Leaders from PCUN and Causa join with others in Alabama to Renew Call for Civil Rights

For Immediate Release
March 5, 2012

Contact:
Ramon Ramirez, ramonramirez@pcun.org 503-989-0073
Larry Kleinman, larrykleinman@pcun.org 503-781-1132

Leaders from PCUN and Causa join with others to Renew Call for Civil Rights

Groups Call on Alabama to Repeal its Anti-Immigration Law

(March 5, 2012) — Latinos, Blacks and a host of civil rights, labor and immigrant rights groups will participate in a historic reenactment of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March from March 4 to March 9 in Alabama. These events will mark the coming together of a broad movement for a renewed call for civil rights in America. A core part of the agenda will demand the repeal of the Alabama’s vehemently anti-immigrant law, HB56.

The 1965 march was a key moment in the civil rights movement. Unfortunately, the fight for civil rights continues today in a state with a dark history of racial discrimination. How Alabama’s legislature responds, and pending decisions before federal district courts and the Supreme Court on immigration laws like HB56, will hold profound implications for all communities.

“This March is a profound opportunity to stand in solidarity and return to the cradle of the civil rights movement at a time when the civil rights advances of the last century are being rolled back in communities across America.

“HB56 is not just a Latino issue, or just a labor issue. It is affecting everyone and sets a dangerous precedent for other states,” said Ramon Ramirez, President of Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN) and Board President of Causa. “Not only has it legitimized racial profiling and terrorized persons of color regardless of legal status, it is also harming the state’s economy.”

According to a recent report, the state stands to lose between 70,000 and 140,000 jobs, and up to $10.8 billion in economic output due to the enactment of HB56.

“Unless business, labor and civil rights and human rights groups, and other communities come together to rein in this growing intolerance, acts of intimidation against foreigners will continue and our economy will suffer,” said Ramirez.

The march will be held from March 4-9. On March 8, immigration rights will be the focus of the marchers. On March 9, a rally will be held at the steps of the State Capitol.

For more information about PCUN and Causa, go to http://www.pcun.org/ and http://www.causaoregon.org/

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Stop the GOP’s Plan to Target and Punish Immigrant Families

America's Voice published this article today urging action against the GOP's Plan to eliminate the Child Tax Credit that millions of working families depend on.

Action Needed: Stop the GOP’s Plan to Target and Punish Immigrant Families

By Mahwish Khan
America's Voice

This week, The New York Times blasted the latest GOP scheme to punish immigrant families:

House Republicans have hit upon a noxious scheme to help pay for an extension of the payroll tax cut: a tax increase on millions of poor working families. A bill passed by the House and now in conference seeks to deny cash refunds under the child tax credit to those who file tax returns using “individual taxpayer identification numbers” issued by the Internal Revenue Service. Only those using Social Security numbers would be eligible.

The refundable portion of the child tax credit is a life-saver for the working poor. Families that would be cut off by this policy change make an average of $21,000 per year, according to the Treasury Department. They would lose an average of $1,800. About 80 percent of those families are Hispanic. The taxpayer identification numbers are used frequently, though not exclusively, by unauthorized immigrants to pay the taxes because they are not eligible for Social Security numbers. The I.R.S. accepts their tax payments and allows families to claim the child tax credit regardless of immigration status. This policy is an effective antipoverty tool that protects children, most of whom are American-born citizens.

The Republicans who have flatly rejected tax increases on the rich have settled instead on limiting this refund, which kept about 1.3 million children from falling into poverty in 2009.

America's Voice is joining with our allies to stop this from happening. We need your help. Here's the action alert from the National Immigrant Law Center:

Though 2012 has just begun, Congress is right now considering a tax change that will hurt children in mixed status families. Legislators have proposed funding a payroll tax break extension by denying critical tax credits for children in the lowest income immigrant families – even as millionaires are protected.

Under the House of Representatives’ proposal, a taxpayer or spouse must have a Social Security Number to be eligible for the Child Tax Credit – a tax credit that is designed to keep working families from falling into poverty. This means that millions of working immigrant families who file using the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number will effectively receive tax increases. It is expected that these families will lose on average $1,800 of much-needed tax credits, forcing immigrant parents to cut back on essential items for their children.

