Obama announces halt to DREAMer Deportation, effective immediately

June 15, 2012

Causa applauds Administration's announcement to defer action against undocumented youth brought to the U.S. as small children

Today, President Obama announced that the policy of prosecutorial discretion—which allows immigration agents to defer deportation of low-risk, non criminal undocumented immigrants—will be expanded to all DREAM eligible youth. This is a huge win for the immigration reform movement, and comes as a result of years of tireless mobilization and agitation by DREAMers, undocumented immigrants, and immigrants’ rights activists and politicians.

The expansion in policy means that effective today, there will be an immediate halt to all deportation proceedings for DREAMers, and all DREAMers who are already in deportation proceedings will get deferred action (lasting two years) and work permits, if they meet eligibility. Any DREAMer who meets the criteria can come forward and apply for deferred action and a work permit, as well.

“Today’s announcement from the Obama Administration is great for every taxpayer in America” said Francisco Lopez, Executive Director, Causa Oregon. “Instead of wasting precious taxpayer dollars and resources on rounding up students and young people who did nothing wrong, instead of wasting tax dollars on lawyers persecuting us, instead taking away our freedom by locking us up, and condemning us to deportation - the government and every American taxpayer can now benefit when we start jobs or businesses, and become hardworking, taxpaying, full participants in America's economic recovery."

Lopez added, "While this is an exciting moment and a great first step for the immigration reform movement and a product of the hard work of students, immigrant rights groups, organized labor, faith and community leaders, it is not an ultimate victory. This policy expansion still does not provide a path to citizenship for DREAMers and there is still a dire need for a national DREAM Act." 

Here are some of the details of the new policy:

To be eligible you must

• Be between 15 years or older and 30 years or younger may apply

• Be in US for at least 5 (as of today, 6/15/12)

• Have to have maintained continuous residence (relatively flexible interpretation)

There are no restriction on when you can apply (i.e. no window that closes after a year, for example)

Grants of Deferred Application are for 2 years and are renewable

Criminal Ineligibility: If you have been convicted of a felony, a serious misdemeanor or three minor misdemeanors not all stemming from same incident, then you are not eligible.

It is estimated that as a result of this policy extension, nearly 1 million DREAMers will be spared from deportation. This is truly an exciting day

Click here to thank the White House for keeping their promise to provide administrative relief.

Press Release from DHS on the announcement

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States Continue to Propose Tuition Equity for Undocumented Immigrants

Originally posted at Immigration Impact.  Immigration Impact was launched in 2008 to help shape and develop a rational conversation on immigration that shifts the terms of the debate towards achieving workable and effective comprehensive policy reform. It is a project of the American Immigration Council.


States Continue to Propose Tuition Equity for Undocumented Immigrants

While some state lawmakers continue to push extreme “get tough” immigration enforcement measures through their state houses, others are contemplating the benefits of having more highly educated students in their state. In Indiana, for example, one Republican lawmaker recently amended an education bill to grant in-state tuition to undocumented students already enrolled in state schools, asking “if they’re going to be living here anyway, why not let them be productive members of Indiana society?” Lawmakers in other states, including Colorado and New York, are also pushing for better access to higher education for qualifying undocumented students.
Indiana lawmakers successfully banned undocumented students from receiving in-tuition rates last year when they passed their Arizona copycat law, SB 590. This year, however, Republican Sen. Jean Leising of Oldenburg included an amendment to an education bill (HB 1326) that would restore in-state tuition for undocumented students who enrolled in universities on or before July 2011. State Sen. Leising, who called it “a matter of fairness,” had strong support from Senate education committee members when adding the amendment. Unfortunately, the Senate held the entire bill due to opposition to the amendment.
In Colorado, lawmakers are considering SB 15 (or ASSET), a tuition equity bill that would provide a “standard” tuition rate (higher than in-state tuition, but lower than out-of-state) to qualifying students regardless of their immigration status. The bill, which has been preliminarily approved by Colorado’s Democratic Senate, now goes to the Republican House where it awaits further committee assignment. Last year, a tuition equity measure died in the House Judiciary Committee.
According to Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb:
Undocumented students are part of our economy, and educating them — and not branding them for speaking other languages — creates an environment for them to be contributing members of our society. I truly believe that access to education for all of our children will not only benefit them personally but also benefit everyone who lives here.
And in New York, where undocumented students already have access to in-state tuition rates, lawmakers are still considering the New York DREAM Act (S 4179). Introduced in March 2012, the New York DREAM Act would allow qualifying undocumented students to apply for private and public financial assistance, like the state’s Tuition Assistance Program. The bill has been backed by Senator Gillibrand, Mayor Bloomberg, the State and City University systems and the New York Board of Regents. According to a recent Fiscal Policy Institute analysis, “there are strong fiscal and economic benefits to the state when the labor force is better educated.” For example, “increasing the education level of workers also increases their productivity, and the more highly educated a state’s labor force, the more attractive is that state as a place to locate businesses.”
According to the National Immigration Law Center:
“Twelve states currently have laws permitting certain undocumented students who have attended and graduated from their primary and secondary schools to pay the same tuition as their classmates at public institutions of higher education. The states are California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Washington. In addition, Rhode Island’s Board of Governors for Higher Education voted unanimously to provide access to in-state tuition at the state’s public colleges and universities to certain students, regardless of their immigration status, beginning in 2012.”
It’s also worth nothing that Minnesota provides a “flat” tuition rate in some of its college systems.
For a complete list of state bills addressing access to education for immigrant students check out the National Immigration Law Center’s website.

