For at the end of the day, the gospel of Matthew states it best: Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be filled. Today's decision began to quench the thirst.”

Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman, Liberty Counsel
“Arizona took action on immigration because the federal government failed to. I agree that the federal government has jurisdiction over immigration. Without a uniform rule for immigration, America may have 50 different, chaotic standards. However, our politicians in Washington, D.C., must get beyond campaign rhetoric to a rational immigration policy that acknowledges that we are both a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws.”

Reverend Luis Cortés Jr., President, Esperanza
“This decision underscores what we as immigration reform advocates have been steadily repeating for many years: that the responsibility for fixing our immigration policies and enforcement falls squarely on the shoulders of the federal government. Now that the affirmation of federal responsibility has been so clearly stated by the highest court in our land, we must not allow the issue to stagnate once again; it’s time for Congress to get the job done. And, when the state of Arizona begins to carry out the provision of their law that was upheld, we’ll be watching very closely and standing ready to oppose any instances of racial profiling and civil rights abuse. This is not an unmitigated victory, not yet; it is only an arrow pointing the way forward. We thank the Supreme Court of the United States for helping us to frame the need for our next action steps.”

Stephan Bauman, President and CEO, World Relief
“Today’s Supreme Court decision highlights the need for Congress to act quickly on immigration reform. State-passed immigration bills like Arizona’s S.B. 1070 have made life difficult for immigrants on the ground and underscores the urgent need for a sensible, national immigration system.”

Robert Gittelson, Co-Founder, Conservatives for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
“The urgent need for a comprehensive immigration solution was affirmed by today’s Supreme Court ruling. Certainly, it is crystal clear that the reform of our federal immigration laws must now become a national priority. We cannot allow a system in which we have two classes of states — those that are welcoming to the immigrant, against those that are not. What was clear through today’s ruling was that the state laws that anti-immigration activists such as Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and the Federation for American Immigration Reform had tried to enact in Arizona, as well as several other states including Alabama, will not become a model for our nation. What is evident from today’s decision is that we can and must, through legislation, pass a federal solution to the massive problem of our broken immigration system, and we must do it now.”

Supreme Court Upholds Pointy End of the Sword of Arizona’s Immigration Law

June 25, 2012

Washington, D.C. — The Supreme Court today agreed with lower courts that three provisions of Arizona’s S.B. 1070 immigration law are prohibited as violating the federal government’s exercise of immigration powers. One provision, Section 2(B), was not blocked by the Court. The Court ruled it is too early to know if Section 2(B) can be implemented in a way that will not violate the Constitution. Section 2(B), known as the “papers, please” provision, requires law enforcement officers to determine the immigration status of those they stop, arrest or detain if there is a “reasonable suspicion” that the person is not lawfully present. The Court was clear that today’s opinion leaves open other challenges to S.B. 1070 after the law goes into effect.

“Just as the nation is inching closer to a consensus on the need for solutions on immigration, the Supreme Court is dividing the nation,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “While the Supreme Court largely agreed that S.B. 1070 goes against our Constitution, it still left one dangerous provision, Section 2(B), which is the pointy end of the sword of the Arizona immigration law. The racial profiling inherent in Section 2(B) will cause irreparable harm in Arizona.”

The Court’s decision is in dissonance with the American public, which is increasingly moving away from hardline immigration positions. A recent national Gallup poll found that 66 percent of Americans think immigration is a “good thing” for the U.S. today, up from 59 percent last year.

And, two weeks ago, evangelical Christians, who represent one-third of the American electorate and are one “bedrock element of the conservative movement,” joined the growing chorus calling for meaningful action to fix the immigration system.

“Today’s ruling takes us backward,” stated Dr. Warren Stewart, senior pastor at First Institutional Baptist Church in Phoenix and Board Chair of the National Immigration Forum. “Arizona’s discriminatory law is an attack on the American core values of fairness and equal treatment under the law.”

“In an increasingly diverse country, it does not make sense to encourage the profiling of people, even if they have been U.S. citizens all of their lives, because of their race or the way they look or speak,” Stewart added. “It is immoral to turn back the clock to a day when we were judged by the color of our skin, and not the content of our character.”

“The Arizona law is not only morally wrong but also economically imprudent,” stated Ali Noorani. “The Supreme Court might have given part of Arizona’s misguided law a green light, but states will be making a wrong turn if they decide to follow Arizona. Arizona’s law will only lead down a road to economic perdition.”

Arizona’s tough state immigration law has taken an economic toll on the local economy. S.B. 1070 has damaged the Grand Canyon State’s reputation as a state of tolerance, impacting the tourism industry and driving away taxpaying workers and consumers. Yet despite of the hefty price tag, S.B. 1070 does nothing to address the fundamental problems of our immigration laws.

“In the aftermath of this ruling, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security should suspend Secure Communities in any state that implements S.B. 1070–like legislation,” Noorani said. “That is the only way the federal immigration enforcement system cannot be exploited to the benefit of these laws.

“Now, more than ever, we must create a workable and functioning immigration system that serves the needs of all Americans,” added Noorani. “Only Congress, and not misguided state laws like Arizona’s, can create the necessary national, uniform solution.”

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With Ad Campaign, Colorado Evangelical Leaders Seek Bipartisan Immigration Solutions

June 20, 2012

From our friends at the Evangelical Immigration Table:


**To listen to the radio ad, please visit http://www.evangelicalimmigrationtable.com.**


Colorado Springs, Colo. — Today, Colorado pastors and evangelical leaders launched a paid media campaign with a 60-second spot that is playing on Christian radio stations in Denver and Colorado Springs. The ads, which are recorded by Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, and Rev. Luis Cortes, president of Esperanza, highlight common-ground principles uniting evangelical Christians around immigration reform. Land and Cortes are members of the Evangelical Immigration Table, a group of evangelical leaders that is advancing a cohesive immigration reform message and strategy.

“The Evangelical Immigration Table represents the diversity of evangelicals in America,” said Eddie Broussard, Associate U.S. Director/Senior Vice President of The Navigators, whose president is one of more than 150 signatories on the Table’s Statement of Principles for Immigration Reform. “Evangelicals have come together to say it’s time to stand together on this issue. The Evangelical Immigration Table is diverse in its makeup but unified in its biblically inspired vision to help create a better life for immigrants in America.”

“Today we shift the focus of our discussion to the important role of local organizations and churches here,” said Will Stoller-Lee, Director of the Fuller Theological Seminary. “The biblical mandate to welcome the stranger is the starting point for evangelicals on this issue. Many of us are reading the biblical text again with a fresh new lens provided by stories of migration and immigration. On this issue, the Bible balances the rule of law with the role of compassion.”

Wilmer Villacorta, Ph.D., a Professor at Fuller Theological Seminary and Associate Pastor at Iglesia el Centro, added, “This is an unprecedented gathering. As evangelicals we are called, above all, to love God as we love our neighbor (Mark 12:30). Listening to people’s stories is one way to love them. Stories of survival, brokenness and thirst for justice are common themes of immigrants anywhere. When we learn from these stories we cannot be neutral to the call to be a people who do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). As evangelicals we want to affirm the divine mandate to respect the God-given dignity of every person.”

“Biblical justice calls us to see undocumented immigrants the way we see ourselves,” said Jaime Lázaro, Pastor at Iglesia El Centro. “The longing of my heart is that the leaders and parishioners getting involved with this effort will inspire this kind of Christ-like compassion within our cities and throughout the nation. As pastors we have a great responsibility to teach our congregations to see our undocumented immigrant families as the neighbors that Jesus instructs us to love.”

The effort among Colorado evangelicals comes as Christians across America are uniting to call on Democrats and Republicans to lead our nation to a bipartisan solution on immigration. Never before has a coalition of evangelicals come together from such a diverse political and theological spectrum on this issue.

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The Evangelical Immigration Table has come together to create a united evangelical front for immigration reform and shares a common, biblically mandated vision to help create a better life for immigrants in America.

Evangelical Ad Campaign Launches in Florida, Pastors Call for Bipartisan Immigration Solutions

June 20, 2012

From our friends at the Evangelical Immigration Table:

**To listen to a recording of today's call, click here.**

Orlando and Miami, Fla. — Today, local pastors and evangelical leaders launched a paid media campaign with a 60-second spot that is playing on Christian radio stations in Orlando, Miami and Jacksonville. The ads, which are recorded by Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, and Rev. Luis Cortes, president of Esperanza, highlight common-ground principles uniting evangelical Christians around immigration reform.

“Pastors are fighting every day to keep families together, but our broken immigration system keeps ripping them apart,” said Peter Vivaldi, the Orlando representative for the National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC). “Churches are stepping in and fill the void of broken families. People need to understand that immigrants who come to this country aren’t looking for money to be handed to them, but for a path to opportunity.”

Last Tuesday, more than 150 influential evangelical Christians across America, including Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, endorsed an “Evangelical Statement of Principles for Immigration Reform,” the contents of which ran as full-page ad in POLITICO. Prominent evangelical leaders convened a press conference announcing the initiative and delivered these principles to leadership from the Obama Administration, Senate and House of Representatives. The statement has garnered significant national press attention and has gained momentum with additional prominent signatories from the leadership of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, The Navigators, and Prison Fellowship.

“Countless numbers of people within our congregation, our community, and even within our very own neighborhoods are pleading for a bipartisan immigration solution,” said Joshua Blackwell, Language Pastor at First Baptist Orlando. “First Baptist Orlando is one of many churches that is standing firm with the Evangelical Immigration Table and its call for comprehensive immigration reform.” The diverse 15,000 member congregation has more than 9 different Language Ministries – including Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole. Blackwell concluded, “It is our belief, as well as our moral and civil obligation, that we stand for those who cannot stand for themselves and demonstrate what it means to have a passion for all people as we ‘act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God’ (Micah 6:8).”

Evangelical leaders formally announced the creation of an “Evangelical Immigration Table” to advance a cohesive immigration reform message and strategy while building political will in the pews. The "Table" was more than one year in the making and represents an unprecedented coalition of evangelicals from diverse political and theological backgrounds. During the June 12th launch the leaders made the case that humane immigration reform should be a moral priority and told stories of how concerted outreach to evangelical churches and colleges is already shifting opinions on immigration reform among the evangelical grassroots and empowering those who support reform.

In addition to the paid media campaign, participating organizations are building capacity by hiring mobilizers to coordinate existing advocacy work, reach new populations, and engage current advocates.

To read the endorsement list of the Evangelical Principles for Immigration Reform and to listen to the radio ad, please visit http://www.evangelicalimmigrationtable.com.

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The Evangelical Immigration Table has come together to create a united evangelical front for immigration reform and shares a common, biblically mandated vision to help create a better life for immigrants in America.

Prominent Evangelicals Praise Immigration Policy Change

June 15, 2012

From our friends at the Evangelical Immigration Table:

Prominent Evangelicals Praise Immigration Policy Change

Administrative Relief For Dream Act–Eligible Young People Reinforces Faith Values

Washington, D.C. — Obama administration officials announced plans today to immediately grant administrative relief to young people who would be eligible for the DREAM Act. Those who qualify will not be deported and will be granted work permits. This sweeping rule change comes the same week that more than 150 evangelical leaders, including Focus on the Family’s Jim Daly, came together in an unprecedented manner to launch the Evangelical Immigration Table and call for immigration reform.