We need you to help us fight this change! On Wednesday and Thursday, NILC and other organizations are organizing a national call-in day to protect working immigrant families. Please call (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected with House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and members of the tax package conference, and your representative to tell them that you OPPOSE funding the payroll tax credit on the backs of working families. (emphasis added)

Together, we must tell our legislators to live up to their pledge of fairness and equality and reject any changes to eligibility for the Child Tax Credit.

Please call (202) 224-3121. It really matters.

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State Representatives, anti-immigrant groups want flawed E-verify in Oregon

Anti-Immigrant groups with the support of Oregon State Representative Kim Thatcher (R), Oregon State Representative Jeff Barker (D) and others (listed below) will be introducing a bill (HB 4052) to force state agencies in Oregon to use the flawed E-verify system to "verify employment eligibility of applicants".

E-Verify, an internet based computer database run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has a troubled history that would spell disaster for Oregonians and Oregon's struggling budget.

It has been pointed out time and again by advocacy organizations and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that the accuracy rate of E-Verify is unacceptable. Each error means that a U.S. citizen or legal U.S worker could be denied employment and a paycheck because the federal government database contains an error. E-Verify is a problematic program that has harmful consequences for Oregon workers and our state's economy.

The state of Oregon,  like the Federal Government, already verifies the eligibility of job applicants and prohibits those of undocumented status from receiving employment. Forcing the state of Oregon to use a deeply flawed program will just cause more money to be taken away from vital services that Oregonians on. The introduction of this bill amounts to nothing more than creating another problem for Oregon's budget and a play to anti-immigrant groups by members of the Oregon State Legislature.

Our country needs a real solution to upgrade it's obsolete immigration system. The Thatcher-Barker E-Verify bill seeks to remove immigrant workers out of Oregon’s economy. Immigrant workers are an important and vital part of many industries and Oregon’s economy. The real solution is for the U.S. Congress to create a fair and just way to make undocumented workers and families right by the law, and create a system they can go through, and not around, to make them full members of our society and economy.

If passed, HB 4052 would cause lawful Oregon workers to lose their jobs or be denied employment, an increase the risk of government intrusion, drive jobs into the underground economy, deprive the government of tax revenue, and impose additional costs on the State of Oregon—all without meeting the program's stated purpose of ending the hiring of undocumented workers.

Members of the Oregon State Legislature need to get serious about our state's problems, and quit playing to anti-immigrant groups and creating problems where none exists.

We urge people to call the following legislators and tell them to oppose any legislation like HB4052 that would hurt Oregon workers and further damage Oregon’s economy:
OR State Representatives

Kim Thatcher (R–Keizer , District 25) 503-986-1425

Jeff Barker (D-Aloha District 28) 503-986-1428

Vicki Berger (R-Salem District 20) 503-986-1420

Katie Eyre Brewer (R-Hillsboro District 29) 503-986-1429

Sal Esquival (R-Medford District 6) 503-986-1406

Tim Freeman (R-Roseburg District 2) 503-986-1402

Sherrie Sprenger (R-Scio District 17) 503-986-1417

Jim Thompson (R-Dallas District 23) 503-986-1423

Gene Whisnant (R-Sunriver District 53) 503-986-1453

Matt Wingard (R-Wilsonville District 26) 503-986-1426

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Over 2500 March in Alabama for Repeal of Anti-immigrant Law

December 20, 2011



Causa's Francisco Lopez with children, students and famlies at rally in Alabama

Montgomery, Ala. -- Last weekend, members of Causa, Oregon’s Immigrant Rights Organization were in Alabama for Fair Immigration Reform Movement's (FIRM) Immigrant National Convention. The convention brought together immigrant rights groups from around the country and leaders from Alabama to train and plan on how to beat back anti-immigrant bills, push for pro-immigrant legislation, and continuing the fight for humane, comprehensive immigration reform.

On Saturday, organizations and individuals from all over the Nation held rally and march for the repeal of Alabama’s Anti-immigrant law known as HB 56. The turn-out, which included Freedom Riders, DREAM students, leaders from civil, immigrant and labor rights organizations and families, was estimated between 2500 and 3000 people.

The Alabama law was passed in June by the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by GOP Gov. Robert Bentley. Parts of the law took effect in late September while other parts were blocked by federal courts after successful lawsuits by the Obama Administration and immigrant rights and faith-based organizations.