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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.

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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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A Dose of Harsh Reality for DREAM Act

A Dose of Harsh Reality for DREAM Act
Chris Thomas, Public News Service - OR
December 20, 2010
Audio (MP3)

Salem, Ore. - Oregon's two U.S. senators voted for the DREAM Act, but that wasn't enough to save it from a Republican filibuster over the weekend. There were 55 yes votes, but 60 were needed to pass the bill that would have allowed young people brought to the U.S. by undocumented immigrant parents to gain citizenship for enrolling in college or enlisting in the military.

Francisco Lopez, executive director of CAUSA, Oregon's immigrant rights coalition, says his group will now ask the state legislature to at least allow in-state tuition for students of immigrant parents living in Oregon.

"If you are an undocumented immigrant, if you want to go to college, you need to pay foreign student tuition - and that's thousands of dollars. If we change that to in-state tuition, they can pay tuition like everyone else."

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Republicans block the DREAM Act, Continue keeping the lives of immigrant youth in limbo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2010

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

Republicans block the DREAM Act, Continue keeping the lives of immigrant youth in limbo

Oregon Immigrant Rights Coalition vows to continue advancing the movement and building power
Washington, D.C.--Today the U.S. Senate failed to pass the DREAM Act. A motion to move debate further on Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act (H.R. 5281) failed with a vote of 55 in favor and 41 opposed. 60 votes were needed to end cloture.

"CAUSA expresses it's disappointed in the Senate for failing to pass legislation that would have made it possible for children of undocumented immigrants who have grown up in the United States to be able to realize the American Dream", said Francisco Lopez, CAUSA's Executive Director. "For far too long, these children have lived in uncertainty of their own future. While we applaud those who voted in favor of the legislation including Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley, the failure of the Senate to pass the DREAM Act today continues that uncertainty."

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U.S. Senate to vote on DREAM Act on Saturday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2010

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

U.S. Senate to vote on DREAM Act on Saturday

Oregon Immigrant Rights Coalition urges bi-partisan passage of crucial legislation

Salem, Ore.-- Last night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) filed a cloture motion on the DREAM Act setting up a vote for Saturday Morning.

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act is bipartisan legislation that will create a path to citizenship for immigrants who entered the United States undocumented as children under the age of 16 and have lived in America for at least five years, obtained a high school or General Education Development diploma and have demonstrated good moral character.

Over the last month, CAUSA and our allies around Oregon have been working tirelessly to mobilize our supporters to contact the offices of Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR).  And although Senator Wyden may possibly miss the vote on Saturday due to surgery, CAUSA continues to mobilize it's supporters and allies to call both Oregon Senators to vote in favor of passage of this crucial legislation.

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DREAMing of the holidays

The latest from the Reform Immigration For America Campaign

The Senate will vote soon on DREAM Act, which passed the House last week.

