Advocates Call for Passage of DREAM Act and Immigration Reform

Reform Proponents March and Rally at Office of Congressman DeFazio in Eugene

Eugene, Ore--Today, CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition and immigration reform supporters gathered at the district office of Congressman Peter DeFazio in Eugene They called on the Congressman to support the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2009 and to join on as a co-sponsor of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP) (HR 4321).

Congressman DeFazio is the sixth member of Oregon's Congressional Delegation that CAUSA and immigration reform advocates have visited since the start of the nationwide campaign at the beginning of January.

Those in attendance at today's action included Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, students from local colleges and members of several Lane County community organizations and churches. Local News coverage came from KEZI News Channel 9 Eugene (ABC News Affiliate) and KLCC 89.7 FM Eugene. (Links to the stories can be found below.)

Next week on February 12th, CAUSA will join Central Oregon Jobs with Justice and residents of Deschutes County at Noon for a March and Rally at Congressman Greg Walden's office to ask him to support the DREAM Act and to join as a cosponsor of HR 4321.

News Coverage:

KEZI News Channel 9 Eugene: Advocacy Group Campaigns for Immigration Bill http://kezi.com/news/local/161150

KLCC News 89.7 FM Eugene : Immigration Rights Activists Call for Reform http://tinyurl.com/yanc65o Audio: http://tinyurl.com/ycfw5yf

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Action for CIR-ASAP and DREAM at Rep. DeFazio's Office Today

Join us today at noon for a March and Rally at the district office of U.S. Congressman Peter DeFazio in Eugene.

We will call on the Congressman to support the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2009 and to join on as a co-sponsor of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP) (HR 4321).

WHAT: March and Rally for CIR-ASAP and DREAM Act!

WHEN: Tuesday, February 2nd at 12:00 Noon

WHERE: Office of US Congressman Peter DeFazio, 405 East 8th Ave. #2030, Eugene, Oregon 97403

WHO: CAUSA, Oregon Immigrant Rights Coalition and Students from Area Colleges

This is the sixth member of Oregon's Congressional Delegation that CAUSA and our supporters and allies have visited since the start of the nationwide campaign at the beginning of January. Last week, close to 70 immigration reform advocates gathered at Congressman Schrader's office in Salem as we called on the Congressman to support HR4321 and the DREAM Act. Your help is needed in Eugene today as we ask the same of Congressman DeFazio.

We hope you will join us for this very important action for Immigration Reform and the DREAM Act!

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VIDEO: Campaign Kick-off for Immigration Reform Bill HR 4321

Yesterday, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition held a Press Conference thanking Congressman Blumenauer for being the first Representative from Oregon's Congressional Delegation to join on as a co-sponsor of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP) (HR 4321)and to call on remainder of the delegation to join him.

During the Press Conference, Congressman Blumenauer made a surprise appearance to explain the importance and the work needed to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Watch our video featuring scenes of the Press Conference and Congressman Blumenauer's speech:



Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38pV4hTFeRU

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Congressman Blumenauer speaks at CIR-ASAP Press Conference in Portland

Oregon Coalition holds Campaign Kick-off for Immigration Reform Bill HR 4321

Portland, Ore.--CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, held a Press Conference on Thursday thanking Congressman Blumenauer for being the first Representative from Oregon's Congressional Delegation to join on as a co-sponsor of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP) (HR 4321).

Supporters of the bill also called on Oregon's other Representatives to join with Congressman Blumenauer in supporting the legislation and for Senators Wyden and Merkley to encourage New York Senator Charles Schumer to introduce a similar bill in the Senate.

During the Press Conference, Congressman Blumenauer made a surprise appearance in lieu of his staffer to explain the importance and the work needed to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform. This is what the Congressman had to say:

"We need people to stop playing politics with Immigration. It is important to reach out to individuals, in every church, in every opportunity where there are small groups, people working in business, people who are working in social service agencies to talk about the human face, to talk about reasonable legislation, that will help people earn an opportunity for citizenship. We can do this in a way where, and most importantly, that we are not punishing children who are here who are here and are everybody's future".

The event was very positive and uplifting. Click here to watch our video featuring scenes of today's action and Congressman Blumenauer's speech.