On December 14th, Human Rights Watch issued 52 page report detailing how the Alabama law denies unauthorized immigrants and their families, including US citizen children, their basic rights, threatening their access to everyday necessities and equal protection of the law. The report is based in part on first-hand accounts by 57 Alabama residents, including citizens and permanent residents, who reported abuse or discrimination under the law.

The law has even drawn national attention over a couple embarrassing incidents with workers from Alabama’s Honda and Mercedes plants. Earlier this month, it was reported that Republicans who passed the law are facing backlash from the Alabama business community after two foreign workers were stopped by police for not carrying “proof of legal residency”. Many believe the incidents have turned public opinion against the draconian law.

After the incidents, the Republican attorney general called for some of the strictest parts of it to be repealed. The Birmingham Business Alliance told the Associated Press that the law is tainting Alabama's image around the world, while Thomasville Mayor Sheldon Day said the law is rekindling the memories of Alabama's civil rights past saying "It's bringing back old images from 40 or 50 year ago."

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DOJ Responds Forcefully to Civil Rights Disaster in Alabama, What Will DHS Do?

This release come from the American Immigration Council. AIC's mission is to strengthen America by honoring our immigrant history and shaping how Americans think about and act towards immigration now and in the future.

DOJ Responds Forcefully to Civil Rights Disaster in Alabama, What Will DHS Do?

November 4, 2011

Washington D.C. – This week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it was filing suit in South Carolina to block Act No. 69 (formerly SB 20), South Carolina’s new anti-immigrant law—modeled on Arizona’s SB1070. DOJ argues—like it did in Utah and Alabama—that the law is unconstitutional and interferes with the federal government’s ability to set and enforce immigration policy and is likely to result in civil rights violations. Following the legal challenge, the DOJ Civil Rights Division also sent a letter to Alabama’s public schools reminding them of their duty to provide public education to all children in the state regardless of immigration status.

The DOJ is challenging state legislatures that pass immigration enforcement laws that interfere with the federal government’s role in enforcing immigration laws and setting priorities. The DOJ’s effort on this case reflects their commitment to protecting constitutional principles and individual rights, a commitment that should extend to pursing vigorous challenges in other states that have passed similar laws, including Utah, Georgia, and Indiana.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also has a strong role to play and should respond to the civil rights crisis taking place in the states and make good on Secretary Napolitano’s assurance that her agency will not be complicit in enforcing Alabama’s new law through federal immigration enforcement actions. 

If one agency of the government is arguing that Alabama’s law is unconstitutional, another agency, DHS, should act consistently and closely review the cases of all immigrants brought to their attention as a result of Alabama’s new law and exercise appropriate discretion. Good government requires consistency across agencies. DHS, like DOJ, should treat implementation of Alabama's new anti-immigrant law as the civil rights crisis that it is and respond swiftly.

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Oregon's Immigrant Rights Organization Takes Organizing Model Regional

October 20, 2011

Oregon's Immigrant Rights Organization Takes Organizing Model Regional

Seattle, Wa.—This Sunday, Causa, Oregon’s Immigrant Rights Organization will host a reception and presentation--The 2011 Latino Story in the Pacific Northwest: Home for more than 1.4 Million Latinos.

During the presentation segment, Causa’s Executive Director, Francisco Lopez will discuss the growth of the Latino community in the Pacific Northwest region and the reasons for that growth. Lopez will also highlight how Causa’s organizational model can work at the regional level for organizing around important issues to the Latino Community like driver’s license access, tuition equity and quality higher education, healthcare access and affordability, and jobs.

With anti-immigrant laws being passed in states like Georgia, Alabama and Arizona, the conversation will also focus on how organizations are working together in Oregon, Washington and Idaho to stop such destructive measures from being passed in the Pacific Northwest region.

Reception & Presentation
2011 Latino Story in the Pacific Northwest
Home for more than 1.4 Million Latinos
Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 5:30pm

Casa Latina
317 17th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98144

Dinner, drinks and music will be provided to all participants. Please RSVP to Luis at 503-999-5940 or luis@causaoregon.org

The presentation will feature speakers from Causa, CASA Latina (Seattle, WA) and the CAPACES Leadership Institute (Woodburn, OR).

Sunday’s reception is a kick-off to the 2011 National Immigrant Integration Conference (NIIC). NIIC is the flagship event for the National Partnership for New Americans, a partnership of twelve immigrant rights coalitions from across the country. The Partnership’s mission is to advance the integration and active citizenship of immigrants across the nation to achieve a vibrant, just, and welcoming democracy for all.

