Thread: Immigrant advocates gear up

Immigrant advocates gear up
Wish list of reform measures includes path to legalization for most of the 11 million undocumented migrants in the U.S.
By Teresa Watanabe and Anna Gorman, Times Staff Writers
March 17, 2007


Determined to win reform legislation this year, California immigrant advocates and others are seeking to better coordinate their movement's efforts by launching a $4-million national lobbying campaign and a "unity blueprint" laying out their policy goals.

As Congress prepares to restart debate over immigration reform, the dual actions are aimed at seizing the political offensive and bridging internal differences among advocacy groups over such issues as a guest worker program.

Without unity, activists say, they could fail to win reform before the 2008 political campaign season gets in full gear and potentially jeopardizes their chance of success.

"This year, more than ever, we really want to make sure we're as united as possible," said Angelica Salas of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. "If we hit the 2008 election season without a bill, I think we'll be in a much worse position."

The lobbying campaign was announced this week in Washington, D.C., by a coalition of national policy groups, labor unions, religious and ethnic organizations and advocates for illegal immigrants. Campaign manager Clarissa Martinez De Castro said the effort would feature the same fervor and tactics as a national election, including a multimillion-dollar war chest and field operations in 30 key states.

The 21-page "Unity Blueprint for Immigration Reform," conceived over the last few months under the leadership of Los Angeles area labor and community activists, presents a comprehensive wish list of measures. Activists consulted with more than 150 organizations in California, Texas and Arizona and plan to begin presenting it to congressional members next week.

The blueprint urges a path to legalization for nearly all of the nation's 11 million undocumented immigrants. It advocates stronger labor protections and an expansion of permanent visas for workers, rejecting a temporary guest worker program as exploitative.

The document also calls for a repeal of some enforcement measures adopted in the last decade, including funding for a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border and sanctions against employers who hire illegal immigrants. It also supports stronger family rights, including more visas for relatives of U.S. citizens and new ways to win legal status for undocumented immigrant parents.

Activists say that last year's fast-moving action on immigration issues — a flurry of legislative proposals, massive rallies and national congressional hearings — left them with little time to craft their own policy vision.

"Civic and labor organizations around the country found themselves on the defensive in 2006, as members of Congress pulled one proposal after another out of their back pocket," said Peter Schey, president of the Los Angeles-based Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law. "There was a broad sense of frustration at not having an affirmative position to put forward."

Immigration control groups criticized the blueprint proposals and dismissed their chance of success. Ira Mehlman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform called the blueprint a "pretty radical agenda" that would be ignored even by the Democrat-controlled Congress.

Caroline Espinosa, spokeswoman for NumbersUSA, a Virginia-based immigration control group, said the reform blueprint would give immigrants more rights than U.S. citizens.

"It's the height of arrogance for someone to come to the U.S., break the law and then ask Congress to overturn or ignore the laws to their benefit," she said.

Activists said the blueprint reflected consistent academic research showing that immigration is good for America, that current visa levels are artificially low and that a large underclass of illegal migrants serves no one except unscrupulous employers who exploit them. They acknowledged that many of the provisions would be seen as politically unrealistic but said they expressed their highest hopes for immigration reform.

"Why shouldn't we ask for everything?" said Pablo Alvarado, president of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network. "These are our dreams."

Proposals on temporary workers proved the most divisive, the activists said. Some advocacy groups have reluctantly accepted as the price of compromise a call by President Bush and U.S. business groups for more temporary foreign workers to fill a shortfall in low-skilled labor. Other groups have rejected any temporary worker plan as exploitative of immigrant labor and harmful to American workers.

The blueprint has won the backing of the AFL-CIO and other major labor unions by rejecting guest workers in favor of more permanent visas for foreign laborers, subject to stronger workplace protections and stricter tests on whether Americans are available for those jobs.

Another point of contention among activists is how much to compromise with Congress. Last year, for instance, the Mexican American Political Assn. boycotted the National Council of La Raza's conference in Los Angeles to protest the council's support of a Senate bill's temporary-worker provisions and partial legalization for illegal immigrants.

"Lowering your aspirations and accepting what your adversaries put on the table … is absolutely unacceptable to us," said Nativo Lopez of the Mexican American association.