We Need Comprehensive Immigration Reform NOW. Reform is long overdue, and Congress must take immediate action to fix our broken immigration system. CAUSA and the Reform Immigration FOR America campaign are mobilizing Oregonians and Americans alike across the nation for an immigration reform that works for the economy, taxpayers and families. One 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

Enhances our national security by focusing our enforcement and security measures on the most dangerous threats to our communities

Protects workers and helps with economic recovery Keeps families together

Protects the due process rights of all

Thursday's Campaign Kick-off in Oregon came the same day the Immigration Policy Center and the Center for American Progress released a groundbreaking report on the economic benefits of Immigration Reform. According to the report, immigration reform will raise the GDP in the United States by over $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years. In contrast, deportation-only proposals will cost the U.S. economy over $2.5 trillion-above and beyond the cost of deporting 12 million people.

Throughout the rest of this month and next, CAUSA and our supporters will visit Oregon's other Representatives encouraging them to sign on as co-sponsors of HR 4321 (CIR-ASAP of 2009). Please see our calendar for the dates and times.

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Oregon Coalition to Kick-off Campaign for Socially Responsible Immigration Bill on Thursday

MEDIA ADVISORY
January 6, 2010

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director, 503.269.5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director, 503.488.0263


CAUSA to Campaign for Socially Responsible Immigration Bill in Oregon

Blumenauer first member of Oregon’s Congressional Delegation to sign on as a c0-sponsor

Salem, Ore—Last Month, Representative Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) introduced the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP) (HR 4321), a socially responsible bill that addresses key issues necessary for a real workable solution to the currently broken immigration reform system. The bill’s 87 original co-sponsors include members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Black Caucus, Asian Pacific American Caucus, and Progressive Caucus.

Starting on January 7th, CAUSA and our supporters will be visiting our Congressional Representatives and Senators around Oregon. We are calling on all immigration reform supporters to be involved in these actions to send a strong message to Oregon's Congressional Delegation that they need to support CIR ASAP.

We will begin the kick-off of our Campaign for CIR ASAP in Oregon at Congressman Blumenauer's Office this Thursday at noon. We will hold a Press Conference thanking Congressman Blumenauer for being the first Representative from Oregon’s Congressional Delegation to join on as a co-sponsor of the bill and call on Oregon’s other Congressmen to join. A member of Congressman Blumenauer’s staff will be present at the press conference.

WHAT: Press Conference and Kick-off of Campaign for CIR-ASAP in Oregon
WHEN: January 7, 2010 at 12 Noon
WHERE: Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3)
729 N.E. Oregon Street
Suite 115
Portland, OR 97232 (Directions)

The Oregon Campaign Kick-off comes the same day the Immigration Policy Center and the Center for American Progress release a groundbreaking report on the economic benefits of Immigration Reform. According to the report, immigration reform will raise GDP in the United States by over $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years. In contrast, deportation-only proposals will cost the U.S. economy over $2.5 trillion-above and beyond the cost of deporting 12 million people.

Throughout the rest of this month, CAUSA will visit the remainder of Oregon’s Congressional Delegation encouraging them to sign on as co-sponsors of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP). During our visits to the offices of Senators Wyden and Merkley, we will call on them to urge Senator Schumer to introduce a similar bill in the U.S. Senate.

Here is the schedule for those visits:

1. January 13 at 11:00 a.m. at Congressman Wu’s office (620 SW Main, Suite 606
Portland, OR 97205) and at 12:30 p.m at Senator Merkley's office in Portland (121 Southwest Salmon Street, Portland, OR 97204)
2. January 22 at 12:00 Noon at Senator Wyden's office in Portland.(1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97204)
3. January 28 at 12:00 Noon at Congressman Schrader's office in Salem. (494 State Street, Suite 210 Salem, OR 97302)
4. February 2 at 12:00 Noon at Congressman DeFazio's Office in Eugene. (405 East 8th Ave. Eugene, OR 97401)
5. February 12 (Lincoln's Birthday) at 12:00 Noon at Congressman Walden's office in Bend. (1051 NW Bond St., Suite 400. Bend, OR 97701)

For more information about these visits, please contact Erik at 503-488-0263.

CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, is a member of the Reform Immigration FOR America coalition and is the largest Latino and Latina civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information, visit www.causaoregon.org

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN: The Reform Immigration FOR America campaign is a coalition of more than 600 faith, labor, business, progressive, and immigration reform groups that have joined together to get comprehensive immigration reform passed. For more information please visit www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org or www.reformamigratoriaproamerica.org

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