Bipartisan Group of U.S. Senators Introduce Immigration Reform Framework

Oregon’s Statewide Immigrant Rights Organization reacts to immigration reform framework unveiled by a group of U.S. Senators

Salem, Ore. -- With the momentum for immigration reform surging, today a bipartisan group of eight United States Senators including Republicans John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio and Jeff Flake and Democrats Chuck Schumer, Robert Menendez, Richard Durbin and Michael Bennet introduced their own framework to overhaul the nation’s immigration system.

The announcement comes just a day before President Obama will introduce his immigration reform plan in Nevada and grassroots groups all over the country are holding major actions and events. (Causa held a campaign launch event on January 15th.) The stage has been set for passing immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants living and working in our communities.

Details of the Senators' framework for immigration reform include a provision that would extend citizenship to 11 million undocumented immigrants, but only after steps are taken to secure the border. A full account of the framework can be found here.

“We are concerned that trigger mechanisms that condition movement on a path to permanent residency on yet more enforcement in the proposed outline appear to be more tough than fair," said Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of Causa Oregon. ”Immense investments in border security have already been made, and net new undocumented migration has dropped to essentially zero so there is no need for a trigger mechanism.”

So while members of the Senate have issued their framework for future immigration reform legislation, members of the House have yet to come together to release their own plan.

Lopez added, “While there is much work to be done, now more than ever it is important to remember what immigration reform is really about: it’s about families. Families across the country are torn apart by our country’s current patchwork of failed and mismanaged immigration policies. All over the nation, family members are coming forward to tell their stories of separation and fear. The moral case for immigration reform is overwhelming and getting louder.”

 “There must not be any further delay. We need immediate reform to ensure an end to unjust and inhumane deportations and families being torn apart by our broken and inadequate immigration system.”

Causa is looking forward to the detailed plan the President is expected to present tomorrow in Las Vegas. We welcome his leadership which will be essential to finally creating an immigration system which reflects our national values.

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About Causa Oregon
Causa, Oregon's Statewide Immigrant Rights Organization is the largest Latinaand Latino civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information, visit www.causaoregon.org

Resources:
Bipartisan Framework for Comprehensive Immigration Reform http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/562528/reform0128principlessenatefinal.pdf

Causa launches Keeping Families Together Campaign in Oregon
http://causaoregon.blogspot.com/2013/01/keeping-families-together-campaign.html