Immigration Reform Advocates to Hold REMEMBER November Week of Action during Memorial Day Recess

Immigration Reform Advocates to hold Week of Action during Memorial Day Recess reminding Congressional Republicans of 2012 Election Results

Causa Oregon to join with allies in Oregon to tell Congressman Greg Walden to “REMEMBER November!” and urge immediate action on immigration reform

Salem, Ore. – Last week, Senate Judiciary members overwhelming passed the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill S.744 out of committee with broad bipartisan support. And while this signals that the U.S. Senate is serious about doing their job and passing sensible immigration reform legislation, the U.S. House of Representatives still has yet to introduce an immigration reform bill of their own.

This week, organizations in 30 states across the nation will lead over 100 voter registration rallies, town hall meetings, marches, and congressional visits to urge Republican leaders to “REMEMBER November” and pass immigration reform. Oregon is among those states where actions will take place.

“It has been seven long months and there is still no immigration bill in the House of Representatives”, said Luis Guerra, Acting Executive Director of Causa Oregon. “We need more than just “agreements in principle” from the House. We need legislation that will keep families together and provide a path to path to citizenship for the 11 million men, women and children in this country who are living in the shadows, vulnerable to abuse because they lack legal documentation, and unable to fully participate in a country they help to build.”

Last November, Immigrant and Latino voters turned out in record numbers to elect candidates who support comprehensive, commonsense, compassionate immigration reform. The GOP’s lurch to the right on immigration clearly cost them the White House and the Senate in 2012.

Greg Delgado, Causa’s Central Oregon Organizer added, “This week, we will be sending a strong message to Congressman Walden and his fellow House Republicans that they need to take action immediately and present an immigration reform bill that includes a path to citizenship and keeps our families together. Latino, Asian, and immigrant communities voted in record numbers in Oregon and across this country last November and they sent a strong message that they want compassionate immigration reform.”

In addition to election results from last November, several recent polls have also shown strong support for immigration reform among Americans.

A bipartisan poll conducted by Hart Research and Public Opinion Strategies found 80 percent of Americans support reform that includes citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Most polls show citizenship favored by a 2-1 margin, with support even from Republicans. Latino Decisions polling shows that Latino voters are watching the debate closely and want results. 

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About Causa Oregon

Causa, Oregon's Statewide Immigrant Rights Organization is the largest Latina and 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