What is Causa working on in 2012?

A short video on what Oregon's Immigrant Rights Organization will be working on this year



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 http://www.causaoregon.org/

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Cato Institute: Legalization could boost prosperity for everyone

According to an editorial from The Oregonian from Friday, the right leaning Cato Institute addressed the topic of undocumented immigration.

The report, Restriction or Legalization? Measuring the Economic Benefits of Immigration Reform, makes the case that the U.S. actually would have much to lose from a massive crackdown on undocumented immigrants and that legalization would benefit citizens and documented workers.

Read what The Oregonian Editorial Board had to say about legalization and the CATO Institute Report by linking here.

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Report Shows Legalization of Undocumented Immigrants Would Benefit U.S. Economy

That is what a new report out from the Immigration Policy Center says.

According to their report titled, The Economics of Immigration Reform: What Legalizing Undocumented Immigrants Would Mean for the U.S. Economy, without Comprehensive Immigration Reform the United States cannot experience full economic recovery.

Research included in the report found that:

Legalization increases government revenues by bringing more workers into the tax system.

Workers with legal status earn and spend more.

“Enforcement-only” policies are expensive and ineffective.

Legalization increases immigration’s economic benefits.

Among other things, the report shows that legalization would increase tax revenue; whereas "enforcement only" policies have served to force undocumented labor underground causing a a decrease in revenue.

What about those that already pay taxes into the system? The report states that "between one-half and three-quarters of undocumented immigrants now work “on the books” and pay federal and state income taxes, Social Security taxes, and Medicare taxes", however are ineligible to receive the benefits they are paying for.

This is report is just another piece of evidence why Congress needs to be swift in passing Fair and Just Immigration Reform this year.

To read the full report, please link here, or visit the Immigration Policy Center at www.immigrationpolicy.org

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Photos: Eugene Rally for Humane and Just Immigration Reform

600 students rallied for immigrant rights and comprehensive immigration reform on Friday at the Eugene Office of Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio. For more photos from Ken Nubeck with the Eugene Human Rights Commission, please link here.




© 2009 CAUSA. All rights reserved. Image posted is the sole property of Ken Nubeck. Permission required for reprint.

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600 Students Rally for Comprehensive Immigration Reform in Eugene

Today, 600 students are rallying for immigrant rights and comprehensive immigration reform at the Eugene Office of Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio.

The event was organized by the students of MEChA from the University of Oregon chapter and chapters from across the Nation, as well as CAUSA, Oregon's immigrant rights coalition, with the help and support of various UO Departments, PCUN, and Eugene community organizations.

The students are demanding that Congressman Defazio support and prioritize Safe, Humane and Fair Immigration Reform. Because the majority of rally attendees are students, they are demanding that DeFazio also support the Federal DREAM Act which would open the doors of higher education to immigrant students and students of immigrant parents.

The Rally for Comprehensive Immigration Reform and Immigrant Rights is taking place from 2:30pm on Courthouse steps outside Peter DeFazio's Office in Eugene. (405 E. 8th Street, Eugene).

© 2009 CAUSA. All rights reserved. All Images posted are the sole property of CAUSA.

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Oregon Immigrant Rights Coalition Supports Congressional Hispanic Caucus' Call for Immigration Reform

For Immediate Release
March 18, 2009

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director, 503.984.6816
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director, 503.488.0263

Oregon Immigrant Rights Coalition Supports Congressional Hispanic Caucus' Call for Immigration Reform

Salem, Ore - Today, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus met with President Obama and urged him to fight for comprehensive immigration reform this year. CAUSA, Oregon's statewide grassroots immigrant rights coalition working to defend and advance immigrant rights, joins the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' in demanding comprehensive immigration reform.

"Our Nation has been suffering under a broken immigration system for far too long," said Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of CAUSA. "It's a national disgrace that continues to burden our economy. We cannot get this nation back on track until we pass immigration reform that brings undocumented workers out of the shadows and gets everyone on a level playing field".

"Our Coalition welcomes President Obama's pledge to start a national conversation on just and humane immigration reform that took place during the CHC meeting. And we look forward to bringing the voices of those most affected to the conversation".

More than ever, our Country needs comprehensive immigration reform that gives the hard working men and women already here an earned path to citizenship, keeps families together and provides legal avenues for future workers to seek out opportunities here and join the struggle to strengthen our economy. Legalization would also give these hardworking immigrants even more opportunities to contribute to our economic recovery.

This Friday, CAUSA will join with students of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan and others from around the state to hold Congressman Peter DeFazio accountable to prioritize Safe, Humane and Fair Immigration Reform in Eugene.

What: Eugene Rally for Comprehensive Immigration Reform and Immigrant Rights

When: 2:30 pm, Friday, March 20th, 2009

Where: Peter DeFazio's Office -- 405 E. 8th Street, Eugene Courthouse steps

Who: Organized by the students of MEChA, both the University of Oregon chapter and chapters from across the Nation, as well as CAUSA, Oregon's immigrant rights coalition, with the help and support of various UO Departments, PCUN, and Eugene community organizations..

Why: Immigrants and Allies will gather at DeFazio's office to demand his support and prioritization of safe and fair immigration legislation. Because the majority of rally attendees will be students, there is also a demand for DeFazio's support of the Federal DREAM Act that would open the doors of higher education to immigrant students and students of immigrant parents.
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CAUSA is Oregon's statewide, grassroots immigrant rights coalition. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies.

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