Several signatories to the Evangelical Statement of Principles for Immigration Reform spoke in favor the decision:

Dr. David Fleming, Senior Pastor, Champion Forest Baptist Church (Houston)
“No amnesty, not citizenship, but a humane and common-sense decision on behalf of the children who were brought here through no action nor fault of their own. Now our government can focus more resources on finding those who are a real threat to our national security and to our way of life.”

Leith Anderson, President, National Association of Evangelicals
“This new policy is good news for America and is good news for undocumented young adults who came to America through the choice of others. It is the right thing to do. I hope that the Congress will quickly follow with a just and compassionate reform of our entire system of immigration. Our country has already waited a long time to get our immigration laws fixed. This is an encouraging first step.”

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
"Today's announcement by the Obama Administration protecting Dream Act–eligible young people from deportation is morally just, welcomed, practical, fair and worthy of celebration. As we prepare to celebrate Father's Day this weekend, this announcement presents the antidote to the unfortunate separation of families. I applaud the president for his decision to protect the innocent who currently pay the price for a broken immigration system. Let me reiterate, Justice at times marches, at times protests and at times sings. Yet, Justice will always speak on behalf of those that cannot speak for themselves. Today, Justice spoke loud and clear: The dreams of all children stand worthy of protection."

Stephan Bauman, President and CEO of World Relief
“We commend the administration's leadership at a crucial time. Today's executive order is an encouraging step for immigrant families and a milestone for our country. Let's build upon this new momentum toward comprehensive reform. Creating a better life for immigrants fulfills a biblical, moral, and humane vision. Together, we can realize this vision."

The Reverend Luis Cortés Jr., President, Esperanza
Today, the Obama administration’s announcement to stop the deportation of undocumented people age 30 and under who meet certain eligibility criteria and are in school, graduated, or U.S. veterans will have an immediate impact on almost a million eligible children and young adults. Hundreds of thousands of these young people arrived here through no fault of their own, were raised in the United States, and for all intents and purposes are Americans in their culture, language, and life experience. We applaud President Obama for providing thousands of young people with the opportunity to truly thrive, as a recognized and integrated piece of our country’s vibrant tapestry. This was a decision based in common-sense understanding of what will make our families, communities, and country stronger. We know that this is a stop-gap measure designed to address just one piece of a much larger problem. This action was necessary due to the failure of Congress to pass any kind of immigration reform in the past 12 years, despite the overwhelming support of the public for reform and many versions of legislation that were drafted and then left by the wayside. This is unquestionably a victory. But this announcement should signal the first step of many, to resolve the problems of our broken system holistically and across the board, and to usher in a new kind of order, peace, safety, and collective well-being in our great nation of immigrants.

Noel Castellanos, CEO, Christian Community Development Association
"Today's action by DHS and the Obama administration to offer deferred action from deportation for Dreamers, along with the ability to work legally, is a hugely important step toward fixing our current immigration system. We applaud the president and Secretary Napolitano for taking this bold step."

Rev. David Beckmann, President, Bread for the World
“Bread for the World welcomes President Obama’s announcement of policy changes that could allow almost a million young people to pursue opportunities and the American dream. We encourage bipartisan efforts for a comprehensive approach to immigration reform and U.S. efforts to address global poverty — the main driver of unauthorized immigration.”

Rev. Gabriel Salguero, President, National Latino Evangelical Coalition
“Secretary Napolitano's announcement today is a welcome decision. As evangelicals committed to common-sense and humane immigration policies, we remain hopeful. Young immigrants have much to offer this nation and we stand behind them. We now call on Republicans and Democrats to roll up their sleeves and provide long-term legislative solutions.”

Jim Wallis, President and CEO, Sojourners
“The announcement from the White House today is very good news for 1 million young people who have a dream of staying in the country where they have lived most of their lives. Instead of being placed in the deportation pipeline, they will receive work permits enabling them to contribute to the nation and help build America’s future. This is an important step but only a beginning toward comprehensive reform of an utterly broken immigration system. This week a very broad and deep table of evangelical leaders called on the political leaders of both parties to fix that broken system and protect ‘the stranger’ whom Christ calls us to defend. As evangelicals we love the ‘good news’ of the gospel, and today we affirm this good news that gives hope and a future for young immigrants who are an important part of both the church and this country.”

Robert Gittelson, Co-Founder, Conservatives for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
"As conservatives who have long advocated for the legislative changes to our immigration laws that have been administratively put into place today by the Obama administration, we are encouraged by today’s important development. Certainly this will offer much-needed relief to our suffering communities, and especially to the young people affected under this directive. However, we remain concerned that this fix is only a temporary solution. It is not codified by law, and could be subject to change or elimination by future administrations. Therefore, we are calling on all members of Congress to act quickly and decisively in a bipartisan manner to pass true legislative relief along similar language that was prescribed in today’s administrative action."

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Administrative Relief for DREAMers: Smart Law Enforcement Makes for Good Government

June 15, 2012

Washington, D.C. — This morning, the Obama administration announced that it will provide administrative relief from deportation for people who came to the United States before age 16 and are currently age 30 and under, have been here for at least five years, and pose no threat to public safety or national security.

“This is smart government in action. We applaud the Obama administration for taking steps to allow undocumented young people, American in every way except immigration status, to remain in our country,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

“The call to protect DREAMers from deportation has steadily increased with Republicans such as Marco Rubio entering the debate and promising legislation to meet this exact purpose. As nearly 100 law professors recently noted, the president’s actions are clearly within his power. But this is a change any future president could erase with a stroke of the pen. Therefore, Congress still must act.”

Law enforcement leaders including Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff echoed praise for the announcement. “The children of undocumented immigrants are growing up loving America,” Shurtleff said. “But for a broken immigration system, they are just as American as my children. This new policy is a smart law enforcement measure, and just as important, it gives undocumented immigrant youth the hope they need to stay out of trouble and pursue their dreams.

“This welcome announcement is no substitute for congressional action,” Shurtleff continued. “Rather, it must inspire our legislators to overcome their inertia and partisan stalemates and move toward immigration reform that would create a new foundation of soldiers and job-creating scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs. Such a law will serve the interests of every American family.”

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New “Evangelical Immigration Table” Announces Mobilizing Strategy for Immigration Reform

June 12, 2012

Washington, D.C. — More than 150 influential evangelical Christians across America, including Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, endorsed an “Evangelical Statement of Principles for Immigration Reform” released on Tuesday during a press conference on Capitol Hill. Following the press event, prominent evangelical leaders delivered these principles to leadership from the Obama Administration, Senate and House of Representatives. At a time when immigration has become a partisan talking point for campaigns on both sides of the aisle, these Christian leaders are uniting to call on Democrats and Republicans to lead our nation to a bipartisan solution on immigration.

Evangelical leaders formally announced the creation of an “Evangelical Immigration Table” to advance a cohesive immigration reform message and strategy while building political will in the pews. The "Table" was more than one year in the making and represents an unprecedented coalition of evangelicals from diverse political and theological backgrounds. The leaders made the case that humane immigration reform should be a moral priority and told stories of how concerted outreach to evangelical churches and colleges is already shifting opinions on immigration reform among the evangelical grassroots.

The Evangelical Immigration Table ran on Tuesday a full page ad in POLITICOannouncing their principles for immigration reform and listing the 150 evangelical leaders endorsing the principles. The Table also released a radio ad that will begin running next week on Christian radio stations in Colorado and Florida. Further ad buys and earned media work will target publications and geographic areas with high populations of evangelical and Hispanic voters.

To read the endorsement list of the Evangelical Principles for Immigration Reform and to listen to the radio ads, please visit http://www.evangelicalimmigrationtable.com/

The statements below can be attributed to the following Evangelical Statement of Principles signatories:

Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family:
"I signed on to this statement because immigration reform is more than an ‘issue’ to families — it profoundly affects their stability, structure and quality of life. I’m encouraged that more than 100 evangelical leaders, who have some pretty significant differences of opinion on matters of theology and public-policy advocacy, have come together to declare with one voice that our government must respect and balance both the rule of law and the God-given humanity of all people in working toward an immigration solution that puts principles ahead of politics.

“It’s a tough challenge, but our nation was built on and has been sustained by meeting tough challenges. So we call on Republicans and Democrats alike to set aside their party agendas and work together for the public agenda and the common good.”

Dr. Richard Land, President, Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission:
“The immigration crisis facing the nation touches every level of society. If we as a nation are going to resolve this crisis in fair and equitable ways, we must engage all levels of civic society, perhaps most importantly, people of faith. We are calling upon all people of faith to bring their faith commitment to loving your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31) and letting righteousness roll down like rivers of living water (Amos 5:24) to the difficult but not impossible problems of immigration reform.”

Leith Anderson, President, National Association of Evangelicals:
"Evangelical engagement with immigration reform has substantially increased in the last two years. From study of the Bible's teaching about immigrants to concern for fixing America's immigration system, Evangelicals are saying ‘this is the time' for immigration reform."

Jim Wallis, President and CEO, Sojourners:
“Evangelicals agree and disagree on many things but there are not many things that a group of Evangelical leaders this diverse can agree on when it comes to public policy. The unity we have found around these principles for comprehensive immigration reform is unprecedented. Many Christians are weary of the political polarization in Washington D.C. these days, and are ready to come together around biblically based and common sense solutions that cut across traditional political boundaries.”

Reverend Gabriel Salguero, President, National Latino Evangelical Coalition:
“As U.S. Evangelicals we know that our immigration system is in urgent need of repair. We can't keep kicking the immigration challenge down the road for the next generation to respond. The National Latino Evangelical Coalition is so proud to stand with this unprecedented network of Evangelicals to call for our government, Republicans and Democrats, to solve this problem now. We can and should pass legislation that respects the rule of law and honors our moral commitments to love the immigrant. Silence and inaction are not options.”

Noel Castellanos, CEO, Christian Community Development Association:
"At this time of political gridlock around immigration reform, a strong and clear moral voice is emerging from within the Evangelical community calling both Democrats and Republicans to fix our broken immigration system. It is a new day to get this done, for the sake of our immigrant neighbors, and for the sake of our own well-being as a nation."

Stephan Bauman, President and CEO of Baltimore-based Christian aid agency World Relief:
“In order to accomplish immigration reform, the Administration and Members of Congress must rise above the rhetoric and take courage; they must hold firm to the rudder of conviction, to what is right. Our leaders will be accountable to evangelical Christians of all backgrounds and colors to fix what has been fundamentally broken for years. Leadership that achieves real change in our immigration system will restore faith in a government which honors our heritage, serves its people, and works for the good of our nation.”