Before they leave town to spend time with their loved-ones for the holidays, Senators will vote on the DREAM Act. It’s up to us to make sure they vote the right way.

The best thing you can do to pass the DREAM Act is to call your senator. But there are lots of other ways you can tell your senator to do the right thing and vote with us.

• Make a phone call: dial 866-996-5161, or click here and our system will connect you directly.
• Send a holiday card to your Senator
• If you're on Twitter, tweet this .
• If you're on Facebook, check out our fanpage and share with friends.

We can get the DREAM Act passed. We have to stand together to raise all our voices, and we have to do it now. We have a few days to be sure Senators hear us loud and clear. Can you raise your voice?

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Who are Senate Republicans representing?

Originally posted at the Reform Immigration for America blog

Who are Senate Republicans representing?

The media has finally started to catch on to Senate Republicans’ blatant and unbelievable obstruction. In their steadfast effort to keep tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% of Americans, they have stood in the way of numerous vital and popular bills.

Obviously the DREAM Act has been caught in their snare, along with other measures like the new START II Treaty, the repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and others. Senate Republicans have obstructed each measure, even though they all have broad bipartisan support and majorities of Americans in favor of them.

For instance, the DREAM Act, which just passed the House of Representatives, is favored by 54-42 by Americans, according to Gallup.

So take a minute and CALL YOUR SENATOR and ask them who they are representing in Congress — the American people, or their restrictionist base?

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DREAM Act: We don't stop

Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid passed a motion to delay a vote on the DREAM Act so that Senate leaders could set aside their previous DREAM bill and take up the House version. Moving the vote also gives more time to shore up the votes needed for passage. The Senate could vote on DREAM next week!

We had a huge historic victory on Wednesday night, however, passing DREAM in the Senate will be an uphill battle -- we can't stop fighting now and we can't take anything for granted.

We need to continue making calls to the offices of U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley asking them to vote "YES" on the DREAM Act.

Please call their D.C. offices directly by using the numbers below:

Senator Ron Wyden (202) 224-5244
Senator Jeff Merkley (202) 224-3753

For all other Senators, please call 866-996-5161 (866-961-4293 en espanol)

Don't stop making calls until the last vote is recorded! We need to continue this push to ensure Latino and Immigrant Youth will be able to realize the American Dream.

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CAUSA Oregon applauds House for Passage of DREAM Act; Focus turns to the Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2010

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

CAUSA Oregon applauds House for Passage of DREAM Act; Focus turns to the Senate

Washington, D.C. --This evening, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the DREAM Act by a vote of 216-198.

CAUSA applauds members of the Oregon Congressional Delegation, U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D) and US Congressman Peter DeFazio (D), for voting in favor of the bill.

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No Excuses: Pass the DREAM Act Now

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                    
December 8, 2010

Contact: Katherine Vargas, 202-641-5198

NO EXCUSES: PASS THE DREAM ACT NOW

DREAM Act Scheduled for House Vote, Senate Cloture Vote on Wednesday

Washington D.C. – Late Tuesday evening House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced that a vote on the DREAM Act will take place Wednesday December 8^th.  The Senate is tentatively scheduled to vote on the measure late Wednesday. The following is a statement from Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum and Chair of the Reform Immigration FOR America campaign.

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CBO estimates DREAM Act could cut deficit by $1.4 billion

The Congressional Budget Office has released their estimate of the DREAM Act. Not surprising, the DREAM Act could reduce the U.S. deficit by as much as $1.4 billion over the next 10 years.

The new report from the CBO proves that immigration restrictionists, who so often deal in lies and misinformation, are once again wrong. It also provides one more reason for Congress to pass the DREAM Act now.  With 70% of Americans supporting passage, there is no excuse for Congress not getting this done.

As Reform Immigration For America points out, "the DREAM Act would bring justice to young people who, through no fault of their own, are not allowed to fully participate in and serve the country they love. And it would bring in increased revenue that could slash our country’s deficit during a time of economic hardship."

To make your voice heard, call your Senator now and ask them to support the DREAM Act.

