The group also plans a mass lobbying of Congress on the pending immigration reform bills:
The group hopes to influence senators working to craft new immigration laws before Memorial Day, said Angela Sanbrano, executive director of the Central American Resource Center. "The next two weeks are crucial for the immigration reform bill," she said.
Immigrant advocates plan to collect postcards addressed to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) requesting a "path to citizenship" for immigrants. Immigrant leaders from several cities will converge on Washington on May 17, which they call "National Lobby Day," to deliver the cards and meet with their own congressional delegations.
You don't have to be an immigrant to weigh in with your Senators and demand that the final bill must be humane and provide equality and a clear path to citizenship. As I've said before, the reforms we need are ones which will:
- Provide the opportunity for undocumented immigrants to legalize their status
- Eliminate criminal sanctions for immigration violations
- Expand avenues for legal immigration and support family reunification
- Provide access and options for permanent residency and citizenship
- Strengthen labor protections and their enforcement for all workers, both native and foreign born
- End the employer sanctions program
- End border and immigration enforcement abuses
Legalization should be immediate and without conditions. There should be no criminalization and no border walls. There must be protection of labor rights and civil liberties.
Remind your Senators that in November, 1 million new immigrant voters will remember their position on immigration reform when they go to the polls for the first time.
