This Week in Immigration Reform – Week Ending February 21

on in Immigration Reform Updates

Immigration_reform_Updates_blueWeek Ending February 21, 2014

This week in immigration reform: members of Congress return to their home districts this week, where they hear from constituents who want to see progress on immigration reform; a new Gallup poll finds that voters think offering aspiring Americans a path to legalization is as important as intensifying border security; NCLR releases a graphic debunking the excuses offered by House Republicans for their inaction on reform; and NCLR Affiliates and partners continue pressuring Congress to get to work on immigration reform legislation by driving calls into Congressional offices and hosting roundtables to discuss the need for reform.

—Congress on recess, members hear from constituents who want action on immigration reform.  With Congress on recess this week, members of Congress returned to their home districts and took time to meet with their constituents.  Several members fielded questions about immigration reform and committed to getting reform done this year.

At a Feb. 19 forum in Cary, N.C., Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.) described immigration reform as her top priority for 2014. Business, faith, and community leaders urged her to get the House working on legislation, offering various reasons why they believed that reform needs to happen. For instance, one business owner told Ellmers that, obstructed by our current broken immigration policies, he could not hire the workers he needs to stay competitive.

Out west, Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) told constituents that he is “optimistic” that something can be done on immigration reform by the end of the year.  The Senator added that, were a comprehensive bill put before the House today, he believes it would pass because there are enough votes in support of reform in the House.

—Poll shows that public considers path to legalization as important as border security.  A new Gallup poll finds that American voters now consider offering aspiring Americans a path to legalization as important as expanding border security efforts.  We’ve seen similar results in nonpartisan poll after nonpartisan poll – public support for commonsense, humane immigration reform is not in doubt.  It’s high time for House Republicans to listen to the American people.

—“Reality Check” graphic debunks House Republican excuses for doing nothing on reform.  NCLR released a graphic this week debunking Speaker of the House John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) absurd claim that Congress won’t work on immigration reform legislation because it can’t trust President Obama to enforce immigration laws.  The numbers don’t lie: Obama has deported more people, nearly 2 million at this point, than any other president before him.  Speaker Boehner: we’re tired of your excuses.

For more on the Obama administration’s record levels of enforcement and on the hollowness of Republican excuses, check out NCLR’s recent blog post on the subject.

ImmDayofAction_immigrationsharegraphic_2_14

NCLR and Affiliates in action. 

  • California:  NCLR Affiliate TODEC called voters in the 31st and 49th CA Congressional districts this Thursday, driving calls in support of reform into the offices of Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Gary Miller (R-Calif.) and amplifying NCLR’s national Day of Action on Immigration Reform.

Imm_reformupdate_2_21_2014TODEC volunteers prepare to drive calls in support of immigration reform into the offices of targeted House Republicans.

  • Colorado:  The NCLR Action Fund partnered with NCLR Affiliate GOAL Academy, Colorado Lt. Governor Joe Garcia, and other community leaders to host a roundtable on the impact of immigration reform on education this Thursday, Feb. 20.

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