Dr. Carlos Moran, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference:
"Our Evangelical optics require us to see the Imago Dei, the image of God in every human being; poor and rich, white and black, citizen and immigrant. Today, collaboratively we raise a clarion call as leaders of faith and followers of Jesus for all Christians and people of faith to repudiate political expediency and embrace a prophetic posture of compassionate justice. Justice that will secure our borders, our families, our values, hardworking God loving immigrants and the image of God in every human being. "

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Evangelical Table Announces Launch of New Campaign

June 11, 2012

** MEDIA ADVISORY **

Focus on the Family President Signs On to Evangelicals Principles for Immigration Reform

Broad coalition to announce ad buys in swing states, long-term mobilizing strategy at Capitol Hill Press Conference Tuesday.

Washington, D.C. — Jim Daly, president of prominent evangelical organization Focus on the Family, has added his signature to an “Evangelical Statement of Principles for Immigration Reform” to be released Tuesday at a press conference on Capitol Hill.

The effort comes as Christians across America are uniting to call on Democrats and Republicans to lead our nation to a bipartisan solution on immigration, at a time when immigration has become a partisan talking point for politicians on both sides of the aisle. In response to the moral, economic and political crisis our broken immigration system has created, evangelical leaders have recognized that the force of their own efforts can be multiplied by their coming together to form an "Evangelical Immigration Table" to advance a cohesive immigration reform message and strategy.

Table leaders and other prominent evangelicals from across the country — representing more than 100 signatories in all — will release the “Evangelical Statement of Principles for Immigration Reform,” which they will promote with ad buys. Following the press event, leaders will deliver these principles to leadership from the Obama Administration, Senate and House of Representatives and will call for humane and workable immigration reform.

Never before has a coalition of evangelicals come together from such a diverse political and theological spectrum on this issue. Through this coordinated effort, a clear message is being sent to candidates and elected officials on both sides of the aisle: the divisiveness surrounding the immigration debate in our country cannot continue. For the healing of our nation to begin, our political leaders must come together to enact bipartisan immigration reform.

WHAT: Capitol Hill launch of Evangelical Statement of Principles for Immigration Reform.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2456

WHO: Richard Land, President, Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
Jim Wallis, President and CEO, Sojourners
Leith Anderson, President, National Association of Evangelicals
Noel Castellanos, CEO, Christian Community Development Association
Stephan Bauman, President and CEO, World Relief
Gabriel Salguero, President, National Latino Evangelical Coalition
Carlos Moran, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
David Fleming, Senior Pastor, Champion Forest Baptist Church

Interested media should send an RSVP to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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150 Business, Political, Law Enforcement, Faith Leaders Engage in Southeast Immigration Summit

June 11, 2012

Atlanta — More than 150 stakeholders from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee convened in Atlanta on Monday for the Southeast Summit: Forging a New Consensus on Immigrants and America. Leaders from the business, law enforcement and faith communities joined this unprecedented gathering in the Southeast to discuss the importance of immigrants and immigration to the region’s economic and cultural vitality and realistic and workable solutions at the federal level.

The Summit took place as the Supreme Court prepares to issue its decision on Arizona’s immigration law, S.B. 1070, which will direct impact Arizona-inspired legislation in Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia.

The statements below can be attributed to the following speakers at the Southeast Summit:

Former U.S. Attorney General and Doyle Rogers Distinguished Chair of Law Alberto Gonzales:
“The Supreme Court will soon decide the fate of Arizona’s immigration law and other similar state-based immigration laws. The Department of Justice is challenging Arizona’s law, arguing that it is intruding on the federal government’s exclusive authority to make and enforce immigration laws. But with authority comes also responsibility, and our national leaders have failed us. It's time for our federal officials to step up, show leadership and pass comprehensive immigration reform.”

Dr. Richard Land, President, Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission:
“The immigration crisis is the consequence of many factors, including government’s failure to act for more than two decades in a responsible way. If the immigration crisis is going to be resolved fairly and equitably, it is going to require cooperation and effort at every level of government and civic society.”

Larry Wooten, President, North Carolina Farm Bureau:
“Agriculture is a very labor-intensive industry. Farmers across the nation want — and need — an adequate, legal work force. Our immigration system is broken; it can only be fixed at the federal level. We urge Congress to immediately address this issue that is so important for jobs and for our business community.”

Larry A. Godwin, Deputy Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security:
“As law enforcement officers, we are responsible for public safety. In order to reduce crime, there must be open communication with the public. Partnerships with the immigrant community are vital in order to obtain information, build trust, and ensure that justice is served in a fair and prudent manner. “

Ralph Schulz, President and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce:
“From an economic development perspective, the Chamber encourages government leaders to assess and understand the fiscal reality and business implications of implementing immigration policy changes on the local and state levels. We recognize our immigrant population makes a positive contribution to the economy and is an asset to our state’s global identity as welcoming and inclusive.”

Republican Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff:
“I commend the National Immigration Forum for hosting this conference and bringing together diverse communities of business, faith and law enforcement to discuss concerns and to share best practices. I call on Congress to step up to the plate, do the right thing and fix our broken immigration system with comprehensive, just and pragmatic reform. I also ask my fellow Republicans nationwide to follow Utah's example and work across party lines in a uniquely American way to find practical solutions to ensure fair treatment under the law for all.”

Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Archbishop of Miami, Fla.:
“It is vital that we continue the dialogue on immigration if we want to solve the problem. The current system is untenable and violates basic God-given rights granted to all human beings.”

Republican Mayor Paul Bridges, Uvalda, Ga.:
“I am the mayor of a Georgia town directly impacted by state-based immigration legislation. We have to find out how to move immigration back to the federal level, where it belongs. Today’s solutions-oriented Summit is not a gathering of an isolated group; we have a true consensus in the U.S. on immigration.”

Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:
“Thoughtful, practical leaders from across the Southeast gathered today to forge a new consensus on immigrants and America. Congress must heed the call of faith, law enforcement and business leaders across the nation who seek a federal immigration system that serves the needs of every American family. The status quo is undermining our prosperity and competitiveness.”

An interview with Julie Hotchkiss, research economist and policy adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, about her data on the impact of undocumented workers in Georgia is available at: http://tinyurl.com/GeorgiaData.

Videos from today’s Southeast Summit will be available Thursday at the Forging a New Consensus website: www.ForgingConsensus.org. You can also follow the conversation on Twitter at #SEsummit.

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TODAY: First-Ever Southeast Summit on Immigration

June 11, 2012

MEDIA ADVISORY
Alberto Gonzales, Dr. Richard Land to Speak Today at Southeast Summit on Immigration

Business, Political, Law Enforcement and Faith Leaders Gather in Atlanta

To view the summit live, please visit http://www.webcastingtechnologies.com/ss/

ATLANTA — As the Supreme Court prepares to rule on Arizona’s immigration law and as more states in the Southeast debate passing their own immigration laws, prominent figures in the region will convene today in Atlanta to discuss the importance of immigrants and immigration to the region’s economic and cultural vitality. Key stakeholders from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee will begin to develop a common understanding of the value of immigrants and immigration to the Southeast and to the country as a whole, and to renew calls for federal action.

Highlights of this rational discussion to forge a new consensus on immigrants and America include a keynote speech by former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. In addition, a broad range of regional leaders will participate in interactive panel discussions, including Dr. Richard Land, President of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission; Larry Wooten, President of the North Carolina Farm Bureau; and Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami.

Discussions will be organized around three topics:

· Economy: What role do immigrants and immigration play in the regional economy, and how are they important to the future of key industry sectors?

· Faith and culture: How are churches and communities being shaped by the arrival of immigrants in the region? How do state-level enforcement laws and issues with our current federal system affect our religious communities?

· Public Safety: How does the region’s sense of public safety hinge on the relationship between immigrants and law enforcement agencies?

The Southeast Summit builds on the successful Mountain West Summit in Salt Lake City, hosted by Republican Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff in October 2011. There, nearly 200 business, faith and law-enforcement leaders built new relationships, discussed state policies, and communicated to policymakers and the media about the need for pragmatic solutions at the federal level. The Southeast Summit expands that conversation to one of the most economically and culturally dynamic regions in the country.

WHAT: Southeast Summit: Forging a New Consensus on Immigrants and America.

HOSTS: Paul Bridges, Republican Mayor of Uvalda Georgia
Mark Shurtleff, Republican Attorney General of Utah
Jeb Bush Jr., COO, Jeb Bush & Associates and Board of Directors, National Immigration Forum
Chris Butts, Legislative Affairs Director, Georgia Green Industry Association
Charles Hall, Executive Director, Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Association
Charles Kuck, Managing Partner, Kuck Immigration Partners LLC
Brian Burt, Executive Director, World Relief Atlanta

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales

WHEN: Monday, June 11, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: W Downtown Hotel, 45 Ivan Allen Junior Boulevard, Atlanta

For questions and for media RSVP for this event, please e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

To view the summit live, please visit http://www.webcastingtechnologies.com/ss/

Follow the conversation on Twitter at #SEsummit

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The Southeast Summit:
Forging a New Consensus on Immigrants and America
Agenda

9:15 a.m.: Opening Remarks

· Paul Bridges, Mayor, Uvalda, Ga.

9:30 a.m.: Economic Overview: Immigrants and Labor in the Southeast

· Julie L. Hotchkiss, Ph.D., Research Economist and Policy Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

10:30 to 11:30 a.m.: The Economic Need for Immigrants and Immigration in the Southeast

What role do immigrants and immigration play in the current regional economy, and how are they important to the future of key industry sectors? How will the Supreme Court’s decision this month affect business owners in the region?

Moderator: Ralph Schulz, President and CEO, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

· Karen Bremer, Executive Director, Georgia Restaurant Association

· Charles H. Kuck, Managing Partner, Kuck Immigration Partners LLC

· Larry Wooten, President, North Carolina Farm Bureau

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Faith and Culture in the Southeast

How have communities of faith, and the culture of the Southeast overall, been shaped by the arrival of immigrants in the region? How do problems in the immigration system affect communities, particularly religious communities and their epicenters?

Moderator: Rick Sanchez

· Dr. Richard Land, President, Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

· Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Archbishop of Miami, FL

· Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director of GALEO

· Tim Campbell, Director, Hope for Atlanta and Advocate, Immigrant Hope-Atlanta

12:30 p.m.: Lunch and Keynote Address:

· Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Smart Law Enforcement in the Southeast

How does the region’s sense of public safety hinge on the relationship between immigrants and law enforcement?

Moderator: Mark Shurtleff, Attorney General, Utah

· Larry Godwin, Deputy Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security

· Chief John F. King, Chief of Police of Dorasville, Ga.
Closing Remarks

· Ali Noorani, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum

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Editorial Board Memo: Family Unity Waivers

May 25, 2012

TO: Editorial Boards and Columnists
FROM: National Immigration Forum
RE: Obama Administration’s Proposed Changes to Immigration Waivers

Proposed Rule Keeps Families Together,
Encourages Legal Immigration

Public comment closes June 1 on a rule, proposed by the Obama administration, that will keep families together and provide a critical boost to legal immigration in the United States. We encourage you to support the proposed rule, but also to note specific ways in which it could be improved.

The proposed rule will allow U.S. citizens’ spouses and children who are eligible for a “green card” to file applications for family unity from within the U.S. These changes are good policy: They promote legal immigration and remove bureaucratic hurdles that keep families apart. But they should go further.

The Dilemma: Separate from Family vs. Live in the Shadows

Currently, immigrants who are eligible for legalization because they have a U.S. citizen spouse or parent must return to their home countries to be interviewed for their visa. Under current law, an immigrant who has been in the U.S. for more than six months without legal status is prohibited from returning for three years once he or she departs. Immigrants who have been in the U.S. for more than one year are barred from returning for ten years after departure.

This prohibition can be waived if an immigrant’s U.S.-citizen or permanent-resident spouse or parent would suffer extreme hardship, but only once the immigrant has left the country. The waiver decision can take months, during which immigrants are separated from their families and are stranded abroad. They also may have to wait in dangerous locales such as Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, “murder capital of the Americas.”

Many immigrants don’t take that chance. Instead, they remain in the U.S. with their families but also in the shadows of American society.

Strengthening Families, Our Communities and Our Country

The proposed rule would make it possible to apply for the waiver from within the United States, eliminating applicants’ risk of a mandatory decade-long exile from their families pending the waiver’s adjudication. This processing change would not undermine existing law. The standards for “extreme hardship” would be no less strict, but where such hardship is present, families would remain together until immigrants’ actual visa interviews in their home countries. Family separation would be far shorter — and far less risky.

Predictably, some Republicans have criticized this proposed processing modification as “amnesty.” However, the proposed rule only removes obstacles to legal immigration, which political leaders on both sides of the aisle say they support. This simple change to how a form is filed will end the quandary of choosing between separation and remaining in the U.S. without legal status for the families who will eventually benefit. Helping immigrants become more fully American, with all of the opportunities and responsibilities that entails, is no amnesty — it is smart policy that strengthens communities and our country.

Americans understand the importance of keeping families together, which is why our immigration laws allow U.S. citizens and permanent residents to apply for green cards for their foreign-born spouses and children. The proposed rule change is a chance for the Obama administration to demonstrate its commitment to family unity as well. In the long run, Congress and the administration must work together to remedy the bureaucracy and the backlogs that keep families apart.

How to Make a Good Rule Better

The comment period that ends June 1 is an opportunity not only to support the proposed changes but improve them. As written, the rule arbitrarily excludes the family members of U.S. legal permanent residents. Such individuals are legally eligible for the hardship waiver, and the hardships of lengthy family separation are as compelling for these families as for families of U.S. citizens. The proposed rule would keep still more families together were it to encompass the families of lawful permanent residents as well.

In addition, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) should establish clear guidelines for determining what qualifies as extreme hardship, and training on the standard. As it stands now, the standard is subjective, its application inconsistent.

Last but not least, the government, with the help of trusted media outlets, will need to ensure that information about the proposed rule change and its implications is accurate. Unfortunately, unscrupulous attorneys and “notarios” are already seeking to take advantage of desperate immigrants by spreading false information about the waiver process and this proposed rule. A strong public information campaign and outreach effort on the part of the government, and precise, careful coverage by mainstream media, will mitigate confusion and prevent misinformation.

In the end, this common-sense change in how waiver applications are processed will keep families together, make communities stronger, and remove obstacles to legal immigration. Such a policy should enjoy universal support.

For more information, see:

• Cases of families affected by this provision of law
• Announcement and FAQ from USCIS on the waiver processing change
• FAQ from the American Immigration Lawyers Association on the change
• Backgrounder from the Immigration Policy Center on the current system

Alabama’s Immigration Law Sequel Further Damages State’s Reputation

May 21, 2012

Washington, D.C. — On Friday, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley signed into law revisions to Alabama’s overreaching immigration law. Gov. Bentley unsuccessfully tried to persuade lawmakers to change two provisions, one that requires schools to check the immigration status of enrolling schoolchildren, and a “Scarlet Letter” provision that uses state funds to create an online public database listing the names of undocumented immigrants who appear in court. The following is a statement from Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

“Alabama policymakers have officially turned back the clock on civil rights in the Heart of Dixie. The revised immigration law has achieved a new low in discriminatory and overreaching policy, targeting schoolchildren in order to frighten their parents and creating a big-government, taxpayer-funded ‘immigrant blacklist.’

“It is disappointing that Governor Bentley gave in to the legislature and signed the mean-spirited substitute law, despite his own concerns about its severity and potential impact. Indeed, Governor Bentley missed an opportunity to show responsible leadership and heed the pleas of farmers, religious and civil rights leaders calling for a repeal of the immigration law. These diverse voices oppose the latest immigration bill in Alabama because it damages the overall economy of the state and because it is a direct attack on our American values of fairness and equal treatment.

“Just last week, reports indicated that Alabama farmers were cutting back on food production. They feared crops would rot in the fields for a second straight year, a product of the farm labor shortage Alabama’s heavy-handed immigration measures have caused. Alabama’s own newspapers have reproached the immigration laws because they ‘give economic recruiters in other states all the ammunition they need to keep industries and businesses from locating in Alabama’ and because they ‘present Alabama as a closed, intolerant, unwelcoming state.’

“The new iteration of the immigration law is just meaner and more reckless. It is a bad sequel aiming to bring intimidation and fear to Alabama’s classrooms and courtrooms. Until Alabama policymakers right this wrong by repealing the law or the courts overturn it, all Alabamians will continue to suffer the economic and moral consequences.”

Obama Administration Should Include Immigrant Detainees in Prison Rape Elimination Act Guidelines

May 17, 2012

Washington, D.C. — In 2003 a unanimous Congress passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). This was the first civil law that focused on eliminating sexual abuse in detention facilities. However, the Obama administration announced today that the Department of Homeland Security, and thus all immigration detention facilities, are exempted from rules issued by the Department of Justice to implement PREA. The rule states that all Federal departments with confinement facilities, including DHS, will issue separate rules or procedures to satisfy PREA’s requirements. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

“Our country prides itself on protecting basic human rights for all people in America, but today’s announcement by the Department of Justice undermines that commitment. The decision to exclude immigrants in civil detention from the rule released today means non-citizens remain vulnerable to sexual assault while individuals in Department of Justice custody receive protections. In short, this exclusion threatens the safety of the almost four hundred thousand men, women, and unaccompanied children who are in custody for immigration purposes per year.

“The administration wide enforcement of PREA is all the more critical today, one day after Republican leadership in U.S. House of Representatives rolled back protections in the Violence Against Women Act for battered immigrant women. The administration’s veto threat of the Republican legislation, frankly, is undermined by the lack of strict enforcement of PREA guidelines. This was an important opportunity for the administration to protect all women, men and children – regardless of immigration status – from violence, whether within their own homes or while in the federal government’s custody.

“The administration claims that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention standards released earlier this year are sufficient safeguards against sexual abuse and assault in immigration detention facilities. These standards are an improvement from earlier standards, but fall short of PREA in several areas. For example, immigrant detainees need confidential reporting and protection from retaliation. The standards also lack requirements for proper criminal investigations of assaults and for appropriate background checks and oversight of ICE employees and applicants.

“As we have said before, the improved immigration detention standards — if and when they are fully implemented — are no more than a good first step toward addressing the safety and human rights deficiencies in immigration detention. We will be vigilant in ensuring that the forthcoming rules by DHS promised today are comprehensive and protect all immigrant men and women in detention from rape.

“Best of all will be when Congress recognizes that immigration reform, not more immigration jails, is what this country needs. The government could save millions of dollars a year by capitalizing on cheaper alternatives to detention for nonviolent individuals who are not flight risks. Alternatives can range in cost from as low as 30 cents to $14 a day per individual. By comparison, it costs ICE an average of $122 per day to detain an immigrant.

“Our government must do more to ensure that those held in our immigration detention system are safe and that the system is efficient and accountable.”

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House Republicans Play Politics with Battered Immigrant Women’s Lives

May 16, 2012

House of Representatives Approves Weakened Violence Against Women Act


Washington, D.C. — The House of Representatives approved on Wednesday a watered-down version of the historic Violence Against Women Act. The House’s legislation, H.R. 4970, strips away existing protections for immigrant women who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or human trafficking. The proposal passed the House 222- 205 with 22 Republicans voting against the bill.

“The immigration debate reached a new low today with House Republicans putting politics before the safety of abused or trafficked immigrant women and children,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

The legislation erodes confidentiality protections and allows abusers to participate in the adjudication process. The bill also changes the U Visa, which currently protects immigrant victims of crime who assist law enforcement, into a temporary visa for most applicants. Instead of providing an avenue to permanent legal status, applying for a U Visas could now lead to deportation for victims and crime witnesses who come forward.

Over the past 17 years, law enforcement and prosecutors have relied on the Violence Against Women Act to combat human trafficking, rape and domestic violence. The legislation has long enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support since its creation in 1994, but it has now fallen prey to election-year, partisan politics.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, along with 28 other prominent faith-based groups, signed a letter to Congress last week expressing how they are “deeply troubled" by the bill's efforts to "roll back protections in current law for battered non-citizens, making them more vulnerable and, in some cases, endangering their lives.".

In an opinion piece published today on CNN.com, Leith Anderson from the National Association of Evangelicals and Lynne Hybels of the Willow Creek Community Church, called on “Speaker John Boehner and the House leadership to make sure that the Violence Against Women Act continues to protect vulnerable immigrant women who are victims of human trafficking or domestic violence.”

Added Noorani, “House Republicans should not disregard the concerns of evangelicals and faith leaders who are troubled by Republicans seeking political gain at the expense of the safety of abused women and children. All vulnerable women and children deserve to be safe from harm, no matter where they were born. It's un-American and shameful for Republican politicians to not recognize that fundamental principle."

Improve Tourism Visa System to Spur Economic Growth

May 16, 2012

Washington, D.C. —On Wednesday, the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade held a hearing on “Where the Jobs Are: Promoting Tourism to America”. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

“The U.S. cannot afford to get tourism wrong. Tourism is one of the largest growth industries in America, pumping nearly $1.8 trillion into the economy and supporting 14 million American jobs in 2010. That’s why it’s crucial to improve our tourism visa processing system to boost our economy while still upholding national security.

We hope that today’s hearing marks the first step by Washington leaders in recognizing that both a smart tourism visa system and a workable immigration system play a significant role in our economic growth.”

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Evangelical and Faith Leaders Urge Congress to Protect All Battered Women and Children

May 07, 2012

Washington, D.C. — The House Judiciary Committee is expected to vote Tuesday on H.R. 4970, the House version of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The bill, sponsored by Rep. Sandy Adams (R-FL), would dramatically roll back important protections for immigrant women, thus leaving them more vulnerable to abuse. More than 20 faith leaders from the Evangelical, Catholic, Lutheran and other faith-based communities sent a letter to Congress expressing their opposition to provisions in H.R. 4970 that negatively impact immigrant women and children who are victims of abuse. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

The protection of women and children from abuse should not be held hostage to partisan politics. The numbers are distressing; one in four women in America experience domestic violence or sexual assault, and up to 60 percent of men who abuse their wives also frequently abuse their children. Immigrant women are at even higher risk because immigration status becomes one more weapon abusers use to control victims. When women cannot call the police if they or their children are being abused for fear of immigration consequences, our system of justice and law enforcement has failed.

Faith leaders including Leith Anderson of the National Association of Evangelicals and Lynne Hybels, co-founder of Willow Creek Community Church, as well as faith-based organizations such as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service and World Relief, are urging Congress to stand up for what is right and preserve and improve protections for vulnerable victims — no matter where they were born.

The faith leaders’ joint letter, sent today to the House Judiciary Committee, explained how “faith communities are on the front lines,” providing direct, essential services for women and children who are suffering at the hands of abusers. Many victims rely on the support and moral guidance of their faith community during times of crisis. Religious organizations see firsthand the importance of continuing to provide a lifeline to immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.

We praise the leadership of these communities of faith calling on Congress to find its moral compass and not let partisanship stand in the way of protecting all women and their families from harm. House leadership must not remove important safeguards for vulnerable immigrant victims in the Violence Against Women Act.

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To read the letter from faith leaders and faith-based organizations to the House Judiciary Committee please visit: http://tinyurl.com/VAWAEvang.

Civil Rights Leader Decries Arizona Immigration Law as Supreme Court Convenes

April 25, 2012

Washington, D.C. — As the Supreme Court convenes this morning to hear oral arguments in Arizona v. United States, the challenge to Arizona’s S.B. 1070 immigration law, leaders from across the human rights, civil rights, immigrant and religious spectrum are speaking out against the law and highlighting its negative, discriminatory effects. Dr. Warren Stewart, senior pastor at First Institutional Baptist Church in Phoenix, is a recognized African-American leader who was a driving force in moving Arizona to finally recognize the federal Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. The following is a statement by Pastor Stewart, who is also chairman of the National Immigration Forum Board of Directors:

“Arizona’s misguided immigration law is an affront to moral conscience and basic rights. The moment we allow a law to consider someone suspicious and deserving of more scrutiny because of their skin color is the moment we walk away from the values all of us share: opportunity, liberty and equality for all. The question at the heart of this law goes beyond Arizona: It is about what kind of country we want to be. Our laws should not serve to divide communities and turn neighbor against neighbor. Even as we await a just ruling from the Supreme Court, we must unite behind our fundamental values and seek humane immigration laws on the federal level. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: ‘Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.’ ”

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Read evangelical leaders’ statements opposing S.B. 1070. Click here for a letter from interfaith leaders asking the President and Congress to take the lead on immigration law. Members of the Congressional Hispanic, Black and Asian Pacific American caucuses also are speaking out against the law.

Tri-Caucus, National Immigration Forum Speak Out Against Arizona’s S.B. 1070

April 24, 2012

Washington, D.C.: The Chairs and members of the Congressional Hispanic, Black and Asian Pacific American Caucus joined with the National Immigration Forum to release the following statements regarding the hearing of United States v. Arizona before the U.S. Supreme Court this week.

Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:
“At its heart, America is an idea, not an ideology. And the idea that all men (and women) are created equal is unique to America. Once we allow law enforcement to ask someone for identification because they look less equal, the idea of America weakens. From our early days as a nation, we’ve fought for the ideal that how you live your life, not what you look like, is what makes you American. In order to protect our nation’s values and our basic rights, we believe the Supreme Court should strike down Arizona’s immigration law as unconstitutional.”

Dr. Warren Stewart, senior pastor of First Institutional Baptist Church in Phoenix and Board Chair of the National Immigration Forum:
“This is the most important immigration case in a generation. As a pastor and civil rights leader in a diverse and tight-knit community in Phoenix, Arizona, I can attest to the culture of fear in Latino and immigrant communities created by SB 1070. This discriminatory law does not reflect our values, it is not who we are as a nation. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote from the Birmingham Jail, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.’ Moreover, whatever the decision of the Supreme Court, Congress must unite and provide just, humane comprehensive immigration reform that represents our great nation at its best.”

CHC Chairman Charles A. Gonzalez (TX-20):
“Tomorrow, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the first legal challenge to a state anti-immigrant law. Since its passage, SB1070 has legalized profiling of Latinos, prevented local police from doing their jobs by turning them into immigration agents, and codified harassment of families and communities. This misguided law, which includes the “show me your papers” provision and provides legal cover for warrant-less arrests, does not represent the values on which our country was founded. Hopefully, the Supreme Court will seize the opportunity to restore justice for the well-being of all our communities by overturning SB1070.”

CAPAC Chairwoman Judy Chu (CA-32):
“Arizona’s attempt to create its own immigration policy is more than just unconstitutional: it’s dangerous for the American people. The Constitution grants the federal government sole authority to make and enforce immigration policy. Arizona’s SB1070 undercuts this federal role and codifies the use of racial profiling to do it. From Jim Crowe to the Chinese Exclusion Act to the NYPD surveillance of Muslim Americans, minority groups in this country have come to know what it means to be targeted for who they are. It is not, has never been, and will never be acceptable. I urge the Supreme Court to overturn this egregious overstep for the safety of every American citizen.”

CBC Chairman Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-5):
"Tomorrow the United States Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the constitutionality of Arizona’s anti-immigrant law, SB 1070. The Supreme Court has the opportunity to officially reject the use of racial profiling and discrimination against Hispanics and other minorities. Throughout our 41-year history, the Congressional Black Caucus has worked tirelessly to ensure that all Americans, regardless of race, color or creed have the chance to pursue and achieve the American dream. Arizona's un-American law promotes discrimination based on appearance and accent. To do so encourages discrimination against all people of color—including those who have been American citizens all their lives. It appears that some would like for our communities to think about immigration in terms of ‘us vs. them’, and I vehemently reject that notion. Many American workers are suffering from dire economic conditions, and our broken immigration system creates a race to the bottom for the worst paying and most difficult jobs. I urge the Supreme Court to strike down the Arizona law and protect our citizens’ basic rights. It is time that we all come to the table, negotiate, and fix our broken immigration system and establish comprehensive immigration reform, not a confusing patchwork of fifty different laws. We need reform if we want to level the playing field in the workplace and stop the race to the bottom that our current system promotes."

Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15), Immigration Taskforce Chair of the CAPAC:
“Arizona’s misguided attempt at enforcing immigration policy through SB 1070 is not only unconstitutional, but has also torn at the social and moral fabric of families, communities, and America as a whole. As someone who was placed in Japanese internment camps during World War II, I know all too well the effects of scapegoating and racial profiling. SB 1070 has opened the floodgates in allowing law enforcement to unfairly target and racially profile minority communities, leaving already vulnerable individuals feeling suspect or inferior due to their skin color. As Immigration Taskforce Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I urge the Supreme Court to uphold our constitutional rights and to ensure that all Americans – no matter their immigration status – are treated equally under the law.”

Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34):
"SB1070 raises basic questions about the kind of country we want America to be. This law makes it legal for a mother to be stopped on the street and questioned in front of her children based solely on the way she looks, and that's just not right. I call on the Supreme Court to reject the notion that we can solve our immigration challenges by trampling on the constitutional rights that are the bedrock of our freedom."

Rep. Silvestre Reyes (TX-16):
“Two years ago, Republican Governor Jan Brewer signed into law the most reprehensible bill that aims to crack down on undocumented immigrants in the United States," said Congressman Reyes. "These intrusive measures are a mockery of our democratic values and are deeply insulting to Hispanic veterans, such as myself, who have fought to preserve our nation's freedom. From my 26 years of experience in law enforcement, I know these reckless measures only incite fear among the immigrant community and lead to a new level of mistrust of law enforcement. As residents of the safest city in the nation, El Pasoans know first-hand that public safety is best achieved when local police focus on crime, not on enforcing immigration laws. I strongly urge the U.S Supreme Court to condemn this un-American bill.”

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07):
"Allowing Arizona to write its own immigration law threatens the federal system of governance that has made two centuries of American success possible. Those who agree with SB 1070 should consider whether they really want a country with fifty immigration laws and fifty different restrictions on the flow of employment and goods. Allowing states to write their own immigration laws would put individuals and families in an impossible legal position when deciding where to work, where to go to school, whom to associate with and whom to offer a ride home. That's not the country we really want for the future. Comprehensive immigration reform is a realistic solution. A state patchwork is not."

Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX 28):
"I've lived on the border my whole life and understand the frustrations that border issues can present to a state. At the end of the day, immigration is a federal issue, and securing our border is a federal responsibility. The way to address the problem of illegal immigration is through bipartisan immigration reform, not piecemeal efforts by individual states."

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Evangelical Leaders Urge Supreme Court to Strike Down Arizona’s Anti-Immigrant Law

April 23, 2012

Washington, D.C. — Evangelical leaders are speaking out against S.B. 1070, Arizona’s discriminatory immigration law, ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on the law on Wednesday. Statements from seven leaders follow:

Galen Carey, Vice President of Government Relations, National Association of Evangelicals (NAE): “The Supreme Court is hearing an immigration case this week because both Republicans and Democrats in Congress have failed to fix our broken immigration system. The people of Arizona, and every state, deserve a safe and functional legal immigration system, and a sensible plan for those who are already here. The place to work out such a plan is in the Congress and the White House, not in the courts, and certainly not in the 50 state legislatures.”

The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC): “As the Supreme Court hears oral arguments regarding the constitutionality of Arizona’s immigration policy, we hope and pray that the justices on the nation’s highest court defend the principles embedded in our constitution and founding documents. Arizona’s immigration law discriminates, racially profiles and serves as fodder for those committed to segregation rather than reconciliation. Embedded in the question of states’ rights lies the greater query of individual civil rights; rights that require protection by our judicial branch. This decision will speak to whether our nation will move forward in protecting life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness or digress into the abyss of intolerance, bigotry and racial profiling.”

The Rev. Gabriel Salguero, President, National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC): “Evangelicals are committed to laws that allow us to minister to and love the immigrant. S.B. 1070 not only fosters profiling but also stands in the way of our Christian duty. Silence is not an option!”

The Rev. Noel Castellanos, CEO of the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA): “On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of Arizona’s anti-immigrant law, which attacks our nation’s conscience and the Biblical call to welcome the stranger. We have seen the law’s terrible effects on our communities, and we believe that it is immoral and unjust. As Christian leaders, we urge our nation’s highest court to adhere to the wisdom of the Lord above all other powers when they make their decision.”

The Rev. Luis Cortés, Jr., President of Esperanza: “We know that the vast majority of Americans support the idea of fixing our broken immigration system at a national level. Arizona’s damaging law has led to racial profiling, leads to disastrous economic consequences, and allows Hispanic communities to be terrorized by its misuse. This law, along with the domino effect it has produced with many other states considering similar laws, is evidence that this problem is reaching a breaking point, and the time for a solution is now. It’s time for those who support fair and balanced federal immigration policies to stand up and let the Supreme Court know that as a nation, we do not want to empower individual states to treat immigrants in this manner. This decision will set the course of our nation’s trajectory for years and perhaps generations to come, and we must lift our voices to determine the course of our future as a united, rather than a fractured, American people.”

Mathew Staver, Dean of Liberty University Law School and an attorney who has argued before the Supreme Court on multiple occasions, added this legal perspective: “The Arizona law illustrates the broken immigration system. The federal government has failed to carry out its Constitutional duty to have an efficient, just, and workable immigration program. Arizona decided to act because the federal government would not, but Arizona went too far. The state law now crosses the line and usurps authority that only the federal government can exercise under the Constitution. Even worse, the Arizona law tramples on the constitutional rights of all citizens by subjecting them to unlawful searches, detentions, fines and even jail. Immigration is not a Mexican, Hispanic, or Arizona problem. It is a national problem, and we need Congress to put aside partisan politics and fix it now.”

Wendy Tarr, Director, CLUE Orange County: “Laws like S.B. 1070 encourage racial profiling and make our communities like police states. People should not be forced to carry papers as they go about their daily lives to prove their right to live in their homes. We need to halt this patchwork of immigration regulations at the state levels that are ineffective and shortsighted and get to the real task of passing comprehensive immigration reform that gives clear pathways for citizenship for those immigrants who are positive contributors to society.”

For Undocumented Youth, Rubio’s Actions Will Speak Louder Than Words

April 20, 2012

Washington, D.C. — In media interviews Thursday, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., continued to tout his proposed alternative to the DREAM Act, which would help address the undocumented youth whom the DREAM Act was designed to assist. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

“We welcome the renewed focus on immigration reform. It is clear both parties have realized fixing the immigration system is good policy and good politics.

“It’s good to see Senator Rubio talking to the press about his ideas on reform. But, the time is near for Senator Rubio to introduce legislative language and define a path forward that secures necessary Republican votes.”

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End Racial Profiling, Make Us All Safer

April 17, 2012

Washington, D.C. — This morning the Senate’s Constitution and Civil Rights Subcommittee is convening to discuss “Ending Racial Profiling in America.” This is the first Senate hearing in more than ten years to focus on racial profiling, even though federal and state laws passed during that time have required profiling based on race and ethnicity in order to be implemented. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

“From every part of the country, evidence has emerged that the very real practice of racial profiling makes us less safe. It distracts law enforcement time and resources away from the efficient, targeted pursuit of individuals who actually pose a threat to public safety, and it undermines community trust.

“When victims and witnesses of crimes are afraid to come forward for fear of being profiled, the safety of all of us is threatened. In addition, laws that codify racial profiling, including but not limited to Arizona’s S.B. 1070 immigration law, divert valuable resources away from solving serious crimes. Any law that encourages discrimination is just plain wrong.

“Racial profiling also betrays fundamental American values of equality. Treating people of color with more suspicion, whether their families have been in this country for one generation or ten, undermines not only the constitutional rights of targeted groups, but also our core principles on which these rights are based.

“We welcome the opportunity Congress is taking to discuss the unfair, ineffective and harmful practice of racially motivated enforcement. We urge Congress to pass the “End Racial Profiling Act” (ERPA), which would ban racial profiling at the federal, state and local level. We also urge the Obama administration to reform the 2003 Department of Justice Guidance to explicitly reject profiling based on national security or religion and to close loopholes regarding border and national security. These concrete steps would bring our nation closer to banning the ineffective and unjust practice of racial profiling.”

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Arizona Law Enforcement Leaders: Immigration Law Harms Public Safety

April 12, 2012

REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRATIC FORMER ATTORNEYS GENERAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER DISCUSS ARIZONA’S S.B. 1070 IMPACT AHEAD OF SUPREME COURT HEARING

To Listen to the Recording of This Call, Please Visit http://tinyurl.com/ArizonaAG.

Washington, D.C. — Displaying exemplary bipartisanship, Republican and Democratic former Arizona attorneys general agreed on the harmful consequences of Arizona’s immigration law on law enforcement’s ability to effectively fight crime.

Former attorneys general Grant Woods, a Republican, and Terry Goddard, a Democrat, discussed the “friend of the court” brief they filed with 42 other former attorneys general, arguing that Arizona’s immigration law weakens public safety and law enforcement. The amicus brief was filed with the U.S. Supreme Court for the April 25 review of Arizona’s S.B. 1070 law.

“As former chief law enforcer, I’m well acquainted with the obstacles faced by local police and prosecutors trying to make communities safer in an environment made increasingly complex by immigration-related issues,” Woods said. “One of the problems of S.B. 1070 is that it turns local law enforcement into federal immigration enforcement. Thus, immigrant victims or witnesses don’t contact the police. That’s an unacceptable consequence.” He added, “I am hopeful that the Supreme Court will rule that this law is unconstitutional and that it is disruptive for local law enforcement to engage in immigration law enforcement.”

“I resent that as a result of S.B. 1070, the state of Arizona has earned a reputation of being a state of intolerance and racial hatred. But that’s not our Arizona. We are a state that has been traditionally inclusive,” Goddard said. He continued, “Former Attorney General Grant Woods and I believe that S.B. 1070 has made Arizona less safe. The law ties the hands of law enforcement and keeps them from doing their job. Moreover, it tries to micromanage the day-to-day operations of police departments and officers on the street and redirects and exhausts already limited law enforcement resources through its use of punitive citizen civil lawsuits. As a consequence, it changes the priorities of police in the field.”

Dr. Warren Stewart, senior pastor of First Institutional Baptist Church in Phoenix and Board Chair of the National Immigration Forum, brought a moral voice to the discussion. “As a pastor and civil rights leader in a diverse and tight-knit community in Phoenix, Arizona, I have witnessed the consequences of this misguided law. The law undermines basic civil rights because it encourages racial profiling against people just because of the way they look or speak, even if they have been American citizens all their lives. A state law that encourages discrimination is flat-out wrong.” Added Pastor Stewart, “That’s not who we are as a country. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote from the Birmingham Jail, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.’ ”

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New Campaign Emphasizes the Political Power that Comes with Citizenship

April 10, 2012

Civil and Immigrant Rights Organizations Urge Eligible Immigrants to Apply for Citizenship before End of April

To listen to the recording of today’s call, please click here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Harsh state immigration laws, such as Arizona’s S.B. 1070, have become a deciding motivator for eligible Latinos, Asians and other immigrant groups to naturalize and become active in the political process. By applying now, eligible residents can become citizens in time to register and vote in this fall’s elections.

Nearly 8.1 million legal permanent residents of the United States are eligible to become naturalized citizens, including numbers that could shift the political landscape in many states. On a press call today hosted by the National Immigration Forum, advocates — and a Florida resident who is in the process of applying for citizenship — spoke about the political power and responsibility that are integral to American citizenship, as well as resources that are available to help eligible legal permanent residents navigate the application process.

Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, shared information about the potential number of newly naturalized voters and how they could tip the scales in the November elections. In Arizona, 170,000 people, or 3.9 percent of the voting-eligible population, are eligible for citizenship. In North Carolina, the 80,000 eligible immigrants would make up 1.2 percent of the voting-eligible population. The number of potential new voters in North Carolina is noteworthy, as it far exceeds the very narrow margin of victory (14,177 votes) by which Barack Obama defeated John McCain in North Carolina in 2008.

One of the 710,000 immigrants eligible for citizenship in Florida — 5.5 percent of the voting-eligible population — is Diana B. Díaz, an immigrant from Colombia who is in the process of applying for citizenship. She spoke about how an increasingly vicious immigration debate helped persuade her and her family to apply and participate in the upcoming elections. Mrs. Díaz said, “I watched very closely as Arizona passed the toughest immigration law in the nation, causing Latinos in Arizona to fear discrimination. The possibility of Florida following Arizona’s footsteps became real as Florida politicians debated last year passing legislation mirroring the Arizona law. Thankfully, the measures never became law, but I couldn’t stop thinking what would have happened if they did. Would my mom be hassled by police because of her limited English, even though she is a legal immigrant? Should I be worried that people would constantly be questioning my immigration status because of this new law?

“I realized that it was time to engage in American politics. As the debate over immigration continues to turn angry, I want to make my voice heard instead of standing on the sidelines as others decide on my life and the future of my family. I want to be able speak up for my friends and neighbors, for those who do not have a voice. And the first step to full political participation is to become a U.S. citizen.”

Clarissa Martínez, Director of Immigration and National Campaigns at the National Council of La Raza, spoke about the increasing hostile immigration debate and how Latinos and immigrants can stand up against it. “Imagine the kind of voice and attention Latinos and immigrants can bring to the issue facing the nation if a greater number of immigrants took that step of becoming a citizen and becoming a voter,” said Mrs. Martínez. “We have a lot challenges in front of us, but the wholesale demonization of immigrants, and those who are perceived to be immigrant, is not only an affront to the immigrant community, it is an affront against the values that our nation holds dear. Those who are eligible to become citizens now can do something about it, by taking the first step of becoming a citizen.”

Petra Falcón, Executive Director of Promise Arizona, spoke about last year’s recall of Arizona Sen. Russell Pearce, the architect of the S.B. 1070 law. “The elections of last November in Arizona were historic, not only by their political context but because the citizen participation was impressive,” Falcón said. “Minority, especially Latino, voters marched, but this time to the ballot box to show that they have a great civic power.”

“We need more immigrants to become American citizens to help us stop these anti-immigrant policies, which are the modern-day version of the Chinese Exclusion Act,” stressed Connie Choi, Staff Attorney and Citizenship Network Manager for the Immigration and Citizenship Project at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center. “We stand in solidarity with other communities of color in fighting these laws, which, as we’ve seen, result in indiscriminate targeting of entire immigrant communities.”

Participants announced a new social media campaign through Reform Immigration FOR America to encourage eligible immigrants to naturalize and participate in our democracy. “The campaign, titled ‘Mas Respeto, Become a Citizen!’ urges eligible immigrants to stand up against discriminatory laws such as S.B. 1070 and demand more respeto, or respect, for immigrant communities by naturalizing and participating in the political process.

Immigrants interested in becoming citizens will be directed to www.mycitizenshipmyvote.org or www.masrespeto.org for more information on how to begin the naturalization process and available naturalization resources such as CitizenshipWorks, a website that provides free tutorials and online tools to help individuals answer questions about their eligibility for naturalization, better understand the process, find legal help, and prepare for the naturalization test and interview. A nationwide text message campaign is also available, where eligible immigrants can text “citizenship” or “ciudadania” to 877877 for the location of nearby citizenship assistance providers.

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For information on the top 20 states of residence of immigrants eligible for citizenship please visit: http://tinyurl.com/NatzbyState

Secure Communities Program Requires Meaningful Oversight

April 06, 2012

Washington, D.C. — Today the Office of the Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a pair of reports about the Secure Communities program. The first, “Communication Regarding Participation in Secure Communities,” addresses whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) clearly communicated to states and local jurisdictions the intent of Secure Communities and their expected participation. The second, “Operations of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Secure Communities,” addresses whether the program has been effective. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“Reports issued by the Inspector General today about ICE’s troubled Secure Communities program confirm suspicions about poor communication and weak transparency. But core concerns about the program were not addressed, much less resolved. Based on press accounts and testimony to the DHS Secure Communities Task Force, we know the program erodes public trust in law enforcement, lacks internal safeguards to prevent discrimination, and forces states and localities to participate no matter their reasons for opposition.

“Today’s reports show that contradiction has been the name of the game for Secure Communities. During its implementation, ICE provided conflicting information about participation. When states and localities began to opt out of the controversial program, they were informed that Secure Communities is mandatory. Among many other issues, intentionally or not, ICE did not clearly communicate the goals of Secure Communities, nor the agency’s expectations regarding participation.

“These findings underscore the crucial need for meaningful oversight and accountability in the Secure Communities program.

“Until all of these problems are addressed, the Secure Communities program deserves to be halted, not expanded.”

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The Specter of Tom Tancredo: More of the Same

April 06, 2012

Washington, D.C. — This week, Rep. Tom Tancredo penned an op-ed criticizing an as-yet-unpublished “Republican version of the DREAM Act” that Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is working on. As several media outlets have reported, Republicans in both the House and Senate are trying to develop legislation that would help address some, but not all, of the undocumented youth whom the DREAM Act was designed to assist. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

“Former Rep. Tom Tancredo has resurfaced as the immigration extremist America wishes would quietly recede into the background. The immigration status quo Tancredo so dearly loves has done nothing to move America forward. Existing immigration policies have cost our economy billions, separated millions of families and undermined our economic competitiveness. Now Tancredo is attacking Republicans who are trying to forge a new consensus on immigrants and America.

“As we noted last week, the bar is high for Rubio and his Republican colleagues.

“The measure of Republicans’ success will be twofold: Will the legislation they propose keep families together, allow a significant number of undocumented youth to serve in the armed forces or attain higher education, and keep the door open for them to become Americans? And, will the legislation garner support from across the Republican caucus — particularly the House Republican leadership — or merely expose deep divides?

“America can ill afford any more demagoguery from the likes of Tom Tancredo. The immigration status quo is unsustainable and needs to be fixed.”

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Republican AG Leads New Consensus on Immigrants and America

April 03, 2012

Washington, D.C. — The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“As the presidential primary season winds down, Republicans have come to realize Latino voters are a fast-growing, powerful bloc of the electorate and that they need an ally from Republican ranks. As the New York Times profiled on April 2, for leadership on immigration, Republicans need not look further than one of the most conservative states in the nation: Utah.

“Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has expanded the nation’s immigration debate by providing a space for moderates and conservatives to express their support for immigration solutions. He led by example in the summer of 2010, when he pilloried a list of 1,300 individuals Utah state workers alleged were undocumented with the statement, 'This is not a blacklist, this is a hit list.' Since then, Attorney General Shurtleff has made it his personal mission to build consensus among law enforcement, business, faith and political leaders on the need for a sensible and solutions-based dialogue on immigration.

“The effort to find reasonable alternatives to an enforcement-only approach produced the 'Utah Compact,' a declaration of principles supporting balanced, federal solutions on immigration. Similar compacts have been launched in Iowa and Indiana, and more are expected across the country.

“Democrats and Republicans at all levels should look to Shurtleff’s leadership on immigration and the groundbreaking Utah Compact as a shining example of a rational debate and a practical solution.”

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Rumored Legislation Must Do More Than Tone Down Rhetoric

March 30, 2012

Washington, D.C. — As several media outlets have reported this week, Republicans in both the House and Senate are trying to develop legislation that would help address some, but not all, of the undocumented youth whom the DREAM Act would affect. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

“Over the past week the chatter has been about potential Republican legislation serving the needs and interests of undocumented youth. To be clear, the parameters that have been outlined in various press accounts make it clear this is not the historically bipartisan DREAM Act. The legislation Sen. Dick Durbin has long championed, committed to the legalization, service and citizenship of undocumented youth, is, in our opinion, the only DREAM Act.

“However, it is good to see Senate Republicans work to tone down their party’s anti-immigrant rhetoric. The measure of their success will be twofold: Will the legislation they propose keep families together, allow a significant number of undocumented youth to serve in the armed forces or attain higher education, and keep the door open for them to become Americans? And, will the legislation garner support from across the Republican caucus — particularly the House Republican leadership — or merely expose deep divides?
“America cannot afford election-year shenanigans from either party when it comes to our broken immigration system. The status quo is undermining our economy, separating families and stressing our financial bottom line.”

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Memo to Lamar Smith: Protecting Human Rights Is Not Generosity

March 28, 2012

See the National Immigration Forum's Statement for the Record here.

Read an April 2 letter to White House Domestic Policy Counsel Director Cecilia Muñoz about covering immigrant detention facilities under the Prison Rape Elimination Act here.

Washington, D.C. —Today, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement held a hearing on the new immigration detention standards issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). At the hearing, provocatively titled “Holiday on ICE: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's New Immigration Detention Standards,” legislators criticized the upgraded standards as “pampering” and called for an increase in detention space. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

“Protecting the basic human rights of anyone who is under the government’s watch is not ‘hospitality’; it is the common-sense obligation of a country that prides itself on its devotion to fairness, due process and dignity. The improved immigration detention standards are no more than a good first step toward addressing the safety and human rights deficiencies that leave immigrant detainees vulnerable to abuse and medical emergencies.

“Instead of deriding access to medical care and protection from rape for immigration detainees as over-generosity by the government, Chairman Lamar Smith should use a magnifying glass to examine the high and often unnecessary expense surrounding the overuse of immigration detention. Millions of taxpayer dollars could be saved annually if the government maximized cheaper alternatives to detention for nonviolent individuals. Alternatives can range in cost from as low as 30 cents to 14 dollars a day per individual. By comparison, it costs ICE an average of $122 per day to detain an immigrant.

“The improved detention standards provide common-sense fixes to some of the most serious problems of immigrant detention. While some progress has been made, more has to be done to advance much-needed reforms to our immigration detention system. Necessary reforms would promote efficiency, ensure the health and safety of those in custody, and inject accountability into the immigration detention system.”

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For more information on the immigration detention costs, please read the Forum’s “Math of Immigration Detention”: http://www.immigrationforum.org/images/uploads/MathofImmigrationDetention.pdf.

Rights Groups Demand Accountability, Transparency from U.S. Border Patrol

March 27, 2012

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Holds Hearing

Audio and video of the hearing are available here.

Washington, D.C.—The National Immigration Forum was one of seven groups granted a hearing March 27 before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) about human rights violations against migrants detained and repatriated at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Brittney Nystrom, Director of Policy and Legal Affairs at the National Immigration Forum, spoke about the importance of the hearing: “Every nation has the right to secure its borders, but security should not come at the expense of basic human rights. As the Inter-American Commission shines light on the broken American immigration system, we are reminded that the United States must stand by its commitment to justice and institute proper oversight and accountability for misconduct by Border Patrol agents who treat migrants inhumanely."

The following is a press release from participating organizations including the National Immigration Forum.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Human rights groups No More Deaths, the ACLU of New Mexico - Regional Center for Border Rights, the Southern Border Communities Coalition, the Latin America Working Group Education Fund, the Women’s Refugee Commission, Rights Working Group and the National Immigration Forum have been granted a hearing by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) about human rights violations against migrants detained and repatriated at the U.S.-Mexico border. Three of these groups [presented testimony today] before the IACHR. Established by the United States and all countries in the Western hemisphere in 1959, the IACHR is authorized to examine allegations of human rights violations by any member country. The U.S. government will send representatives to respond to the allegations.

The hearing follows six years of interviews and documentation work by No More Deaths, a humanitarian and advocacy organization based on the Arizona-Mexico border. This work has included nearly 15,000 interviews with recent deportees who had experienced abusive conditions while in custody. No More Deaths’ most recent report, A Culture of Cruelty: Abuse and Impunity in Short-Term U.S. Border Patrol Custody, published in September 2011, included the following findings, consistent with those of other civil society organizations working in the region:

• 11,384 reports of inadequate access to food;
• Children were more likely to be denied water than adults;
• 374 cases of individuals being repatriated without needed emergency medical care or medication;
• Coercion into signing legal documents;
• Practices that put vulnerable migrants in harm’s way: dividing families and repatriating vulnerable populations, including children or pregnant women, in the middle of the night;
• Unsanitary and inhumane processing center conditions;
• Reports of verbal, physical and psychological abuse.

In addition to these cases of abuse and mistreatment, the report documents serious structural shortcomings in U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) internal oversight mechanisms, resulting in a widespread culture of impunity in which abusive behavior goes unpunished and uncorrected. Petitioners have identified violations of repatriation agreements between the U.S. and Mexico that put vulnerable migrants at risk.
“Not only is the U.S. government failing to adequately screen for asylum seekers and trafficked children, it is failing to meaningfully engage with civil society to work on addressing these violations of U.S. and international law,” said Jennifer Podkul, program officer, Women’s Refugee Commission.

The U.S. Border Patrol has refused to release complete versions of existing detention policies or to allow civil society organizations access to the facilities to monitor conditions. Efforts to use existing oversight mechanisms have been similarly unproductive, in part due to the fact that all are internal to DHS.

“Current complaint processes are difficult to navigate and lack transparency, providing little to no information regarding allegations of abuse,” said Danielle Alvarado of No More Deaths and co-author of A Culture of Cruelty. “This reflects DHS’ limited ability to meaningfully address systemic, abusive Border Patrol practices.”

Some of the dangerous and abusive U.S. Border Patrol practices documented by these groups violate existing repatriation agreements between the governments of the United States and Mexico; other practices fail to comply with asylum and trafficking screening requirements set forth in domestic and international law, including the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection and Reauthorization of 2008, the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, and the United Nations Convention Against Torture.

Stated Alvarado, “The Border Patrol blatantly disregards its own policies regarding the treatment of those in their custody, and existing oversight mechanisms have proven unable to prevent abuse. It is clear that the Department of Homeland Security cannot be trusted to police itself. We need independent oversight with the participation of civil society human rights observers if we want to actually stop, and not just cover up, the truly outrageous violations we hear about on a daily basis from people who have been deported to Mexico."

In Case You Missed It: Southern Baptist Convention Leader Speaks on Immigration

March 23, 2012

G92 South Immigration Conference Inspires and Engages Faith Community

TO REQUEST FULL AUDIO OF DR. RICHARD LAND’S REMARKS AT THE G92 SOUTH IMMIGRATION CONFERENCE, PLEASE CONTACT GUTHRIE GRAVES-FITZSIMMONS, ggravesfitzsimmons @ immigrationforum.org

Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, affirmed the value of immigrants in the United States and spoke of immigration as a civil rights issue in remarks during the first-ever Southern evangelical conference on immigration.

“It’s not our business to ask people their immigration status before we extend aid and assistance to them,” Land said at the recent G92 South Immigration Conference at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He added: “Every human being is a resource, not a detriment to society. We need to look upon [immigrant] workers as resources that want to come here and in many cases invest their lives here permanently.”

“We need national immigration reform,” Land said. “No state can do this job. They don’t have the authority to do it. They don’t have the expertise to do it.”

G92 South engaged more than 500 students and more than 80 pastors and evangelical leaders from across the South in dialogue about faith-based perspectives on immigration. G92 South has generated a steadily growing buzz in the evangelical community, focusing on the importance of compassion in the immigration debate. Selected G92 South coverage appears on the following page.

The Alabama conference followed a similar gathering in October 2011 at Cedarville University in Ohio, and the dialogue about immigration within the evangelical community continues to grow. G92 stems from the 92 references to “the stranger” — the immigrant — in the Old Testament alone. For additional information about the G92 South Immigration Conference, please visit http://www.G92conference.org .

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Please see a selection of G92 South Press Clips on the next page.
 

G92 South Press Clips

ALABAMA BAPTIST ONLINE: Ministry leaders, students gather to discuss immigration issues
March 1, 2012
By Jennifer Davis Rash
http://www.thealabamabaptist.org/print-edition-article-detail.php?id_art=22168&pricat_art=1

REJECTAPATHY.COM (Bell Op-Ed): Loving the Immigrant
By Taylor Bell
March 13, 2012
http://rejectapathy.com/worldview/features/26261-loving-the-immigrant
Taylor Bell is a junior at Samford University.

BIRMINGHAM NEWS (Clapp Op-Ed): Alabama deserves better than its immigration law
By Douglas Clapp
March 11, 2012
http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2012/03/viewpoints_alabama_deserves_be.html
Douglas Clapp, Ph.D., is an associate professor of classics at Samford University.

UNDOCUMENTED.TV (Soerens Post): G92 South—Choosing Action Over Silence
By Matthew Soerens
March 5, 2012
http://undocumented.tv/2012/blog/g92-south-choosing-action-over-silence/
Matthew Soerens is the co-author of Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate (InterVarsity Press, 2009) and the US Church Training Specialist at World Relief.

ALTERNATIVE POLITICAL CONVERSATION (Harper Post): G92, Immigration Reform, and a Letter from a Birmingham Jail
By Lisa Sharon Harper
March 1, 2012
http://respectfulconversation.squarespace.com/apc/2012/3/1/g92-immigration-reform-and-a-letter-from-a-birmingham-jail.html

Phoenix Pastor and Civil Rights Leader Assumes Helm of National Immigration Forum Board

March 06, 2012

Washington, D.C. — On Friday, March 2, 2012, Dr. Warren H. Stewart Sr. was elected the new chairman of the National Immigration Forum Board of Directors. Serving on the Forum’s board since 2010, Dr. Stewart is senior pastor of First Institutional Baptist Church in Phoenix, Ariz., and has been a leading advocate against Arizona’s SB 1070 immigration law.

In his 35-year pastoral career, Dr. Stewart has focused on issues of justice, including efforts to establish a Martin Luther King Jr. state holiday in Arizona. Drawing parallels between the 20th century Civil Rights Movement and today’s efforts to recognize, celebrate, and build consensus about the contributions of immigrants in America, Dr. Stewart is perfectly poised to lead the Forum forward.

“To advocate for the value of immigrants and immigration to our nation is to fortify a pillar of America’s history, heritage and hope,” Dr. Stewart said. “After all, immigrants—voluntary and involuntary—founded and built the United States. The demographics of our country are changing, but our differences and diversity make our country stronger when we recognize one another’s contributions.”

“With the Supreme Court’s decision on Arizona’s SB1070 immigration law looming, Pastor Stewart’s leadership role in our nation’s immigration debate has never been more important,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “Pastor Stewart’s commitment to justice serves our nation’s interest, and the National Immigration Forum is honored to have him as our leader at this important juncture.”

Report Shows Steep Costs of Alabama’s Immigration Law

February 07, 2012

Samford University Leads Call for Rational Immigration Debate, Religious, Agricultural Leaders Voice Concerns
TO LISTEN TO THE RECORDING OF TODAY’S CALL, PLEASE VISIT OUR AUDIO ARCHIVE

Birmingham, Ala. — As Alabama’s 2012 legislative session kicked off today, the costs associated with the state’s 2011 immigration law, HB56, continued to come to light. On a press call today, the author of a recent cost-benefit analysis of the law joined a Birmingham pastor and a member of the American Nursery and Landscape Association to discuss the law’s costs, as well as two upcoming events at Samford University in Birmingham that will engage participants in values-based discussion regarding immigration reform.

On Feb. 9 and 10, the Birmingham Area Consortium for Higher Education (BACHE) is co-convening a public forum with Samford University on the impact of Alabama’s immigration law, HB56. On February 23, Samford University will host the upcoming G92 South Immigration Conference, a gathering of evangelical leaders, students and pastors to promote a rational and biblical conversation on immigration.

Fred Shepherd, chairman of the political science department at Samford, is the co-director of this week’s forum. He also noted that the list of notable speakers at the G92 conference includes Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Shepherd said, “There is really a general ferment in the state for reassessing and questioning a law that has affected everyday lives in a lot of significant ways, whether in minor inconveniences experienced by the population in general or in more wrenching dislocations suffered by immigrants of a wide variety of legal and ethnic backgrounds. We feel this ferment especially on campuses and in faith-based communities.” The forum and the G92 South Immigration Conference, Shepherd added, will “provide a nexus of sorts for university- and faith-based communities as they attempt to come to grips with what people of charity and good conscience … should do in the face of laws that both raise questions of justice and fairness.”

Samuel Addy, Ph.D., Director and Research Economist at the University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Economic Research, discussed his analysis, including findings that the law has cost the state 70,000 to 140,000 jobs and will cost the state between $2.3 billion and $10.8 billion annually in GDP. Addy also found that the law would cost Alabama and its localities tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in lost tax revenue. Addy said, ““If we are revisiting this law—and I would encourage that—the question is, are the benefits of this new immigration law worth the costs?” Four potential benefits cited in the law are not guaranteed, he added, and even if they were, the costs will exceed them: “There is a net cost to the state.”

The Rev. Ron Higey, pastor at the Birmingham International Church, pointed out that the law has had a negative effect on congregations in Alabama. Higey posed three questions: “Is this a just law? Is it a merciful law? Is it a law that has been crafted with humility? From my perspective, I find the Alabama immigration law lacking on all three areas. … I personally find that this is a failing law and needs to be completely reworked.”

“We’re paying a high price in terms of the damage that is being done to human beings, whether they’re here legally or not, that we have to talk about,” he added. “And I don’t see those discussions at the governmental level going on in a constructive fashion.”

Dr. Marvin Miller of the American Nursery and Landscape Association noted that the law’s full effects lie ahead for the agriculture industry. “So much of agriculture is a seasonal issue, so I don’t think we’ve experienced anywhere near the full effect in the few months that we’ve had since the law went into effect,” Miller said. “What we are seeing now is businesses that are not planting to their potential because they don’t have the labor and because they’re not sure they’ve got the market that they once had.”

“Ultimately what we need is to have the issue of immigration reform settled on the national level,” Miller added. “When you have a state as an ‘island’ passing certain immigration laws, very often what happens is the surrounding states become the beneficiaries when people leave. And if we had a uniform law across the country, that would solve a lot of the issues that any one state may be facing.”

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For more information on the G92 South Immigration Conference, please visit: www.g92conference.org
To read the full University of Alabama study, “A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the New Alabama Immigration Law,” please visit: http://tinyurl.com/7j27wtc.

Rivera to Immigrant Youth: No Dream for You Unless You Take ARMS

January 27, 2012

ARMS Act Is a Distortion of the DREAM Act

Washington, D.C. — The Miami Herald reported on Friday that Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, filed the “Adjusted Residency for Military Service Act,” or ARMS Act. The legislation is a very limited version of the DREAM Act that would grant legal status to undocumented youth only if they serve in the military. The following is a statement from Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

“The introduction of the ARMS Act legislation during the Florida primary debate is politics at the expense of policy. We expect Florida voters to see right through this effort and demand better.”

“If the Republican Party wishes to show immigrant and Latino voters in Florida their genuine support for immigrant youth, it should commit to advance the DREAM Act, a historically bipartisan, poll-tested measure that would legalize the most talented immigrant youth as well as those serving in our armed forces.

“Let’s be clear, Rep. Rivera’s ARMS Act is a distortion of the DREAM Act. It excludes legalization through higher education, a key cornerstone of the DREAM Act, and it would provide the wrong incentives for military enlistment during a time of war. In the words of military expert Margaret Stock, ‘A military-only DREAM Act would also contradict the fundamental premise of the All-Volunteer Force, as many DREAM Act beneficiaries would be motivated to join the military out of a desperate desire to legalize their status, and not because they are truly interested in military service.’”

“All students deserve access to higher education and a prosperous future, even those who, through no fault of their own, came to this country and consider this country their own. By denying immigrant students the right to higher education, America is losing out on their entrepreneurship, productivity and economic contributions.”

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President Obama Urges Congress to Put Aside Partisanship, Work on Immigration Solutions

January 24, 2012

Washington, D.C.— President Obama on Tuesday used the bully pulpit of the State of the Union address to lift up the Administration's accomplishments on border security and call on Congress to work on comprehensive immigration reform "right now". He urged members of Congress to work together to pass DREAM Act legislation that would give talented young immigrants "a chance to earn their citizenship".

"The President was right in stressing the importance of fixing our immigration system," said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. "The urgency for action on immigration cannot be overstated. Tonight's remarks come at a time of real pain and suffering in the immigrant community. Undocumented immigrants feel under siege by record deportations and an increasing number of harsh state-based immigration laws, some that go as far as denying access to basic water service for undocumented immigrants."

Noorani added, "The American public has had enough of politicians that focus more on hyper-partisan games than actually working together to forge a new consensus on immigrants and America. It is time for the President and Congress to do what's right and advance workable and meaningful immigration solutions that value immigrants and immigration to our nation."

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Effective Visa System Would Boost American Economy

January 19, 2012

Washington, D.C.—During a speech at Walt Disney World on Thursday, President Obama announced an executive order to make the United States the world’s top tourism destination by simplifying the process for obtaining tourism visas. The executive order includes plans to streamline and speed up the visa process for certain non-immigrant applicants in China and Brazil. The following is a statement from Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

“The Obama Administration is right in improving our visa processing system to boost our economy while still upholding national security. Tourism is one of the largest growth industries in America, pumping nearly $1.8 trillion into the economy and supporting 14 million American jobs in 2010. Yet because of terrorism fears and bureaucratic red tape, many tourists who are ready to spend their money in the U.S. are doing so elsewhere.

“The state of Florida was a fitting backdrop for this announcement. Last year, the Sunshine State successfully rejected efforts to adopt harsh immigration legislation that would have devastated the tourism industry and pushed away foreign investment. Common sense prevailed and the legislation was defeated as the business, faith and immigrant communities pushed back against legislation that would have tarnished Florida’s global reputation as a welcoming and business-friendly state.

“The U.S. cannot afford to get tourism wrong. Since 9/11, the U.S. market share in global tourism plummeted from 17 percent to 11 percent, largely because of increased visa restrictions. According to the U.S. Travel Association, these visa hurdles cost our economy $606 billion and 467,000 jobs between 2000 and 2010.

“Having a practical and workable visa and immigration system does not mean we are compromising our national security. With the help of technology, we can institute important safeguards to our visa process while ensuring that this process remains effective and competitive.

“It is time for our leaders in Washington to recognize that both a smart tourism visa system and a smart and workable immigration system play a significant role in our ability to grow economically.”

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