Causa Oregon Responds to President Obama Delaying Administrative Action for Immigrant Families

Salem, Ore. – Following President Obama's decision to delay administrative action and provide relief for immigrant families, Andrea Miller, Executive Director of Causa Oregon released the following statement:

“The President's decision today to delay administrative action until after the mid-term election means immigrant parents and children will continue to lose their families to a broken, deportation-crazed system given free rein by a dysfunctional Congress."

“This delay is based in lack of courage and heartlessness. A delay of weeks may not seem like a lot to a politician in Washington D.C., but it will have tragic consequences for the fathers, mothers, sons and daughters who will be separated from their families in that time. "

“President Obama has broken yet another promise he had made to immigrant families. Backing down in the face of squeamish Democratic Senators and GOP bullies, he has put politics ahead of the lives of these families and the urgent needs of America. Immigrant families and allies in Oregon and Nationwide will respond to this lack of leadership with a brave and fierce determination to make sure promises are kept.”

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Causa, Oregon's Statewide Immigrant Rights Organization is the largest Hispanic 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 about Causa, please visit www.causaoregon.org

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Causa Oregon Responds to House Republicans’ Standards on Immigration Reform

January 31, 2014

Salem, Ore.  -- Causa, Oregon’s statewide immigrant rights organization, welcomes the news that House Republicans have released their principles for moving forward on fixing our nation’s broken immigration system.

Andrea Miller, Executive Director of Causa Oregon had this to say:

“Although we applaud House Republicans for finally issuing something regarding immigration many months after a bipartisan immigration bill was passed in the U.S. Senate, their proposals fall far short of what is needed to make serious change to the broken system.  And, while this signifies an important first step in advancing reform in the U.S. House, there is still plenty of work to be done: the principles are heavy on enforcement and border security, and lack provisions that protect immigrant families and create a path to citizenship.

With 1,100 immigrants deported on a daily basis and millions of families remaining in the shadows, vulnerable, afraid, living an un-American life of abuse, disdain, and broken dreams, Americans need more than tough words and failed enforcement-only policies.  We need policies that protect the sanctity of the family and further the American Dream.

Causa and our allies around Oregon will continue to work with members of Congress and the White House to ensure that any immigration reform that moves forward embodies American values of fairness and humanity, keeps families together and has a pathway to citizenship for all 11 million aspiring Americans that are working and raising their families in the United States.

Last week during a Town Hall meeting, Oregon Congressman Greg Walden (OR-R) said he would be willing to meet with Causa and other community leaders in Central Oregon to discuss the recent Republican standards on immigration reform.  Causa is hopeful that Congressman Walden will be a voice of the people in the U.S. House and speak to the importance of immigration policies that keep families together and promotes a path to citizenship.”

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Immigration Reform Champion Visits OR

June 27, 2011
Chris Thomas, Public News Service - OR
Audio: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/mp3.php?f=rss-20781-1.mp3

WOODBURN, Ore. - Advocates for immigrants' rights in Oregon have had some setbacks in this year's legislature, but a U.S. Congressman is advising them to look at the bigger, national picture. Rep. Luis Gutierrez is in Woodburn today for a community meeting with immigrant families. The Illinois Democrat has championed comprehensive immigration reform.

On a cross-country tour that began this spring, Gutierrez says he's getting the message that Latino voters are looking ahead to 2012, and they're not happy with what they have seen so far from the White House.

"They're saying, 'We want the President of the United States to keep his word. We're disillusioned, we're disgruntled, we're saddened.' But almost in the same breath, they say, 'But we're ready to make up! We're ready to reconcile.' We really want to be with him. We just hope he can be our champion."

Opponents of comprehensive immigration reform see it as a form of amnesty. Gutierrez also supports the DREAM Act to allow children of immigrants to attend college in the U.S. if they were raised here. A similar bill at the state level, allowing children of Oregon immigrants to pay in-state tuition, was held in committee.

Gutierrez believes Oregon's restrictive driver's license law and law enforcement crackdowns on immigrants in some communities are having a chilling effect on families and employers.

"It's important that America understands that it's about people's lives - Washington state and Oregon both depend on immigrant labor - and that the immigrant community is working and contributing to the economy, and they're vital to the economy. Their voices should be heard."

This month, Homeland Security officials issued new guidelines for the "Secure Communities" program, in which local law enforcement shares information with federal immigration agents. They say the changes will prevent deporting people who do not have criminal records. Still, Gutierrez says some states have decided not to participate.

