This Week in Immigration Reform — Week Ending April 21

on in Immigration Reform Updates

Week Ending April 21

This week in immigration: As Tax Day approached, NCLR asks how should tax payer dollars be spent; National Latino organizations weigh in on the administration’s first 100 days; and NCLR stands with undocumented students.

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NCLR Urges Congress to Reject Funding for Massive Expansion of the Deportation Force, Detention Camps, and the Border Wall: As lawmakers return to the Capitol next week, they will be working on a spending bill to fund the federal government through the rest of the 2017 fiscal year. With the current spending agreement set to expire on April 28th, Congress must agree on and send to the president’s desk a bill to fund the federal government. Congress should reject requests for more money for mass deportations in the FY ’17 spending bill. There is bipartisan opposition to the border wall and deportation money. Congress should not add a single penny more to the current funding to pay for Trump’s deportation machine. 

In a blog post leading up to Tax Day, NCLR asked tax filers to think about the ways they want their tax dollars to be spent. Tax dollars are critical to funding our country’s investments in areas such as housing, health care, education, school lunches, and Medicaid, to name a few. Our tax dollars should reflect our country’s priorities, and fund programs that meet critical needs for communities across the country. Unfortunately, the administration is asking Congress to use our tax dollars to implement its mass deportation policy. This policy would increase the number of enforcement agents to round up undocumented immigrants and tear apart families.

It was reported this week that Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (D-CA-38), Vice Chairwoman of the Democratic Caucus “urged her colleagues to not only oppose funding for the wall but any money the Trump administration requests to increase its immigration enforcement activities.”

NHLA Issues an Analysis of the Trump Administration’s Early Impact on Latino Priorities: NCLR participated on a panel hosted by The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 46 Latino organizations from across the country. The panel’s discussion centered around policies and issues such as health care, immigration, and women’s rights, which have all been under attack during the first 100 days of this administration. During the panel NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía noted that “in his first 100 days, Mr. Trump has… advanced policies that needlessly tear families apart through draconian deportation actions, put people’s rights and safety at risk, and [has sought to] bar millions of Americans from health coverage.” 

NCLR Stands with Undocumented Students on National Institutions Coming Out Day: On Wednesday, NCLR reaffirmed its commitment to the success and wellbeing of DREAMers as part of National Institutions Coming Out Day in support of undocumented students. Organized by United We Dream, the effort seeks to identify and celebrate schools and community based organizations that support undocumented students. These organizations advocate for undocumented students and demonstrate their support, via resource development, policy changes and awareness events.

NCLR Condemns DACA Recipient’s Deportation: This week it was confirmed that the first DACA recipient- Juan Manuel Montes- was deported by ICE despite assurances from the President and Secretary Kelly that DACA recipients would not be deported. This revelation comes as ICE admits its previous contention that Juan Montes’ DACA protection expired in 2015 was wrong and that his DACA status does not expire until 2018. The case has now become contentious as Juan’s lawyers and ICE disagree on key facts of the course of events. Please sign the petition by United We Dream to reaffirm support for Juan coming back to his home.

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