For now, however, unity is the watchword.

"We all need to work together to win," Salas said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printeditio ... 9573.story

Representation with out taxation. How many of these non-profit groups are receiving tax dollars to lobby?

google "Unity Blueprint for Immigration Reform" if you want to see the 26 pages of... of... Well you know what to expect.

INTRODUCTION
On January 19-20, 2007, a meeting was convened in Los Angeles to discuss
the outline of a unity blueprint for immigration reform. The conveners include
Pablo Alvarado, National Coordinator, National Day Laborers Organizing
Network, Rosa Rosales, National President, League of United Latin American
Citizens (LULAC), Angela Sanbrano, Executive Director, Central American Resource
Center (Los Angeles) and President of the National Alliance of Latin American
and Caribbean Communities, Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-
Treasurer, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, Dolores Huerta,
President, Dolores Huerta Foundation & Co-Founder of the United Farmworkers
Union, Victor Narro, Project Director, UCLA Downtown Labor Center, Father
Richard Estrada, Our Lady Queen of Angels, Antonio Gonzalez, President,
William C. Velasquez Institute, Angelica Salas, Executive Director, Coalition for
Humane Immigration Reform of Los Angeles, and Peter Schey, President & Ex.
Director, Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law (CHRCL).

In addition to the Conveners, representatives of several organizations
involved in immigration reform work attended the meeting, including the
Service Employees International Union, the American Federation of Labor (AFLCIO),
the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Mexican American
Political Association, the Mexican American Legal Education and Defense Fund,
the South Asia Network, Hermandad Mexicana Nacional, the Asian Pacific
American Legal Center, the National Korean American Service & Education
Consortium, the Bay Area Immigrants Rights Coalition, and other networks and
community-based organizations.

The draft blueprint developed at the initial meeting was further
considered and improved upon following discussion at the National Latino
Leadership Summit on Immigration Policy held in Phoenix on February 3, 2007.

Unity Immigration Reform Proposals
Page v
That meeting was jointly convened by the Center for Human Rights and
Constitutional Law (CHRCL), the Mexican American Legal Defense and
Education Fund (MALDEF), the League of United Latin American Citizens
(LULAC), the William Velasquez Institute (WCVI), the Mexican American
Political Association (MAPA), the National Alliance of Latin American and
Caribbean Communities (NALACC), and the Labor Council for Latin American
Advancement (LCLAA). The summit meeting was attended by approximately
fifty organizations from around the country involved in immigration reform
work.

The draft blueprint was next considered and improved upon following
discussion at a meeting of the Border Human Rights Working Group in San
Antonio, Texas, on February 12-13, 2007. The Border Human Rights Working
Group is a collaborative project of over fifty NGOs, CBOs, legal services
providers, and faith-based organizations working along the border in California,
Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

Many of those groups are part of the federal combined campaign and receive tax free charity dollars from the federal government. Any group which gets involved in politics should be removed from the FCC and should have to pay taxes.

We are definitely be ganged up on!! its so over whelming, I am in Awe, and can not believe so many people are willing to forsake their nation for people who have broken the law!! What has happen to America???

