Reform Immigration FOR America, February update

Sent and written by Rich Stolz, ReformImmigrationFORAmerica

As 2010 slips into February, the urgency for action on comprehensive immigration reform only grows. It's time to pick it up a few notches. On March 21st thousands of workers, families, immigrants and allies are mobilizing to Washington, DC to make sure our voices get heard. We're telling the White House and Congress that the time is now, and there is no turning back on the promises they've made. So start raising money, start organizing your people, and start preparing to have your voices heard loud and clear. Mark your calendars and sign up here to stay updated.

Congressional and White House Leaders Reaffirm Commitment to Reform
On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) stated that immigration reform can and will get done this year. Senator Schumer, who is drafting a reform bill, told reporters, "our intention is to move forward" with reform efforts, echoing the intentions of this campaign. In the Spanish language media, Valerie Jarrett discounted the claims that immigration reform and jobs legislation cannot happen together: "We can do several things at once," she said. Now it is up to us to put the pressure on our leaders to ACT.

Resolutions for Reform
Several important resolutions urging Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform were passed around the country this week. The first was passed by the City Council of Philadelphia, PA, introduced by Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez who said, "I am introducing this resolution because we cannot wait another generation for action." In New Hampshire, a proposed anti-immigrant resolution (that was expected to pass) was rejected entirely by the New Hampshire State House Committee in favor of a resolution calling on Congress to pass comprehensive reform! It was an amazing turnaround that came following testimony against the anti-immigrant resolution by seven New Hampshire residents. Finally, the Board of Commissioners in Barack Obama's former home of Cook County, IL passed a resolution in favor of comprehensive reform in general and the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity (CIR ASAP) Act of 2009 (H.R. 4321) bill specifically. These resolutions demonstrate the growing support from local elected officials throughout the country for CIR now!

Evangelicals for Reform
Evangelical leaders called for reform at vigils in six cities across the country this week as part of the Evangelical Witness for Immigration reform movement organized by the Christian Community Development Association. There were vigils in Chicago, Santa Ana, Memphis, Miami, Denver and Phoenix. In Phoenix, over 120 evangelical leaders came together to pray and plan for immigration reform to unite families, bring people out of the shadows and ensure equal rights for all.

Following these actions, the Washington Post published "Why evangelicals want immigration reform this year," by Galen Carey, the director of government affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). Carey discussed the religious and moral imperatives for immigration reform and the vigils held nationwide this week, saying "Evangelicals may have largely missed the civil rights battles of the 1960s, but we do not intend to repeat our mistake in 2010."

Voices like Carey's and yours are essential to this movement. While the handwringing continues in Washington, DC and disheartened or opportunistic politicians whine, opine or crow about the prospects for reform this year, we know that we're building the power we'll need from the outside-in.

See you on March 21st!

Rich Stolz
Reform Immigration FOR America