This Week in Immigration Reform – Week Ending July 5

on July 5, 2013 in Immigration Reform Updates

Week Ending July 5

This week in immigration reform: while the House and Senate are in recess and House members hold town halls, listening sessions, and mobile office hours across the country, DHS and USCIS issue new regulations on visa petitions for same-sex couples in the wake of DOMA recently being struck down by the Supreme Court; meanwhile NCLR Affiliates, in the wake of passage of immigration reform legislation in the Senate, turn their efforts to the House of Representatives, attending town halls and mobile office hours and urging House members to come out in favor of getting a vote on reform that includes a road to citizenship. NCLR staff continued to keep the community informed this week, with staff quoted in stories by the Associated Press, Fox News Latino, and The Hill.

Next Wednesday July 10 the House Republican caucus will be gathering to decide what to do about immigration reform. Call (877) 746-2575 and tell your representative that America deserves a vote on immigration reform that includes a road to citizenship.

DHS, USCIS issue new regulations on visa petitions for same-sex couples. Following the Supreme Court’s June 26 decision that found Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced on July 1 that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin reviewing visa petitions filed on behalf of a same-sex spouse in the same manner as petitions filed on behalf of an opposite sex-spouse. You can review USCIS’s new regulations here.

NCLR and Affiliates in action.

California: NCLR Affiliates El Concilio and the Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) met with Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA-8) on Tuesday July 2. Rep. Denham reaffirmed his commitment to passing comprehensive immigration reform in the House of Representatives.

Colorado: NCLR Affiliate Mi Casa Resource Center participated in a press event with Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) on Monday July 1. The senator and participants celebrated S.744 passing the Senate and called on the House to consider comprehensive immigration reform legislation. One of Mi Casa’s clients spoke at the event, urging Colorado’s House members to take up immigration reform that includes a real road to citizenship.

Idaho: NCLR Affiliate Community Council of Idaho joined a number of Latino groups and the Coalition for Immigrant Rights of Idaho to launch the 30-mile “Roadmap Towards Citizenship Walk” this week. Participants walked 30 miles to show solidarity with those working for comprehensive immigration reform and to urge those not yet supporting it to step up and get behind reform that includes an accessible road to citizenship and reunites families.

North Carolina: In response to Sen. Richard Burr’s (R-NC) voting against S. 744 on July 27, NCLR Affiliate the Latin American Coalition (LAC) delivered 76 bricks to the senator’s Winston-Salem office on Monday July 1. The 76 bricks represent the 76% of North Carolinians that support immigration reform, and the wall that the senator is building between himself and the best interests of North Carolina. LAC also launched a virtual brick-sending campaign for constituents to help Sen. Burr build his wall.

Bricks delivered by LAC at Sen. Burr’s Winston-Salem office (photo: Latin American Coalition)

Wisconsin: NCLR Affiliate Centro Hispano of Milwaukee met with the staff of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI-1) on Tuesday July 2, encouraging the Congressman to continue supporting comprehensive immigration reform with a road to citizenship.

Washington, DC: NCLR staff met this week with the offices of Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA-10), Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (D-FL-25), Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY-11), Rep. John Barrow (D-GA-12), and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).

NCLR Affiliates: To share your recent meetings on immigration with your members of Congress, please fill out the report-back form on our website.

NCLR published a new “Truth in Immigration” infographic this week, detailing how immigration reform enjoys wide support across the political spectrum (see graphic below). Share this infographic on Facebook, and check out the “Truth in Immigration” web page frequently for updates.