I heard about this on the "Terry Anderson Radio Show" this evening. The items listed in this table of contents was interesting even without reading the blueprint.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREAMBLE.......................................... .................................................. .................................................. ....1
1. PROTECTING THE WELL-BEING AND SAFETY OF IMMIGRANT AND U.S. CITIZEN
CHILDREN.......................................... .................................................. .................................................. ....1
A. AMEND THE INA TO PERMIT THE PARENTS OF U.S. CITIZENS TO PETITION THROUGH THEIR US
CITIZEN CHILDREN UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE............................................... ............................................2
B. SUPPORT ENACTMENT OF THE DREAM ACT............................................... ...................................2
C. SUPPORT ENACTMENT OF THE CHILD CITIZEN PROTECTION ACT............................................... ..2
D. AMEND THE INA TO REQUIRE THAT APPREHENDED IMMIGRANT CHILDREN ARE INFORMED
ABOUT RIGHTS THEY POSSESS TO LEGALIZE THEIR STATUS UNDER EXISTING LAWS ENACTED BY
CONGRESS AND ARE AFFORDED THE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL........................................... ...................2
2. ACHIEVING MAXIMUM COMPLIANCE WITH AND FAITHFUL ENFORCEMENT OF
IMMIGRATION LAWS BY REINSTATING THE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL
COURTS TO REVIEW AGENCY DECISIONS INVOLVING IMMIGRANTS............................3
A. REPEAL JURISDICTION-STRIPPING PROVISIONS ENACTED IN THE ANTI-TERRORISM AND
EFFECTIVE DEATH PENALTY ACT OF 1996.............................................. .................................................3
B. REPEAL JURISDICTION-STRIPPING PROVISIONS ENACTED IN THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION REFORM
AND IMMIGRANT RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 1996.............................................. ........................................3
C. REPEAL JURISDICTION-STRIPPING PROVISIONS ENACTED IN THE 2005 REAL ID ACT....................3
3. ACHIEVING MAXIMUM PROTECTION OF THE LABOR RIGHTS AND WORKING
CONDITIONS OF U.S. AND IMMIGRANT WORKERS........................................... ......................4
A. REPEAL EMPLOYER SANCTIONS LAWS.............................................. .............................................4
B. BRING ANTIDISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS IN THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT
INTO LINE WITH THOSE IN OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS.............................................. ............................4
C. ENSURE THAT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT COMPLEMENTS RATHER THAN UNDERMINES THE
ENFORCEMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAWS.............................................. ...............................5
D. REVIEW INTERNATIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO UNDOCUMENTED
MIGRATION......................................... .................................................. .................................................. ...7
E. PROHIBIT STATES FROM CONSIDERING IMMIGRATION STATUS IN DETERMINING WORKER
BENEFITS.......................................... .................................................. .................................................. ......7
F. INCREASE BUDGETS FOR THE WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.................................... ..........................7
G. EXTEND FREE LEGAL SERVICES ASSISTANCE TO ALL IMMIGRANT WORKERS...................................7
4. ACHIEVING MAXIMUM REDUCTION IN THE SIZE OF THE UNDOCUMENTED
POPULATION........................................ .................................................. .................................................. 8
A. ENACT A SINGLE-TIER AND TRULY COMPREHENSIVE LEGALIZATION PROGRAM..........................8
B. PROVIDE AN EXPEDITED LEGALIZATION PROGRAM FOR LONG-TIME RESIDENT CENTRAL
AMERICAN AND OTHER REFUGEES.......................................... .................................................. ...............9
C. MAKE LEGALIZATION APPLICANTS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FREE LEGAL SERVICES IF THEY ARE TOO
INDIGENT TO AFFORD RETAINED COUNSEL........................................... .................................................. .9
5. ACHIEVING A REALISTIC LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR FUTURE MIGRATION............9
A. REPEAL THE 3 AND 10-YEAR AND PERMANENT BARS THAT PREVENT IMMIGRANTS FROM
LEGALIZING THEIR STATUS............................................ .................................................. ........................10
B. RESTORE THE ABILITY OF IMMIGRANTS TO LEGALIZE THEIR STATUS IN THE UNITED STATES
DESPITE OVERSTAYING THEIR VISAS OR ENTERING WITHOUT INSPECTION........................................ ....10
C. RESTRUCTURE THE IMMIGRATION QUOTA SYSTEM............................................ ...........................11
D. FUTURE WORKERS SHOULD COME INTO THE US WITH FULL RIGHTS............................................ 12
Unity Immigration Reform Proposals
Page viii


