///Rapid Response 03/14/06
Immigration Reform Legislation

Please forgive the length of this Action Alert, but this is potentially the most restrictive immigration legislation in the last 70 years!

"You shall love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt."  Deut. 10:19

"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." Heb. 13:2

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas last year the House of Representatives moved quickly to pass a bill that would make major changes in immigration law and could have an impact not only on immigrants, but also on church ministries that try to help them.  Now the Senate is considering its version of a similar bill. 

The House bill (H.R. 4437), the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, would:

• Prevent the hiring of undocumented persons by instituting an employment eligibility verification system and increase penalties for knowingly employing undocumented workers, including day laborers.
• Mandate the detention of any undocumented person caught along the border who does not agree to voluntary departure (including those who want to apply for asylum).
• Expand expedited removal to the interior of the country (now there is a 100 mile limit).
• Increase penalties for smuggling of undocumented persons.
• Crackdown on immigrant gang members making them deportable.
• Establish mandatory minimum sentences for persons who re-enter the United States after being deported.
• Call for the building of a high-tech fence along the southern border and study the possibility of one along the northern border.
• Prevent refugees and persons granted asylum who commit aggravated felonies from receiving green cards.  Aggravated felonies would include many minor crimes such as multiple DUI offenses.
• Allow indefinite detention of non-citizens who have committed crimes, finished serving their sentences, and cannot be deported because of the lack of diplomatic relations with their country of origin.
• Fund border sheriffs' departments in 29 counties to enforce immigration laws if authorized under a separate written agreement.
• Allow for the continued detention of immigrants who "pose a threat to Americans."
• Make undocumented presence in the U.S. a crime in and of itself.
• Allow for the deportation of those convicted of offenses related to the misuse of Social Security numbers and cards.
• Make it more difficult to appeal a negative Board of Immigration Appeals decision.

Church groups working with immigrants are concerned that their work with new immigrants could become crimes if the bill becomes law because it makes it a felony to shield or offer support to undocumented immigrants.  The language of the bill is so broad that persons who assist undocumented immigrants by teaching English classes, operating day labor hiring centers, taking them to the doctor, or offering them water after they crossed the border could bring penalties of 5 to 20 years in prison, depending on whether the activity is for profit.

Now the Senate Judiciary Committee is considering its version of a similar bill which is expected to move on to the Senate floor in late March. Advocates for immigrants are asking your help to assure that the Senate version of the bill contains humane, well-planned immigration reform. Even the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has written all Senators expressing concern about sections of the Senate Judiciary Committee's first draft of the Senate legislation.

This is an election year and many legislators are up for reelection in November.  They are going to be very sensitive to the volume and intensity of constituent mail and phone calls.  Most legislators are not committed about immigration one way or the other.  For them, what is more important than good immigration policy is the ability to detect how their decisions will affect their reelection.  They are hearing a lot from organized anti-immigrant groups and not enough from those who support just and fair immigration policies.  One aid said that his Senator only hears from anti-immigrant folks and lots of them, so that will win out unless the Senator starts hearing from constituents on the other side.

Immigration Advocates urge people to ask their Senators to develop legislation that will:

• Provide an opportunity for hard-working, undocumented immigrants who are contributing to this country to meet reasonable criteria and, over time, pursue a path to legalization and citizenship. (Earned legalization--not amnesty);
• Reform our family-based immigration system to significantly reduce waiting times for separated families who currently wait many years to be reunited;
• Create legal avenues for migrant workers and their families to enter the United States and work in a safe, legal, and orderly manner with their rights fully protected;
• Develop policies that are consistent with humanitarian values; treat all individuals with respect; allow the authorities to identify and prevent terrorists and dangerous criminals who wish to do us harm from entering the country, and bolster our national security through enhanced border security and effective enforcement;
• Safeguard asylum seekers and assure an opportunity to prove they deserve asylum; and
• Protect individuals and organizations who act as Good Samaritans by offering help to persons in need without regard to their immigration status.

A sample letter follows:

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Dear Senator ________________:

Please work to develop comprehensive immigration reform that upholds this nation's identity as a nation of immigrants and enables citizens to continue to welcome and assist newcomers to our land.  On December 16, the House of Representatives passed the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, HR 4437.  This legislation is very troubling, as it marginalizes many immigrants, criminalizes persons who are in this country without proper documentation, jeopardizes persons who help them, and denies the undocumented their day in court.  It also creates more barriers and bars to asylum, making it even more difficult for those who flee oppression to receive asylum.  It treats asylum seekers as criminals by making it a felony to be "out of status" after overstaying a visa; limits their access to federal courts (which will deprive many asylum seekers of a federal court review); and increases the detention of asylum seekers and expands expedited removal.

As a concerned citizen who understands the important roles migrants, immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers have played in developing this great nation, I am writing to request that you do all in your power to develop legislation that will assure we remain a strong and diversified nation, which welcomes our sisters and brothers from around the world with laws that are just, fair, and treat all persons with dignity and respect.  

This means rejecting legislation that marginalizes immigrants. It means developing legislation that welcomes those who will be productive members of our society, while at the same time assures the safety of all the residents of this land. Please work to develop comprehensive immigration reform that would help to:

• fix a very troubled immigration system,
• safeguard asylum seekers,
• protect the human rights and workers' rights of undocumented laborers, who are vital to our economy,
• provide a path to legalization and family unity, and
• develop a fair program for future migration. 

(Add your personal note here.)

Sincerely,

Your Name

Contact information

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Thank you for your willingness to take action.