For more details on the 2011 National Immigrant Integration Conference (NIIC) please link here: http://www.integrationconference.org/

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Causa, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Organization, is the largest Hispanic civil and human rights and grassroots 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

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director 503-269-5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director, 503-488-0263

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Court Blocks Parts of Alabama's Anti-immigrant Law

Atlanta, Ga.--According to a report from CNN, a federal appeals court has blocked enforcement of parts of Alabama's controversial anti-immigrant law--HB56.

An injunction was issued today by the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Atlanta after the U.S. Justice Department  and coalition of immigrant rights groups asked that the law be put on hold until questions of constitutionality could be answered.

The parts of HB56 blocked from being enforced are:
– Section 10, requiring immigrants to carry an alien registration card;
– Section 28, allowing public school students to be questioned about their immigration status.

Read more at CNN: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/14/court-blocks-part-of-alabama-immigration-enforcement-law/

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Dissecting the HALT Act

The following release comes from the Immigration Policy Center (IPC).  The Immigration Policy Center is the research and policy arm of the American Immigration Council. IPC's mission is to shape a rational national conversation on immigration and immigrant integration.

Dissecting the HALT Act
Last Safety Valves in Immigration System Under Attack

Washington D.C. - Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 26, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement will hold a hearing on the “Hinder the Administration’s Legalization Temptation Act” (HALT Act), a bill that would suspend discretionary forms of immigration relief until January 21, 2013—the day after the next Presidential inauguration.

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More Fear and Loathing from the House Judiciary Committee

The following release comes from the Immigration Policy Center. The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy arm of the American Immigration Council. IPC's mission is to shape a rational national conversation on immigration and immigrant integration.

More Fear and Loathing from the House Judiciary Committee

Committee to Take Up Reps. Smith and Goodlatte's Restrictive Immigration Bills

Washington, D.C. (June, 13, 2011) – Tomorrow, the House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to take up two immigration bills that supposedly address community safety, but in reality are simply the latest attempts to restrict immigration and limit due process for immigrants. Neither Chairman Lamar Smith’s (R-TX) “Keep Our Communities Safe Act of 2011,” or Rep. Bob Goodlatte’s (R-VA) “Security and Fairness Enhancement for America Act of 2011” (SAFE Act) offer solutions to the immigration crisis. Instead, Chairman Smith’s bill would authorize indefinite detention for a wide range of immigrants, while Rep. Goodlatte’s bill would eliminate the diversity visa—a lottery that offers 50,000 visas per year to immigrants from countries that send few people to the U.S. Once more, the House Judiciary Committee is using fear to restrict our immigration system.

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14,000 March in Atlanta Against New Anti-immigrant Law

Atlanta, Ga.--Yesterday, supporters of immigrant rights and comprehensive immigration reform marched in Atlanta, Georgia to speak out against the new extreme anti-immigrant House Bill 87, a bill which mirrors that of Arizona's racial profiling law, SB1070. Civil rights groups say the bill creates "an unwelcome environment for people of color and those in search of a better life".

It is estimated that about 14,000 people participated in the march and rally that surrounded the blocks around the Georgia State Capitol.

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Oregon needs compromise, but some bills divide

Oregon needs compromise, but some bills divide

By Francisco Lopez,
Executive Director of CAUSA Oregon

In 1933, American philosopher, author and educator, John Herman Randall Jr. wrote a piece for the American Scholar about the importance of compromising.
In his piece, he wrote,

"Cooperation between human beings is possible only if they are willing to compromise; and politics, the art of cooperation, of group action, is at bottom nothing but the practical application of the method of compromise."

The current configuration of the Oregon Legislature is opening the doors for serious compromise. I hope, at some point during the session, a compromise will take place that will resolve the $3.5 billion state budget shortfall. This budget shortfall will affect the lives of the poorest of the poor, working-class Oregonians and state workers. The Latino community is not exempt from the impact of this economic crisis.

We need common-sense solutions in the areas of housing, education, health and human services. We need to make sure that common ground is reached in order to resolve the state's economic problems and be able to mitigate the pain caused by the economic recession.

