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immigration news worth reposting …

08/23/2011 Nativegrl77 2 Comments

President Obama announced a common-sense policy change that will make our immigration system fairer and smarter. I’m proud to support it, and I hope you are, too.

Under the administration’s guidance, immigration courts are going to focus on deporting people who have been convicted of crimes or who pose a security risk. This means that the courts will focus less on “low-priority” cases — like young people who were brought here as small children and know no other home, or veterans and military spouses.

So the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice will be reviewing the current deportation caseload, clearing out low-priority cases, and making sure they don’t get into the system in the first place — keeping the focus on cases that will make our country safer. It’s a smart, strategic change. And it will make a difference.

But more comprehensive change requires Congress to act. And we’ll need to build momentum for this fight by raising awareness and demanding action on immigration reform. That starts with getting the word out to our friends and family about this important policy change.

Click here to pass on today’s news.

The Republican presidential candidates are carbon copies of the congressional Republicans who have blocked common-sense change at every turn.

In last week’s Republican debates in Iowa, the candidates talked about walls, as if higher and longer fences could magically resolve this complex issue.

President Obama and the majority of Americans know that the real answer is much more complicated. That’s why he’s directing our immigration courts to focus on the cases that keep our country safe.

There’s a lot more we can do to improve our broken immigration system. President Obama will need us to keep up the pressure on our members of Congress to make that change happen.

Today’s announcement represents important progress that the President can make right now. Show you stand with him by passing on this good news to your friends:

http://my.barackobama.com/Common-Sense-Immigration

Thanks,

Katherine

Katherine Archuleta
National Political Director
Obama for America

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Social Security disability almost insolvent ?

08/23/2011 Nativegrl77

Federal disability programs: www.ssa.gov/disability/

Congressional Budget Office projections: http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=12375

Government Accountability Office report: www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-724

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Congress: in pro forma Session … until 9/6

08/23/2011 Nativegrl77

The Senate will meet on the following dates and times for pro-forma sessions only with no business conducted:

– Friday, August 5^th at 10:00am,

– Tuesday, August 9^th at 11:00am,

– Friday, August 12^th at 12:00pm,

– Tuesday, August 16^th at 11:00am,

– Friday, August 19^th at 10:00am,

– Tuesday, August 23^rd at 2:30pm,

– Friday, August 26^th at 11:15am,

– Tuesday, August 30^th at 10:00am,

– Friday, September 2^nd at 10:00am;

When the Senate convenes at 10:00am on Friday, September 2^nd, it will adjourn until 2:00pm on September 6, 2011. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 5:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will be in Executive Session to consider Calendar #109, Bernice Bouie Donald, of Tennessee, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 6^th Circuit with 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley.

The next roll call votes will be at 5:30pm on Tuesday, September 6^th. The first roll call vote will be on confirmation of the Donald nomination. The 2^nd will be a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R.1249, the Patent Reform bill.

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The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on August 23, 2011.

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF AUGUST 23, 2011
112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

10:04 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to sections 3 and 4 of H.Res 375. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on August 26, 2011.

10:03 A.M. – DISPENSING WITH LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS – Pursuant to section 4 of H.Res. 375, the Chair announced that no legislative business would be conducted on this day.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG – The Chair led the the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

10:02 A.M. – JOURNAL APPROVED – The Chair announced that pursuant to section 5 of H.Res. 375, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.

10:01 A.M. – Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Mark Farr, Faith& Politics Institute, Washington, DCThe Speaker designated the Honorable Jeff Denham to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

10:00 A.M. – The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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What’s important to you?

08/22/2011 Nativegrl77

Democracy for America is the country’s only people-powered PAC. We’re a grassroots powerhouse working to change our country and the Democratic Party from the bottom-up — and it’s members like you who make it possible, so it’s important that we hear from you.

What are your top electoral priorities? What issues matter most to you? What’s happening in your area that we should know about? 1

Please take a moment and let us know what’s important to you.

http://act.democracyforamerica.com/go/1040?akid=1220.1480546.KVBu1D&t=1

Thank you for all that you do.

– Michael

Michael Langenmayr, Deputy Political Director
Democracy for America

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Obama Administration provides some relief to immigrant communities

08/22/2011 Nativegrl77

DHS’s announcement:
All current deportation cases to be reviewed

For the past few months, you’ve called and petitioned the White House and the Department of Homeland Security asking for them to show some courage and protect our immigrant communities. Our demands have been heard and the Administration has taken a step in the right direction to fixing our broken immigration system.

Yesterday, senior administration officials announced that all 300,000 cases currently in deportation proceedings will be reviewed by DHS, one-by-one, in an effort to focus purely on “high-priority” cases of criminals and individuals who pose a serious threat to the US. Cases deemed “low-priority” will be completely removed from the case log and, non-criminal immigrants once facing deportation, will have the possibility to obtain work permits.

The announcement is the first pro-immigrant procedural change that will provide some relief to DREAMers, LGBT spouses, victims of domestic abuse, and other non-criminal immigrants currently in deportation proceedings.

While the announcement is complicated, we’ve summarized the procedural changes DHS has announced they’ll make.

This is an important step in the right direction. We urge the Administration to enforce this policy vigorously and follow it through to its full logical and moral conclusion: suspend deportations of all those who work hard every day to create better lives for themselves and their families.

Congrats on this victory, and thanks for all you do,

Marissa Graciosa
Reform Immigration FOR America