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Another Voice for the DREAM Act

Originally posted at Reform Immigration For America

Following in the steps of President Obama and Defense Secretary Gates, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has come out in support of the DREAM Act:

By opening the American Dream of college for these bright, talented youth, we will unleash an academic force into the U.S. higher-education system. The result will be a new generation of college graduates who will help strengthen our economic security. This new generation will be a new set of future taxpayers who will contribute much more as college graduates than they ever would as struggling workers moving from one under-the-table job to another. They will help build the economy of the 21st century.

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New Ad Features General Colin Powell Supporting the DREAM Act

In a new public service announcement from Campus Progress, Gen. Colin Powell is featured supporting the DREAM Act.

The DREAM Act would create an earned pathway to citizenship for young people who were brought to the United States at a young age and complete two years of higher education or serve in our nation's military.



The bill enjoys support from a majority of Americans and leaders from both political parties. Congress is deciding the fate of the DREAM Act and the future of these young people right now.

Call 1-866-996-5161 today and tell Congress to strengthen America's future by passing the DREAM Act.

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Take Action for the DREAM Act

The DREAM Act is coming up for a vote during the lame duck session of Congress and it needs your support. A vote in the U.S. Senate can be expected as early as tomorrow so action is needed NOW!

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act is bipartisan legislation that addresses the situation faced by young people who were brought to the United States years ago as undocumented immigrant children and who have since grown up here, stayed in school, and kept out of trouble. It will allow these students to plan for their futures and let them realize the true American Dream. Read more by linking here

Tomorrow is the National Day of Action for the DREAM Act. Events will be taking place in states across the Nation. Here are three (3) things you can do to help ensure that this crucial piece of legislation passes:

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The DREAM Act: An issue of decency

originally posted at Reform Immigration For America

With the DREAM Act likely coming up for a vote in the lame duck Congress this month, pressure is heating up on all sides. Republicans like Sen. Jeff Sessions are engaged in petty fear-mongering, calling the bill a “bailout” and blatantly lying about the effects of the legislation.

Meanwhile, not all conservatives are so reflexively opposed to doing what is right. Libertarian writer and former Cato Institute fellow Will Wilkinson had this to say in The Economist:

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President Obama supports the DREAM Act – do you?

Originally posted at the Reform Immigration For America blog

                      
President Obama and Organizing for America are throwing their weight behind the DREAM Act. The President wants Congress to deliver him a bill to sign authorizing the DREAM Act before the end of the year — meaning the bill now has the support of the President, Senate majority leader Harry Reid, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Defense Secretary Gates, Representatives and Senators on both sides of the aisle and a majority of the American public.

But there are still obstructionist Republicans, who don’t think immigrants should be able to go to college or serve our country – and we need to break their filibuster. Make a call for the DREAM Act and tell the Senators on the fence that they need to support this popular and important bill as a first step on the way to comprehensive immigration reform.

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DeFazio responds to questions about DREAM Act, Immigration Reform and Tuition Equality

Earlier today, CAUSA's Eugene staff member, Ranfis Villatoro received a response from Congressman Peter DeFazio (OR-D) regarding questions he had about the Congressman's position on the DREAM Act, Immigration Reform, and Tuition Equity. Here is a copy of that response letter from Representative DeFazio:

Dear Mr. Villatoro:

Thank you for contacting me in favor of the DREAM Act. I appreciate hearing from you.

As you may know, the Senate recently failed to find the votes to even take up the Department of Defense Authorization bill, which some Senators had hoped to attach the DREAM act to. Given that the Senate has been a perennial grave yard for legislation, the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, has stated unequivocally that the House of Representatives will not act on immigration reform until the Senate is able to pass their version. With that in mind, it is highly unlikely that the House of Representatives will be voting on immigration issues in the near future. If we are going to make any sort of legislative progress the Senate is going to have to quit its bloviating and dithering, and instead actually pass more than a handful of bills every year.

Currently 12 states are exercising their existing right to offer undocumented immigrants in-state tuition. These states are making it easier for all residents of their states to obtain a higher education. California and Texas, two of the states with the largest immigrant populations, are among these 12 states. I support these states' right to determine their own guidelines for in-state tuition requirements, and would not want the federal government to get in the way of that right. The DREAM Act would simplify the process for other states to follow suit.

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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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