"These are friends and allies in states that elected this president. Yet, all of these friends are saying, 'This isn't working, because it's turning our police departments into immigration agents, and thereby dividing the community from the very population they're there to serve and protect."

Eight counties in Oregon participate in Secure Communities, and four of them have joined since April.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight at Woodburn High School, 1785 N. Front St., Woodburn.

http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?%2Fcontent%2Farticle%2F20781-1

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Bipartisan Senate Talks on Immigration Reform Must Yield Legislation

This press release comes from our allies at the National Immigration Forum. The National Immigration Forum is the leading immigrant advocacy organization in the country with a mission to advocate for the value of immigrants and immigration to the nation.

For Immediate Release
February 8, 2011

Contact:
Katherine Vargas (202) 641-5198

Bipartisan Senate Talks on Immigration Reform Must Yield Legislation

Republican House Should Offer Realistic Solutions Not Obstruction

Washington D.C. - Numerous news outlets have reported that Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have resumed their talks on bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform legislation and are reaching out to various conservative and liberal constituencies to gauge support. The following is a statement from Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“We’re encouraged to hear that Senators Graham and Schumer have resumed their bipartisan talks on comprehensive immigration reform legislation, and we support legislation that creates millions of new taxpayers by requiring undocumented immigrants to register, go through background checks, pay taxes, and study English on their way to becoming full U.S. citizens, that protects workers and helps with economic recovery, keeps families together and protects the due process rights of all.

However, Senators Graham and Schumer have been engaged in “talks” for more than two years. We have yet to see the result - in the form of introduced legislation – from these bipartisan talks. While supportive of their efforts, we believe the time for even more talks has passed. The broken immigration system is a persistent national crisis and serious legislation is long overdue. We hope that these “talks” will not amount to what we have seen the last two years: much anticipated legislation, disappointment, and the perpetuation of the broken status quo.

Meanwhile these same outlets report that the chief obstacle to achieving comprehensive immigration reform is a House of Representatives “controlled by anti-immigrant Republicans” who have vowed to block the DREAM Act or any other path to citizenship. The Republican Party has an important choice to make. Who do they want to be the voice of their party on immigration reform? The anti-immigrant position of some Republican members of the House would be electorally deadly for their party’s presidential nominee in 2012. It’s also shameful for some members to refuse to work on solving a persistent national problem to score cheap political points. Speaker John Boehner should play a prominent leadership role and make this a priority for the House of Representatives.

This crisis requires consistent serious leadership from our elected officials, Republican and Democrat, and it is long past time for the President to elucidate his plan for achieving reform. We look forward to working with the President and leadership in both parties on fair, realistic solutions so that we can solve this problem once and for all.”



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Children Rally for Civil Rights and Immigration Reform at State Capitol

On Saturday, 268 people gathered at the Oregon State Capitol to participate in a Children's March & Rally for Immigration Reform. The children with their adult supporters joined together to call on Federal and State Legislators to:

• Respect the 14th Amendment. Do not take away our children's citizenship.
• Stop dividing families
• Keep racial profiling laws like SB1070 out of Oregon
• Stop local law enforcement from doing the job of ICE. Our State Police, County Sheriff and City Police belong to our communities, not the federal government.
• Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform NOW!

Here is a selection of photos from the event:

Over the last several months, immigration restrictionists and right-wing extremist politicians in Congress have been calling for a change in the 14th Amendment eliminating citizenship to babies born on United States soil. Instead of promoting immigration reform that would overhaul a severely flawed and broken system, they see it politically opportune to deny citizenship and promote deportation of infants and children.

This is just one of the latest stunts being promoted by extremists to avoid dealing with an important national issue that needs a federal response. Much like passage of Arizona's Racial Profiling Law SB1070, the build-up of troops on the U.S.-Mexico border and the variety of failed enforcement-only policies promoted by the far-right, these wrong headed and misguided schemes are just dividing families and delaying the benefit real reform would bring to our country.

There is currently legislation in both houses of Congress that would overhaul the nation’s broken immigration system.

News Coverage:
Video: Children march for citizenship rights

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Children's March and Rally for Immigration Reform this Saturday in Salem

MEDIA ADVISORY
October 6, 2010

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

Children's March and Rally for Immigration Reform this Saturday in Salem

Salem, Ore.--Over the last several months, immigration restrictionists and right-wing politicians in Congress have been calling for a change in the 14th Amendment eliminating citizenship to babies born on United States soil. Instead of promoting immigration reform that would overhaul a severely flawed and broken system, they see it politically opportune to deny citizenship and promote deportation of infants and children.