E. THE ISSUANCE OF PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT VISAS SHOULD BE BASED UPON RELIABLE
ECONOMIC INDICATORS........................................ .................................................. ................................12
F. EXISTING TEMPORARY WORKER PROGRAMS SHOULD BE REPAIRED.......................................... ...13
G. FREE LEGAL SERVICES FOR VISA APPLICANTS........................................ .......................................14
6. ACHIEVING RATIONAL AND HUMANE OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE
BORDERS........................................... .................................................. .................................................. ...14
A. REQUIRE THAT MIGRANTS APPREHENDED ENTERING THE COUNTRY BE INFORMED OF RIGHTS
EXTENDED TO THEM BY CONGRESS BEFORE THEY ARE DEPORTED.......................................... ...............14
B. PROHIBIT THE USE OF U.S. MILITARY FORCES FOR BORDER ENFORCEMENT..................................15
C. MAKE ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS TO PREVENT VIGILANTISM A PRIORITY AND MONITOR VIGILANTE
ACTIVITY.......................................... .................................................. .................................................. ....15
D. DECRIMINALIZE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO MIGRANTS INJURED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO
ENTER THE COUNTRY........................................... .................................................. .................................15
E. MAKE BORDER ENFORCEMENT SOLELY A FEDERAL FUNCTION.......................................... ...........15
F. REPEAL THE SECURE FENCE ACT OF 2006.............................................. ........................................15
G. END BORDER PATROL HIGH SPEED CHASES AND USE OF DEADLY FORCE EXCEPT WHEN REQUIRED
TO PROTECT LIFE OR SERIOUS INJURY............................................ .................................................. ........16
H. ASSESS THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL PORTS OF ENTRY............................................. ......................16
I. REPEAL RECENTLY ENACTED LAWS THAT PERMIT “EXPEDITED REMOVAL” OF CERTAIN MIGRANTS
APPREHENDED WITHIN 100 MILES OF THE BORDER............................................ ....................................16
J. ENACT LEGISLATION PERMITTING BORDER CROSSING BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.............................16
K. INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT, ACCOUNTABILITY, CONSULTATION, AND
MONITORING OF FEDERAL BORDER POLICIES AND PRACTICES......................................... ......................16
7. ACHIEVING RATIONAL AND HUMANE INTERIOR ENFORCEMENT AND DUE
PROCESS POLICIES.......................................... .................................................. ...................................17
A. REPEAL RECENTLY ENACTED LAWS THAT PREVENT RELEASE ON BOND FOR APPREHENDED
MIGRANTS WHO ARE NOT A FLIGHT RISK OR RISK TO THE COMMUNITY......................................... .......17
B. LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF TIME AN IMMIGRANT IS DETAINED AFTER BEING ORDERED RELEASED ON
BOND BY AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE............................................. .................................................. ..........17
C. GRANT SUSPENSION OF DEPORTATION TO IMMIGRANTS WITH FIVE YEARS CONTINUOUS
RESIDENCE......................................... .................................................. .................................................. ..18
D. ENACT LEGISLATION PROHIBITING MASS NON-INDIVIDUALIZED DETENTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS18
E. REPEAL RECENTLY ENACTED FEDERAL LAW THAT BARS STATES FROM ISSUING DRIVERS LICENSES
TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS........................................ .................................................. ...............18
F. ENACT LEGISLATION MAKING REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.............................18
G. TERMINATE THE NATIONAL SECURITY ENTRY-EXIT REGISTRATION SYSTEM..............................19
H. ENACT LEGISLATION MAKING TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS OF REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
PUNISHABLE BY CIVIL PENALTIES......................................... .................................................. .................19
I. REQUIRE ACCURACY IN THE NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER DATABASE....................19
J. ENACT LEGISLATION TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF AN “AGGRAVATED FELONY”......................19
K. ENACT LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT THE RETROACTIVE APPLICATION OF IMMIGRATION LAWS....20
L. ENACT LEGISLATION TO GRANT IMMIGRANTS FULL ACCESS TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.........20
M. ENACT LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION INCLUDING
REPRESENTATIVES OF GOVERNMENTS, LABOR, AND CIVIC SOCIETY TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF U.S.
ECONOMIC AND FOREIGN POLICIES ON MIGRATION......................................... .....................................20

http://www.mapa.org/_03_07/reform.pdf

http://www.mapa.org/_03_07/unitySumary.html


In case people have not read or seen the following:

The basic points of unity include the following:
Unconditional legalization for ALL
No to H.R.4437 and similar senate version legislation
No to the criminalization of immigrants
No to border walls and militarization of the border
No to guest-worker programs
No to employer sanctions
Yes to expedited family reunification visas
Yes to the protection of labor and civil rights, and civil liberties
No to deportations
No to the use of local law enforcement for immigration purposes.

http://www.mapa.org/News102.htm

Well what a Joke!! these people don't want much do they, Change the laws for aggrevated felony! HA! this is unbelieveable!! When they DEMAND they DEMAND big don't theyIn your dreams!!