But there is murkiness in this process: Individuals at the Legislature acting on right-wing principles are promoting legislation in order to distract us from resolving the real problems that Oregonians are facing. There are more than 10 anti-immigrant pieces of legislation at the Oregon Legislature that, if enacted, would affect the lives of working class immigrants.

Examples include mandatory e-verification of work documents for small businesses and hardworking farmers, English-only rules and many other pieces of legislation not related at all with resolving the current economic crisis. They are punitive and not serious problem solvers. These proposed pieces of legislation will create a burden among struggling small businesses, farmers, public services and many other productive sectors in our state. These "Arizona-style" copycat bills are destructive in nature and attached to extremist ideological principles that have nothing to do with compromise and cooperation.

CAUSA Oregon will work in the coming months and years on policies that will guarantee access to health services, affordable housing and quality education for all Oregonians. We will work to promote policies that will guarantee the safety and protection of the fundamental human and civil rights for all. We will promote these policies in an environment of civility. We will respond to that climate by promoting peaceful and respectful marches; we will pray for those who promote hate; we will visit our legislators and present to them humane solutions to our state's problems. We will organize educational and public-policy forums, leadership development classes, voter registration and education; we will help eligible Latinos to apply for citizenship; and we will build alliances to work for the common good in our state.

There is no doubt that this will be a difficult year, but we hope that with the help of God, our friends and allies, we will continue building an Oregon that is welcoming and inclusive in a spirit of cooperation and compromise for the well-being of all.

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Documentary examining the effects of Anti-immigrant Laws comes to Oregon

"9500 Liberty" set to screen in Portland, Salem and Eugene this week

This week, the documentary "9500 Liberty" will arrive in Oregon. The film examines what happens to a community in the State of Virginia when an anti-immigrant law is passed. The law mirrors the same type of legislation passed in Arizona recently and what many other states are threatening to pass in their legislatures.

Read the write-up from the Salem Statesman Journal: Filmmakers focus on effects of immigration laws

Here is the synopsis, trailer and dates it will show in Portland, Salem and Eugene:

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Judge Prohibits Anti-Immigrant Measure from Taking Effect in Columbia County

Contacts:
Marcy Westerling, Director, Rural Organizing Project, (503) 543-8417 or (503) 543-3647
D. Michael Dale, Executive Director, Northwest Workers' Justice Project, (503) 357-8290
David Fidanque, Executive Director, ACLU of Oregon, (541) 954-7731

Judge Prohibits Measure 5-190 from Taking Effect
Anti-Immigrant Law on Hold Pending Ruling on its Legality

ST. HELENS, Ore. – Columbia County Circuit Court Judge Ted E. Grove today issued a preliminary injunction that will prevent an anti-immigrant ballot measure from taking effect on February 2.

Measure 5-190 was approved by voters in November, but was challenged in court by a coalition of Columbia County business owners and voters who are represented by attorneys for the ACLU of Oregon and the Northwest Workers’ Justice Project.

Columbia County Commissioners approved amendments to the initiative in December which are also at issue in the court challenge. Judge Grove heard arguments in the case from attorneys for more than 90 minutes on Friday morning and indicated that he was approving the injunction while he reviews the issues in more detail. He did not indicate how soon he would issue an opinion on the many legal issues that have been raised by the measure’s opponents.

The ACLU/NWJP challenge contends that Measure 1-590, which would fine employers for hiring or employing undocumented immigrants:

• Exceeds the powers of Columbia County as granted by the state of Oregon;
• Violates the Single Subject requirement of the Oregon Constitution; and
• Is preempted by existing state laws, as well as land-use statutes and regulations.

The coalition includes Rural Organizing Project, Columbia County Citizens for Human Dignity, Columbia County business owner and resident Gary Liao, CAUSA Immigrant Rights Coalition and others.

“We are delighted with the court’s ruling today,” said Columbia County business owner Gary Liao, “and we are optimistic the court will make the order permanent sometime soon.”

Measure 5-190 relies on E-Verify, a federal database designed to check employees’ names against Social Security records. That database has proven to be very flawed and ineffective. One transposed digit or misspelled name could flag longtime citizens as “illegal.”

“We hope this court action will be resolved soon so that attention on the immigration issue can be re-directed where it belongs: on the federal government’s responsibility to carry out meaningful immigration reform,” said Marcy Westerling, Director of the Rural Organizing Project in Scappoose. “Having a patchwork of local laws seeking to usurp federal authority on this issue will only create more frustration with federal immigration policy.”

Similar measures in Hazelton, Pa.; Farmers Branch, Texas; Escondido, Calif; and other jurisdictions already have been struck down.

Proponent Wayne Mayo, a local building contractor, has said he modeled the measure on Arizona’s Legal Worker Act. While that law has passed some court scrutiny, it still faces continued challenges regarding its constitutionality. Already, the state there has spent more than $75,000 in legal fees defending the law and has budgeted $2.6 million this fiscal year for enforcement and notification.

Attorneys handling the case are: D. Michael Dale, Steven Goldberg and Meg Heaton for Northwest Workers' Justice Project; ACLU Cooperating Attorneys Bruce L. Campbell and Elisa J. Dozono, both of Miller Nash LLP; Stephen W. Manning of the Immigrant Law Group; and Chin See Ming, Legal Director for the ACLU of Oregon. The complaint asks the court to declare Measure 5-190 invalid and award reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.

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Op-Ed Addresses Effects of Anti-immigrant Ordinances

An op-ed appearing in today's Newsday gives insight on the ill effects local anti-immigrant ordinances can have on city economies. In this piece, David Dyssegaard Kallick, a senior fellow of the Fiscal Policy Institute explains what happened to Riverside, New Jersey.

New Jersey town offers immigration insights
BY DAVID DYSSEGAARD KALLICK

In the midst of ongoing battles about local laws aimed at illegal immigrants on Long Island, a business leader from Riverside, N.J., came to a forum in Central Islip last week to give a warning about the experience of his town.

"Don't do what we did," he said.

In 2006, a minority of vocal individuals in Riverside pushed through a series of aggressive anti-immigrant laws, mandating fines for anyone who hired, rented to, or in any way aided an undocumented immigrant. The law was so broad that it faced immediate constitutional challenges. But the real problem, as with recent proposals on Long Island, was that the message was clear: Immigrants are not welcome.

Within months of the law's being passed, businesses closed, David Verduin, president of the Riverside Coalition of Business Owners and Landlords, told the audience. The main street emptied out. Skinheads came in to celebrate the new laws, yelling, "The South shall rise again!" Geraldo Rivera came to film a program about the anti-immigrant climate. >>continue

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McCain says Anti-immigrant Rhetoric Hurting Election Prospects

Senator John McCain has been talking about concerns that the Republican Party's hard-line stance against immigrants is going to hurt election prospects. On Monday, in an interview with National Public Radio, McCain said that there have already been two high profile GOP candidates that lost due to their anti-immigrant stances.

During the interview on Morning Edition, McCain added that “I know that there have been some races, like here in Pennsylvania, where Senator Santorum emphasized that issue [immigration] and lost by a large number.”

“We just had a loss of Denny Hastert's seat out in Illinois." McCain said. "The Republican candidate out there, I am told, had very strong anti-immigrant rhetoric also, so I would hope that many of our Republican candidates would understand the political practicalities of this issue.”

With Republicans trying to force a vote on anti-immigrant legislation like the SAVE Act, it is not surprising why McCain and others have concerns that the Republican Party is damaging relations with immigrant communities especially Latinos. The reason for this? An article from McClatchy Newspaper explains

“The recent immigration-related efforts in Congress likely will only reinforce the perception held by Latinos that most Republicans aren't in their corner. Furthermore, when Republican candidates for lower offices than the presidency stress hard-line immigration stands this fall-- that also likely will add to the alienation of Latino voters from the GOP.”

Why does this matter? The article goes to say that because Latinos are a crucial voting block, any candidate for office that espouses anti-immigrant sentiment will likely suffer in a close race. And that, we have already seen this play out in the 2006 elections.

“In 2006, after Republicans became associated with a tough position on illegal immigration, Latinos voted for Democrats over Republicans by 69 percent to 30 percent. Democrats swept the mid-term elections.”

What about the Election ‘08?

"Energized Latinos could count for as many as 11 million voters in 2008, as voter registration drives gear up around the country."

This is definitely a substantial voting block that could have a real impact on this upcoming election. And though Senator McCain knows this, does the rest in his party want to believe it?

Read the full article here

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Stop the SAVE Act and Protect Workers

March 11, 2008

Today Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives filed a "discharge petition" on the SAVE Act (a.k.a. the Shuler-Tancredo bill), which means they are gathering signatures to force this dangerous anti-immigrant bill to the House floor for a vote.

Call your Representatives TODAY and urge them to oppose the SAVE Act.

The list of Oregon Representatives can be found here.

For all others, call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask to speak to your Representative.

For a list of Representatives who are co-sponsors on the SAVE Act click here.

Urge these Representatives to not sign the discharge petition. At least one Representative who has co-sponsored the bill, Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL), has publicly stated that he would not sign the discharge petition.

What would the SAVE Act do?

It would require more than six million employers to verify the work status of more than 130 million workers within four years, regardless of their status, using a federal database already known to have an unacceptably high error rate.

It would make it easier for the government to put religious and humanitarian workers behind bars for so-called "alien smuggling."

In a half-baked attempt to address our immigration crisis, the bill would throw more resources toward ineffective border and interior enforcement rather than offer a comprehensive solution.

We need leaders who will tackle the tough issues and solve a complicated problem intelligently, not offer false promises and empty rhetoric. The SAVE Act is the return of the Sensenbrenner Bill (HR 4437). It represents a failure in leadership and a cynically motivated attack on immigrant families.

Who supports the SAVE Act?

The chief co-sponsors of the SAVE Act are Rep. Heath Shuler (D-North Carolina), Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-California), and Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado). Rep. Tancredo has made a career, including a failed presidential candidacy, based on anti-immigrant rhetoric. Rep. Bilbray leads the House Immigration Reform Caucus and is a former lobbyist of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, an organization recognized as a hate group by mainstream civil rights and research organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Don't let cynical election year politics hijack opportunities for real reform. America needs rational, workable and humane immigration laws. Make sure your voice gets heard!

To read more about the SAVE Act and why it is dangerous for all Americans, visit the National Immigrant Justice Center website.

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ALERT: Tell Congress to Oppose the SAVE Act

Call Your Representatives TODAY and demand that they reject the SAVE Act!

Pressure is mounting in the Democratic-led House of Representatives to act on the SAVE Act (HR 4088), an enforcement and deportation-only bill introduced and sponsored by more than 140 Democratic and Republican opponents of humane immigration reform.

Don’t let hate speech and cynical election year politics hijack opportunities for real reform. America needs rational, workable and humane immigration laws. Make sure your voice gets heard!

Call the Capitol Switchboard today at 202-225-3121 to reach your Representative.

If you are an Oregon Resident use the contact information below for your Representative:

Representative Earl Blumenauer
email: earl.blumenauer@mail.house.gov
Oregon: (503) 231-2300
D.C.: (202) 225-4811
FAX: (503) 230-5413

Representative Peter DeFazio
email: peter.defazio@mail.house.gov
Oregon: (800) 944-9603
D.C.: (202) 225-6416
FAX:

Representative Darlene Hooley
email: darlene.hooley@mail.house.gov
Oregon: (503) 588-9100
D.C.: (202) 225-5711
FAX: (202) 225-5699

Representative Greg Walden
email: greg.walden@mail.house.gov
Oregon: (800) 533-3303
D.C.: (202) 225-6730
FAX: (202) 225-5774

Representative David Wu
email: david.wu@mail.house.gov
Oregon: (800) 422-4003
D.C. (202) 225-0855
FAX: 503-326-5066

What would the SAVE Act do?

• It would require more than six million employers to verify the work status of more than 130 million workers within four years, regardless of their status, using a federal database already known to have an unacceptably high error rate.
• It would make it easier for the government to put religious and humanitarian workers behind bars for so-called "alien smuggling."
• In a half-baked attempt to address our immigration crisis, the bill would throw more resources toward ineffective border and interior enforcement rather than offer a comprehensive solution.

We need leaders who will tackle the tough issues and solve a complicated problem intelligently, not offer false promises and empty rhetoric like the SAVE Act.

The SAVE Act amounts to a Democratic Sensenbrenner Bill. It represents a failure in leadership and a cynically motivated attack on immigrant families.

Who supports the SAVE Act?

The chief co-sponsors of the SAVE Act are Rep. Heath Shuler (D-North Carolina) and Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-California). Rep. Bilbray leads the House Immigration Reform Caucus and is a former lobbyist of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, an anti-immigration organization recognized as a hate group by mainstream civil rights and research organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center.

For a list of co-sponsors on the SAVE Act, go to: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR04088:@@@P.

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