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CAUSA Applauds Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill introduced in U.S. Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2010

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

CAUSA Applauds Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill introduced in U.S. Senate

Oregon Senators Should Work To Improve, Pass Reform Legislation

Salem, Ore. -- Last night, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced comprehensive immigration reform legislation in the United States Senate.

CAUSA commends Senators Menendez and Leahy for their strong leadership and we look forward to working with them and others to pass this legislation. The proposal contains many common sense solutions to our nation's broken immigration system including the DREAM Act and AgJOBS--two provisions critical to true comprehensive reform.

Senators Menendez's and Leahy's legislation, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2010 (S. 3932), is a tough, fair, and practical solution that will:

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Obstructionists halt progress for America's Immigrant Youth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2010

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

Obstructionists halt progress for America's Immigrant Youth

Bill containing DREAM Act Amendment stalls in the U.S. Senate

Salem, Ore.--Today, a vote was taken in the U.S. Senate on the "Motion to Proceed" with debate on the Defense Authorization Bill. The bill includes an amendment (DREAM Act)  that would ensure undocumented youth who were brought to the U.S. as children have the chance to apply for legal status, provided they graduate from high school or obtain a GED and complete two years of college or military service. The "Motion to Proceed" failed to make the required 60 votes. (56 voted in favor and 43 voted opposed.)

Today's vote exposes the cynical, united partisan nature of the Republican Party -- willing to block progress on a bill not only vital to our national security, but provides a vehicle for other important measures like the DREAM Act. There is no doubt where Republicans stand on the future of promising immigrant youth and immigration reform. Their messages of "need not apply" and "you're not welcome" to Latinos and other immigrants was loud and clear.

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CAUSA to join with Faith, Civil Rights and Immigrant Leaders to Introduce Way Forward for Immigration Reform

MEDIA ADVISORY
September 14, 2010

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

CAUSA to join with Faith, Civil Rights and Immigrant Leaders to Introduce Way Forward for Immigration Reform

Salem, Ore.—Tomorrow, a delegation from Oregon will be in Washington D.C. to participate in the Relief, Reform, Respect for our Families: An Immigration Forum. They will join with more than 500 faith, civil rights and immigrant leaders from 23 states across the nation to discuss a moving forward on immigration reform. Following the forum, participants will visit the offices of legislators.

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Children's March & Rally at the Oregon State Capitol

Join CAUSA on October 9th for a Children's March & Rally at the Oregon State Capitol where they will call on Federal and State Legislators to:

- Respect the 14th Amendment. Do not take away our children's citizenship.
- Stop dividing families
- Keep racial profiling laws like SB1070 out of Oregon
- Stop local law enforceme...nt from doing the job of ICE. Our State Police, County Sheriff and City Police belong to our communiies, not the federal government.
- Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform NOW!

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PHOTOS: Isaiah 58 Solidarity Vigil Against Racial Profiling in Portland

Portland, Ore.--Today at noon, members of the Portland Faith and Immigrant Communities held a prayer vigil and fast in downtown Portland in response to Arizona's Racial Profiling Law, SB1070. Faith leaders prayed and called for an end to the targeting and separation of immigrant families and for passage of comprehensive immigration reform.

Isaiah 58, which inspires this day of action, teaches that a “true fast” is undertaken in service of “loosening the chains of injustice.”

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Tell Senate Republicans to stop holding up the process and hurting families

This morning, President Obama spoke to the nation about immigration. He laid out the ways that our broken system hurts millions of people across this country, and how our nation can’t wait any longer for real reform. The President showed that he understands what this fight is about.

As President Obama said, passing national comprehensive immigration reform is going to take all of us working together. And for too long, Republicans in Congress have been holding up the process. Their unwillingness to even address the issue shows that they’ve ignored real solutions and promoted the politics of fear. But every day that they refuse to act constructively, millions of families suffer.

Tell Senate Republicans:

We can’t wait any longer for immigration reform. Stop holding up the process and hurting families – work on immigration reform, now.

Ask your Republican Senators and the Republican leadership to stop obstructing immigration reform for political purposes -- we need real reform to fix our broken immigration system!

