Comprehensive Immigration Reform

January 16, 2013

In DuPage County

Immigrants in Dupage County by the numbers

• 18.4% of population is foreign-born (172,000)

• 56.6% of immigrants are naturalized citizens

• Top countries of origin:• Mexico• Poland• India• Philippines• China

• 525,000 immigrants undocumented in Illinois

• Immigrant Legal Services

• Refugee Resettlement Services

• Education Services

Core Programs of WRDA

• Current status of pending legislation

• Need for Advocacy

• What World Relief is doing

Agenda

• Attorneys

• Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) Accredited Representatives

Who Can Practice Immigration Law?

BIA Accreditation

Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)

• Part of U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR)

• Appellate body for immigration court cases

• Grants agency recognition and individual accreditation to practice immigration law

8 CFR § 292.2

Unauthorized Practice of Immigration Law

Exploitation of Immigrants

• Immigration scams

• “Notarios”

• Congressman Foster: “Protecting Immigrants from Legal Exploitation”

Well-intentioned friends

• Do not understand legal processes

• Not aware of the potential consequences for immigrants

Comprehensive Immigration Reform

CIR

Existing Law

Changes

Earned Legalization

Comprehensive Immigration ReformB

orde

r Enf

orce

men

t

• Gang of Eight

• Senate Bill S 744• Hoeven-Corker Amendment

• Passed out of Senate 68-32 on 6/27/13

CIR in the US Senate

• Illegal crossings are at a 40-year low

• $17 Billion being spent each year

• There are currently 21,370 border patrol agents (3 times the 1995 level)

• In 2011 more Mexicans left the US than entered

• Deportations at an all-time high

Enforcement Reality Check* E

nfor

cem

ent

*Wall Street Journal, May 3, 2013, page A14

• Family Modifications• Elimination of sibling petitions

• Positive fixes for spouses/minor kids of LPRs

• Workers’ Visas• Expands high-skilled visas

• Temporary worker visas including portability

• Labor/market commission sets numbers

• Merit-Based System

• Refugees and Asylum Seekers• Gives legal status to stateless people

• Eliminates 1-year deadline for asylum filing

Existing Law Changes

Existing Law

Changes

• Registered Provisional Immigrant (RPI)• Must have been in U.S. by January 1, 2012

• Fines/fees must be paid at each step

• First RPI status is for 6 years, is renewable

• After 10 years can apply for Lawful Permanent Resident if enforcement goals are met

• Must have LPR for 3 years to apply for citizenship

• English requirement for citizenship

• Ineligibility• Certain criminal grounds & immigration violations

Earned Legalization – part 1

Earned Legalization

• DREAM Act• Brought to U.S. before age 16

• No age cap

• Must have been in U.S. by January 1, 2012

• First step is to apply for RPI status; through “streamlined procedures”

• After 5 years of RPI status may apply for Lawful Permanent Residency

• Must have LPR for 1 year to apply for citizenship

• English requirement for citizenship

Earned Legalization – part 2

Earned Legalization

• Speaker Boehner/Republican majority against comprehensive bill

• Comprehensive Approach vs. Comprehensive Bill

• Republicans trying to release a set of principles before the State of the Union on January 28

• Border security and interior enforcement• Worker verification system for employers• Earned “status” – not clear on citizenship• Visa reform and visa tracking

Immigration Reform in the House - 1

• 5 Separate Bills so far

• Passed out of Committee

• SAFE Act

• Border Security Results Act

• SKILLS Visa Act

• Legal Workforce Act

• Agricultural Guest-worker (Ag) Act

• None address earned legalization

• Non-negotiable with Democrats/Senate

Immigration Reform in the House - 2

• Timeline• No immigration bills on the floor

• Awaiting “principles” from Republican Leadership

• Likely timeframe for further action is around April 2014

• Threats• No pathway to citizenship in current bills

• Enforcement first (only)

• Partisanship could block progress

Immigration Reform in the House - 3

Why1) Christians

• Our faith calls us to treat foreigners living among us as foreign-born (Lev. 19:34), to advocate for those without a voice (Prov. 31:8), and pray for those in positions of authority (1Tim 2:2)

2) Americans

• Our responsibility as citizens to participate in the political process so that government is “by the people”

• Our Representatives represent us

No Public Support for CIR = No CIR

Advocacy

Who1) Anyone and everyone

• Churches, small groups, businesses, individuals

2) U.S. Representatives in IL• Especially Republicans• WRDA’s area =

• Reps. Roskam – generally opposed, seeing some change• Hultgren – supports some elements, especially DREAM• Duckworth – generally supportive to incremental approach• Quigley – supportive; advocating for full LGBT rights • Foster – very supportive of Comprehensive

Advocacy

What

• That our Representatives work together in a bipartisan manner

• That damaging provisions of the “Safe Act” be corrected

• That earned legalization or “path to citizenship” is included

• That “enforcement” not delay justice for native and foreign born

• Republicans: That they move this forward onto the legislative agenda in the House

• Democrats: That they will not block passage of key provisions if a comprehensive bill is not an option

Advocacy

How

• Become educated

• Personal contact• Hand-written/form letters

• Post cards

• Phone calls / voice mails

• Email

• Meet with elected officials – Quigley, Roskam, Duckworth

• Partner with World Relief

Advocacy

Involvement

What WRDA is doing?

• The Evangelical Immigration Table

• Holding DACA/Citizenship workshops for those eligible

• Involving volunteers in service and advocacy

• Presenting informational sessions (English and Spanish)

• Working to build capacity

• Using volunteers for efficiency

• Helping churches become “document preparation” sites

• Adding legal reps as funding allows

Resources

• Pray4Reform: www.pray4reform.org

• Evangelical Immigration Table: www.evangelicalimmigrationtable.org

• I was a Stranger Challenge: www.welcomingthestranger.com

Advocacy

Principles of Immigration Reform

• Respects the God-given dignity of every person

• Protects the unity of the immediate family

• Respects the rule of law

• Guarantees secure national borders

• Ensures fairness to taxpayers

• Establishes a path toward legal status and/or citizenship for those who qualify and who wish to become permanent residents

www.evangelicalimmigrationtable.org