[NOW Action List] Immediate Action Needed on Senate Immigration Proposals

Support NOW's Work |	April 6, 2006	| Tell a Friend

Action Needed Background All NOW Actions NOW's Work Promoting Diversity		Immediate Action Needed on Senate Immigration Proposals NOW supports a humane immigration policy that provides a path for undocumented immigrants to attain lawful residency and citizenship in the United States. Anything less is unacceptable. The Senate is debating the immigration bill today and the measure before them is a bogus "compromise" being pushed by Senators Frist (R-TN), Martinez (R-FL) and Hagel (R-NE). Action Needed: Contact your senators NOW! Urge them to oppose the Frist "Compromise". There is no time for emails. Our voices must be heard within the next few hours. Call the capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your senator or get your senator's direct phone number. NOW is very concerned about the whole debate on immigration "reform." It is racist and isolationist and fails to recognize the humanity and value of immigrant workers and families who contribute to our nation's productivity. The recently-passed House bill (H.R. 4437) is downright cruel. The bill passed last week by the Senate Judiciary Committee (S. 1033) makes only slight improvements to the House bill, lacking provisions that will properly address the immigration issues facing our nation. In an attempt to get 60 votes and shut down debate, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) is promoting a version authored by Senators Martinez (R-FL) and Hagel (R-NE). Senators should oppose this bill because it attempts to create a path toward lawful residency and citizenship by placing heavy burdens on current undocumented immigrants, demanding a $2,000 fee and requiring the ability to speak English and pass a civics test. An undocumented immigrant could not, under this bill, become a citizen until 11 years after the application has been filed. The Martinez-Hagel bill requires an undocumented immigrant to leave the country at their port of entry and re-apply for entry. Immigrants without documentation will fear arrest, as well they should. It would also deputize untrained local police to act as immigration agents and limit judicial review and due process for non-citizens. Moreover, it contains an uncapped guest workers program that has no path to permanent residency or citizenship and thus could create a permanent underclass that may never get to participate in the U.S. democratic system. Our country deserves comprehensive immigration reform that makes sense not only for the undocumented residents of the United States and the workers who may come to our country in the future, but also for the resident families and citizen workers who have been negatively impacted by the current immigration system. The current system is not sensitive to the needs of neither the immigrant community nor the U.S. economy. Let's send a strong vocal message to the Senate that the women and immigrant communities of the U.S. want comprehensive immigration reform that is compassionate and fair. Urge them to support comprehensive immigration reform: that is fair and just for the immigrant community, that recognizes the value of immigrants living in this country and provides a path to full citizenship and participation in this society as citizens. Senators must oppose any proposal that undermines this effort. Call today! Background: Since 1996 the government has consistently taken an enforcement-only approach to immigration. Barriers, more agents and more civilian militia operations at the border have not stopped illegal immigration, but have instead shifted the path of migrants to ever more remote and dangerous areas of the border, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people from exposure and dehydration. This issue must be dealt with fairly in order to end these inhumane conditions. Precious families are affected. Now some politicians are pushing measures in immigration "reform" bills that infringe on civil liberties. Immigrant women are among the most vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and human rights violations in the United States. They face particular challenges due to inequalities that exist between men and women but also due to the additional responsibilities of family and home. In the workplace, immigrant women may be subjected to gender discrimination as well as prejudice based on their ethnicity or country of birth. Some women come to the U.S. to be domestic workers or caregivers, sometimes having to leaving leave their own children in their native country to be raised by relatives. Take Action Now! Tell your senators that no bill should be passed out of the Senate that doesn't address these unresolved issues or ease the punitive barriers. Serious immigration reform legislation must address the reasons why people come to the U.S. illegally. The Senate needs to pass a reasonable bill and must not allow the House bill to be combined with any immigration bill passed by the Senate.
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