TAKE ACTION

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President Says Immigration Reform being held hostage by politics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2010

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

President Says Immigration Reform being held hostage by politics

Calls for passage of comprehensive reform and for Republican Leadership to stop obstruction

Salem, Ore. - In a speech at American University today, President Obama reiterated the urgent need to fix our broken immigration system through comprehensive immigration reform. The following is a statement by Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of CAUSA.

"This morning, the President gave a public speech on immigration. The speech reflected what Americans already know: the need for comprehensive immigration reform is urgent.

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Over One-thousand March and Rally in Oregon against Arizona Law

Salem, Ore. -- On Saturday, over 1000 people from the immigrant, faith, LGBT, labor, Asian American, Pacific Islander and business communities marched and rallied at the Oregon State Capitol in solidarity with Latino and immigrant Families in Arizona over S.B. 1070--Arizona's new law that promotes racial profiling and opens the door to civil rights violations.

Those that attended the action in Salem called for a halt to laws that promote racial profiling, divide communities and criminalize immigrants. They also urged President Obama and Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform immediately and stop other states from following Arizona's misguided path

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Events in Salem and Portland to stand against Arizona's Racial Profiling Law

Salem, Ore.-- This Saturday, CAUSA, several other organizations and immigrant rights advocates will hold a rally and march at the Oregon State Capitol in solidarity with the National Day of Action against S.B. 1070--Arizona's New Racial Profiling Law. They will send a message to members of the State Legislature that racist laws like S.B. 1070 are not welcome in Oregon.

After attending the March amd Rally at 11am in Salem, CAUSA and others will head up to Portland to participate in a March and Vigil at 5pm at SW 3rd and Madison.  The Portland March and Vigil is being hosted by the Portland Immigrants Rights Coalition and the Portland May Day Coalition.

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Second-Grader Expresses Worry to First Lady About her Mother's Immigration Status

While President Barack Obama held a press conference with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and talked about Arizona's Racial Profiling Law,  First Lady Michele Obama and Mexico’s First Lady Margarita Zavala visited an elementary school in Silver Spring, Maryland.  As the First Lady sat with children, one 2nd grader spoke up.

ABC News’ Karen Travers reports what happened:

The student shyly raised her hand and said, "My mom ... she says that Barack Obama is taking everybody away that doesn't have papers."

Mrs. Obama replied: "Yeah, well that's something that we have to work on, right? To make sure that people can be here with the right kind of papers, right? That's exactly right."

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MUSIC VIDEO: May Day 2010

On May 1st, in commemoration of International Workers' Day, over 600 students and their supporters made a 2.5 mile march from Downtown Salem to the Oregon State Fairgrounds. They chanted and carried signs calling for passage of the DREAM Act, Comprehensive Immigration Reform and for repeal of Arizona's new racial profiling law. It was estimated that 2000 people participated in the May Day March, Rally and Celebration in Salem.

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President Obama, Arizona, and Immigration Hardball

Originally posted on the America’s Voice blog.

Last night President Obama weighed in again on the immigration debate and Arizona’s controversial new law, according to Scott Wilson of the Washington Post:

President Obama told a White House reception Wednesday that he wants “to begin work this year” on comprehensive immigration reform, warning the audience that securing the legislation will be difficult but possible.

Addressing an audience celebrating Cinco de Mayo in the Rose Garden, Obama said, “America’s diversity is America’s strength.” That, he added, is why he has spoken out against Arizona’s recently passed immigration law, which has raised concerns of racial profiling.

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May Day actions in Salem draw 2000 people

Salem, Ore.--On Saturday, in commemoration of International Workers' Day, over 600 students and their supporters started the 2.5 mile march from Downtown Salem to the Oregon State Fairgrounds. Participants chanted and carried signs calling for passage of the DREAM Act, Comprehensive Immigration Reform and for repeal of Arizona's new racial profiling law. Along the route, people joined the march which ended with more than 1,000 at the Fairgrounds Pavilion.

Sponsors of this year's May Day March included Alianza, Black Student Union, Willamette University Latin American Studies Department, Students Against Slavery, JUNTOS, LUS and CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition.

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PHOTOS: May Day March for Immigration Reform in Salem

Salem, Ore.-- Today, Over 600 people marched from Downtown Salem to the Oregon State Fairgrounds. Participants called for passage of the DREAM Act, Comprehensive Immigration Reform and for repeal of Arizona's new racial profiling law.

The March was sponsored by Alianza, Black Student Union, Willamette University Latin American Studies Department, Students Against Slavery, JUNTOS, LUS and CAUSA.

After today's march, a rally and celebration was held at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. Over 2000 people attended both events.

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