Tag Archives: immigration

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Relief for DREAMers …. what it is and is not

08/08/2013 Nativegrl77 2 Comments

click on photo for better look at bullet points

This is for all DREAMers … not just Hispanic or Latinos

President Obama announced that the policy of prosecutorial discretion—which allows immigration agents to defer deportation of low-risk, non criminal undocumented immigrants—will be expanded to all DREAM eligible youth.This is a huge win for the immigration reform movement, and comes as a result of years of tireless mobilization and agitation by DREAMers, undocumented immigrants, and immigrants’ rights activists and politicians.

The expansion in policy means that effective today, there will be an immediate halt to all deportation proceedings for DREAMers, and all DREAMers who are already in deportation proceedings will get deferred action (lasting two years) and work permits, if they meet eligibility. Any DREAMer who meets the criteria can come forward and apply for deferred action and a work permit as well.

While this is an exciting moment for the immigration reform movement, it is not an ultimate victory. This policy expansion still does not provide a path to citizenship for DREAMers. There is still a dire need for a national DREAM Act. The struggle continues, and electing pro-DREAM champions into office this November is as important as it has ever been.

Here are some of the details of the new policy:

To be eligible you must

Be between 15 years or older and 30 years or younger may apply
Be in US for at least 5 (as of today, 6/15/12)
Have to have maintained continuous residence (relatively flexible interpretation)

There are no restriction on when you can apply (i.e. no window that closes after a year, for example)
Grants of Deferred Application are for 2 years and are renewable
Criminal Ineligibility: If you have been convicted of a felony, a serious misdemeanor or three minor misdemeanors not all stemming from same incident, then you are not eligible.

Need to apply? USCIS should have an application process online within 60 days. Check back on their site for more information.

We estimate that as a result of this policy extension, nearly 1 million DREAMers will be spared from deportation. This is truly an exciting day.

Click here to thank the White House for keeping their promise to provide administrative relief.

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BREAKING: Leaders arrested for reform!

08/02/2013 Nativegrl77

Marissa Graciosa Reform Immigration FOR America

I am furious. House Republicans continue to stall progress on immigration reform and a path to citizenship while our families continue to be ripped apart. We have been waiting for weeks for the House to follow the Senate’s lead and act. I am tired of being ignored – and I know I’m not the only one.

Call your member of Congress and tell them we will not be ignored! Our movement demands immigration reform with a path to citizenship now.

I know other leaders in the immigration reform fight are taking a stand — just hours ago, over 40 leaders were arrested in a major civil disobedience action in DC for comprehensive reform that creates a pathway to citizenship.

We are calling on the House of Representatives to stand up for immigrant communities and to move reform forward that will keep families together by creating a fair and attainable path to citizenship. United, we will not and cannot be ignored.

If they cannot hear us in DC then we will bring the fight home during their August recess: in their district offices, at town halls, at rallies in their hometowns, and all over social media.

If you are frustrated like I am then get loud with me. Click here to call your representative and demand action on immigration reform!

We cannot hold back anymore. The time is now to act. Thanks for all you do,

Marissa Graciosa Reform Immigration FOR America

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Emily J. Martin, National Women’s Law Center

07/04/2013 Nativegrl77

As Americans, we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men and women are created equal.
This is true not only on the 4th of July, but every day in our country.
Last week, the Senate passed a historic bipartisan immigration reform bill. Though the bill was flawed, it was a good first step toward creating a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrant women and men who contribute to our communities. Now it’s time for the House of Representatives to follow suit.
Tell your Representative to pass comprehensive immigration reform that meets the needs of immigrant women and their families.
Immigration reform should help families reunite and stay together, ensure that immigrant women have fair access to the path to citizenship and green cards, protect against the exploitation of workers, make affordable health care available to lawfully present immigrants, and preserve tax credits and Social Security benefits for lawful immigrants.
Fight for immigrant women and their families. Tell your Representative we need immigration reform to provide a roadmap for people who aspire to be citizens and to give immigrant women and families a fair chance.
It’s not what you look like or where you were born that makes you American — it’s how you live your life. We believe that families should stick together, and that we have a responsibility to help our neighbors. Common-sense immigration reform will make this possible for the millions of immigrant families contributing to our communities today.
Thank you for everything you do for women and their families.
Sincerely,

Emily J. Martin Vice President and General Counsel National Women’s Law Center

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Watch this — and then fight for her

06/21/2013 Nativegrl77

Organizing for Action

Ola is the daughter of immigrants and a college student who wants to help cure cancer.
But when a clerical error brought her family’s immigration status under investigation, Ola’s future became uncertain — she didn’t know whether she would be allowed to stay in the United States or for how long.
Watch her story — then sign up to join an interactive livestream of the full 30-minute film, “The Dream is Now,” next Thursday, June 27th, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

This incredibly moving documentary tells the story of four DREAMers who are just like you and me in that they call America home.
Their futures hinge on comprehensive immigration reform.
You’ve got to see this movie. It’ll be 30 minutes you won’t regret.
Ola will be one of several special guests joining us for an online chat after next week’s showing.
Watch her tell her story — then RSVP to join the livestream on Thursday:
http://my.barackobama.com/Watch-Olas-Story
Thanks,
Emmy
Emmy Ruiz Immigration Campaign Manager Organizing for Action

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A great way to save some money

06/21/2013 Nativegrl77

This week, we got some big news about the immigration reform bill. It’s a little wonky, but it’s so great that I couldn’t wait to share it with you.

The nonpartisan experts who estimate the financial impact of legislation for Congress concluded that because undocumented immigrants will start paying more in taxes for things like education and Social Security, the immigration proposal in the Senate will make the economy fairer for middle class families while cutting the U.S. deficit by almost $1,000,000,000,000 over the next two decades.

With every passing day, it’s becoming clear that we can’t afford not to act. Now we know exactly how much is at stake, and it’s the kind of news that can help to change the policy conversation in Washington.

So we’ve put together a graphic that explains exactly how this works, and we need your help to share it. If more people get the facts, it’ll be easier to build a nationwide, bipartisan consensus to get this done.

Take a look, then share this graphic with folks you know: