Rep. Blumenauer Meets with Latino Community Members in NE Portland

November 10, 2011

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)

Portland, Ore.—On Wednesday, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR, 3rd District) met with members of the Latino Community at a NE Portland Church. The meeting was one of many organized Leaders' Assemblies taking place around Oregon where members of the community talk to their elected leaders about issues important to them.

Among the issues raised during the hour long meeting with Congressman Blumenauer included Legalization and the Dream Act, Making Prosecutorial Discretion Work, Local Law Enforcement and ICE Collaboration on Immigration Enforcement, Uniting families (hardship waivers for the 3-/10-year bars), Immigration Detainers/ICE Holds, Detention Reform, and Customs and Border Protection Reforms.

Leaders' Assembly Participants

During opening remarks, Causa’s Executive Director Francisco Lopez highlighted the support Congressman Blumenauer has given to the DREAM Act, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act (H.R. 4321, CIR ASAP) and the Family Reunification Act. He also praised the Congressman for a recent letter he signed on with other legislators addressed to President Obama asking for the elimination of the Secure Communities Program.

Several members of the NE Portland Community also had a chance to tell their personal stories to Congressman Blumenauer. Among the issues they have been touched by in their personal lives includes the difficulty for people to obtain citizenship through the current broken immigration system, having their families torn apart by programs like Secure Communities, the need for passage of the DREAM Act so children of immigrants can realize their full potential and the need for restoration of driver's licenses so that familes can take their children to the doctor and drive to work so they can support their familes.

During his address, Congressman Blumenauer highlighted the special skills and contributions that immigrants bring to the United States and their importance in the fabric of the community. Blumenauer confirmed that he would continue working towards positive solutions for immigrant families in 2012 and would fight against anything in congress that represents hate, division or right-wing anti-immigrant ideology seeking to destroy the values of this country.

Posted in: Congressman Earl Blumenauer,DREAM ACT,Immigration,Leaders' Assembly,Portland