Immigration Reform and DREAM Advocates Rally at Senator Wyden's office

Today CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition was joined by students from local colleges and universities for a march and rally at the district office of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden in Downtown Portland.

The purpose of the action was part of a nationwide effort to pressure Congress to finally fix our broken immigration system with passage of The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2009 and Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

During today’s march and rally, immigration reform advocates called on Senator Wyden to support the DREAM Act of 2009 and asked him to encourage Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) to introduce similar legislation to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR-ASAP)(HR4321), a bill that was introduced last month in the U.S. House of Representatives.

While marching, Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz made a surprise appearance to give words of support for the DREAM Act and Comprehensive Immigration Reform. In October, Portland City Commissioners Nick Fish and Amanda Fritz introduced a resolution calling on their fellow colleagues to support the federal DREAM Act. Resolution 1434 passed unanimously.

Here are some photos from today’s event:

Next week, DREAM Act and Immigration Reform Advocates will meet at the office of U.S. Congressman Kurt Schrader to call on the 5th District Representative to support the 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).

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Immigrant Rights Advocates to urge Senator Wyden to Support the DREAM Act and Immigration Reform

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Immigrant Rights Advocates to urge Senator Wyden to Support the DREAM Act and Immigration Reform

Media Advisory
January 20, 2010

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

Immigrant Rights Advocates to urge Senator Wyden to Support the DREAM Act and Immigration Reform

Salem, Ore--This Friday, CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition and students from local colleges and universities will meet for a march and rally at the district office of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden in Portland. The action is part of a nationwide effort to pressure Congress to finally fix our broken immigration system with passage of The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2009 and Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

During the march and rally at Senator Wyden's office, we will call on the Senator to support the DREAM Act of 2009 and ask him to encourage Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) to introduce similar legislation to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR-ASAP)(HR4321) that was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last month.

WHAT: March and Rally for the DREAM Act and Comprehensive Immigration Reform

WHEN: Friday, January 22nd at 12:00 noon

WHERE: Office of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, 1220 Southwest 3rd Street, Portland, OR 97204 (Directions)

WHO: CAUSA, Oregon Immigrant Rights Coalition and students from Metro Area Colleges and Universities

What is the DREAM Act?

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.

Why is the DREAM Act needed?

Each year about 65,000 U.S.-raised students who would qualify for the DREAM Act's benefits graduate from high school. These include honor roll students, star athletes, talented artists, homecoming queens, and aspiring teachers, doctors, and U.S. soldiers. They are young people who have lived in the U.S. for most of their lives and desire only to call this country their home. Even though they were brought to the U.S. years ago as children, they face unique barriers to higher education, are unable to work legally in the U.S., and often live in constant fear of detection by immigration authorities. Our immigration law currently has no mechanism to consider the special equities and circumstances of such students. The DREAM Act would eliminate this flaw. It is un-American to indefinitely and irremediably punish them for decisions made by adults many years ago. By enacting the DREAM Act, Congress would legally recognize what is de facto true: these young people belong here.

We need Comprehensive Immigration Reform NOW! Reform is long overdue, and Congress must take immediate action to fix our broken immigration system with 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
• Protects workers and helps with economic recovery
• Keeps families together
• Protects the due process rights of all

For more information on the campaign and upcoming actions, please contact Francisco Lopez at 503.269.5694 or visit http://www.causaoregon.org/



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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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Photos: Oregon Reform Immigration Delegation Meet with Wyden and Walden

Washington D.C.-- Oregon's Delegation composed of leaders from CAUSA, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), Rural Organizing Project, & Mujeres Luchadores Progresistas met with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR) yesterday to talk immigration reform during the Reform Immigration FOR America Lobby Session.

Congressman Greg Walden

Senator Ron Wyden

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