Tag Archives: Department of Homeland Security

VoteVets.org

Far too many of our troops serving at home and abroad live in constant fear that those they love most will be deported.

Thanks to President Obama and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), they can rest easy.

In an extraordinary ruling last week, DHS announced it will halt the deportation of “spouses, children and parents of active-duty military members, reservists who may be called up as part of the ‘Ready Force.'”

Over 50,000 veterans, military family members, and VoteVets supporters signed a petition urging the Washington to take action on immigration reform. And while we’ll keep fighting for comprehensive action, this is a welcome victory.

Please sign our card thanking President Obama and Department of Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano and we’ll deliver your well-wishes. You can do that here:

http://action.votevets.org/immigration-victory

DHS argued that the constant threat of deportation put an unnecessary “stress and anxiety” on those who signed up to serve their country through military service.

That’s right. And thanks to their action, a large portion of our force has something extra to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Thanks for standing with us in this fight. Your action matters.

Jon Soltz
@JonSoltz
Iraq War Veteran and Chairman
VoteVets.org

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News on immigration …Katherine Archuleta, BarackObama.com

08/31/2011 Nativegrl77

I wanted to make sure you saw the news: 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.

Pass the News on …

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.

Thanks,

Katherine

Katherine Archuleta
National Political Director

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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.

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.

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

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

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

Click here to learn more about these policies and share with friends and family.

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Ten Minutes…Until Evacuation

07/22/2011 Nativegrl77

Community and neighborhood evacuations are more common than you might think. A wildfire, hurricane, tornado, mudslide, toxic industrial accident or other imminent disaster could force you to leave your home—in some cases, within minutes of the evacuation order.Knowing what to do and what to take with you should the order come can help you preserve your most important possessions.

Plan it out.
Discuss an evacuation plan with members of your household well in advance of an emergency. Ask everyone to make a list of items they consider essential to bring and then prioritize.

Prepare a box with essential documents such as birth certificates, insurance records, passports, tax returns, wills and cherished photographs. Be sure to place this box in a secure location, such as a fireproof safe.

Create or update a home inventory list to accurately record your possessions and add the list to your essential document box.

Plan your escape routes. Choose more than one route, going in different directions, as some streets may be blocked off.
Choose a meet-up place for family members should an evacuation order come when you’re not together.
If you have some advance warning, fill your car’s gas tank and keep it topped off. Keep some cash on hand too—ATMs may not be operable in a disaster.

Pack it up.
For efficiency and speed, divide packing duties among household members. The Insurance Information Institute and the Department of Homeland Security offer suggestions for items to bring if you have only minutes to pack:

Your prepared document box
Prescriptions, first aid supplies, basic toiletries
Computers or laptops
Clothing for three days
Comfort items, such as a child’s blanket or stuffed animal
Pet supplies, including food, medicine, toys, vaccination records and a leash or carrier
Bottled water
Flashlight, battery-powered radio, extra batteries
Cash

Go to statefarm.com to learn how to be prepared in the event of a natural disaster, and visit the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) for a detailed preparedness plan.

Source: StateFarm

5 Easy Ways to Improve Fuel Mileage

As prices at the pump continue to tick higher, everyone is looking to stretch each gallon of gas. Being smarter about the way you drive could help you go a lot farther on each tank. Here are five ways to improve your fuel mileage.

Ease your speed – Your right foot is the key to better gas mileage. According the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph on the highway is like paying an additional 24 cents per gallon. Stick to the speed limits and you’ll save big.
Be smooth – Imagine you’ve always got an open cup of hot java in the beverage holder. That could help you avoid pedal-to-the metal acceleration and last-second braking. According to the DOE, driving less aggressively could deliver up to 33 percent better fuel economy.
Don’t idle away – Sitting with your engine idling while waiting to pick up the kids is just a waste of gas. Cutting the engine if you know you’ll be stopped for more than 30 seconds can provide 10 percent better fuel economy. You don’t want to do this at a stop light, of course.
Plan your drive – Run all of your errands in one trip. According to the DOE, several stop-start drives can use twice as much fuel as one trip to the mall. And if you see a parking spot, take it, even if it means a longer walk to the store. Circling the lot wastes fuel.
Lighten your load – That set of golf clubs in your trunk adds weight to your car. That means your engine has to work harder. Also ease the load on your engine by switching off the AC and heated rear screen when you don’t need them.