This Week in Immigration Reform – Week Ending July 12

on in Affiliates

Immigration_reform_Updates_blue

Week Ending July 12

This week in immigration reform: NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía appeared on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” to talk immigration reform; the White House pushes for comprehensive immigration reform as the House GOP meets to plan its way ahead on reform; while NCLR Affiliates meet with and call House Republicans in advance of the meeting, urging them to tell their colleagues that the country needs comprehensive reform this year. NCLR staff continued to keep the community informed this week, with staff quoted in stories in VOXXI, The Huffington Post, El Tiempo Libre, and El Progreso Hispano.

Janet Murguía talks immigration on “Face the Nation.” NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía appeared on CBS News’ Face the Nation on Sunday July 7, joining CBS’ Major Garrett and Dan Stein, president of the anti-immigrant organization Federation for American Immigration Reform, to discuss immigration reform and what needs to happen in the House of Representatives. Watch the segment below.

House Republicans meet on immigration reform while activists rally at Capitol; President Obama meets with members of the Senate “Gang of Eight,” and also with CHC; White House releases report on economic benefits of reform.

In another busy week for reform, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) assembled House Republicans on July 10 to plan their way forward on immigration reform. Reports from the meeting suggest that Speaker Boehner recognized the importance of getting immigration reform done this year, telling the House GOP that it must act or find itself weaker amongst the Latino electorate.

As Republicans debated what to do on reform, activists from around the country gathered outside the Capitol and told the Speaker and Congress that the time to act on reform is now…

Meanwhile the White House continued to push for comprehensive immigration reform. President Obama met with Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and separately with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) this week to talk immigration reform strategy.

In addition to meeting with key legislators, the White House released a report on July 10 explaining the myriad economic benefits of immigration reform. The report notes that comprehensive immigration reform that includes a strong road to legalization and citizenship strengthens the national economy and grows U.S. GDP substantially by fostering innovation and job creation.

NCLR and Affiliates in action.

  • California: NCLR Affiliates Neighborhood Housing Services of the Inland Empire (NHSIE) and TODEC Legal Center joined with Emerging Latino Communities grantee Lideres Campesinas to meet with the district director of Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA-31) Thursday July 11, asking that Rep. Miller stand up for comprehensive reform that includes a strong path to citizenship.

    ImmReform_update_7_12_2013_pic1NCLR Affiliates TODEC Legal Center and National and Emerging Latino Communities grantee Lideres Campesinas meet with Rep. Gary Miller’s district director on July 11. (photo: TODEC).

  • Colorado: NCLR Affiliates Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy & Research Organization (CLLARO), El Comité de Longmont, and Mi Casa Resource Center organized grasstops calls to the offices of Reps. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and Scott Tipton (R-Colo.) this week in advance of the July 10 GOP gathering.

    Meanwhile NCLR Regional Field Coordinator Jesus Altamirano participated in an immigration reform roundtable as a panelist on Tuesday July 9 in Greely, CO, joining speakers from the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) and an audience that included over 40 community members, staff of Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and State Rep. Dave Young (D)

  • Pennsylvania: NCLR Affiliates directed grasstops calls into the offices of Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-Penn.) and Joe Pitts (R-Penn.) in advance of the July 10 GOP summit.
  • New Jersey: Grasstops leaders in New Jersey contacted Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.) prior to the July 10 GOP assembly, urging the Congressman to speak out in favor of comprehensive immigration reform that includes a road to citizenship.
  • Tennessee: Mauricio Calvo, Executive Director of NCLR Affiliate Latino Memphis, published an op-ed in the Commercial Appeal on Sunday July 7, describing why immigration reform that includes earned citizenship is good for Memphis.
  • Utah: NCLR Affiliate Comunidades Unidas responded rapidly to the news of the July 10 House GOP meeting on immigration reform, setting up a phonebank this week in advance of the meeting. Callers encouraged registered Utah voters to contact Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT-3) and urge him to speak up in favor of comprehensive immigration reform at the July 10 meeting.

    ImmReform_Update_7_12_2013_pic2

    ImmReform_Update_7_12_2013_pic3NCLR Affiliate Comunidades Unidas volunteers driving calls to Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) (photos: Comunidades Unidas).

  • Washington, DC: NCLR staff met this week with staff of Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Joe Heck (R-Nev.), Mark Amodei (R-Nev.), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), and Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.). NCLR staff also met with Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Congressman David Valadao (R-Calif.), with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and with the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee (DSOC).