FREEDOM

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FREEDOM
Making Immigrants Relevant Nebraskas Role in
Comprehensive Immigration Reform
March 10, 2006 Midwest Biennial Social Work
Conference
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Immigrant Rights Network of Iowa and Nebraska

• Kristen Hendershot
• Margarita Hernandez
• Jenna Grotelueschen
• Meghan Posey

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The Immigration System At A Glance

• Five ways for foreign people to come to the
  United States
• As an Immigrant
• As a Refugee
• As an Asylee
• As a Non-Immigrant
• As an Undocumented Person

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Where Are They From?

• 53 Latin America
• 25 Asia
• 14 Europe
• 8 Rest of the World
• Source U.S. Census Bureau

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The Immigration System At A Glance

• As an Immigrant
• Family-based system
• Quotas and categories
• Plagued by backlogs
• Nuclear family definition
• Unrealistic visa allotments

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Family-Based Preference System
Plus any visas left over from the 4th
preference Plus any visas left over from the
1st and 2nd preference Plus any visas left
over from the previous preferences
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The Immigration System At A Glance

• As a Refugee
• Flees their native territory out of fear of
  persecution or death due to political views,
  tribal affiliation, religious practice, or the
  presence of armed conflict (war)
• Escapes to a neighboring country, usually living
  in a U.N. sponsored camp, until receiving
  Convention Status, allowing them to immigrate
  to a third country

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Number of Refugees Allowed
In 2004, the total number of refugees allowed in
this country was as small as 24,000.
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The Immigration System At A Glance

• As an Asylee
• Flees for same reasons as a refugee, but comes
  directly to U.S.
• Must prove fear of death
• Since 2001, routinely detained

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The Immigration System At A Glance

• As a Non-Immigrant
• 140 million visitors each year
• Foreign students
• Migrant workers
• Tourists
• Legitimate purposes
• Economic asset to local communities through work,
  study and tourism

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The Immigration System At A Glance

• As an Undocumented Person
• No clear legal channel, EWI
• Visa Overstays (to join other family)
• Some with quasi-official status
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
• Domestic Violence Survivors (VAWA)

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A broken immigration system IMPACTS ON
NEBRASKA

• Divides our families and communities
• Encourages labor exploitation
• Ignores diverse contributions
• Obstructs educational, health, and other systems
• Accepts immigrants tax dollars and contributions
  without allowing their full participation in
  society

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Solutions to the Broken System

• Principles for Reform
• Provide a Path to Permanent Resident Status or
  Citizenship
• Reunite Families and Reduce Backlogs
• Provide Opportunities for Safe Future Migration
  and Protect Worker Rights
• Respect safety security of all in immigration
  law enforcement
• Recognize Immigrants Full Humanity
• Restore Fundamental Civil Rights
• Protect the Rights of Refugees and Asylees

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What is Comprehensive Immigration Reform?

• At the simplest level, it is reform that
  addresses not only enforcement, but the whole
  system including pathways to citizenship for
  those already here, and a safe and orderly
  process for future immigrants.

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Current Reform Proposals

• The Good
• Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act of
  2005 (S. 1033, H.R. 2330)
• Senator Hagels Package
• Strengthening Americas Security Act of 2005 (S.
  1916)
• Employment Verification Act of 2005 (S. 1917)
• Strengthening Americas Workforce Act of 2005
  (S. 1918)
• Immigrant Accountability Act of 2005 (S. 1919)

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Current Reform Proposals

• The Bad
• The Border Security and Interior Enforcement
  Improvement Act of 2005 (S. 2368)
• The Ugly
• The Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal
  Immigration Act (H.R. 4437)

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Areas of Growing Agreement

• The system is broken
• Security
• Immigrant contributions
• Refugees and asylees need
• more attention

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Indications

• Recent polls show more than 75 of likely voters
  agree on these statements
• The immigration system is broken and needs to be
  fixed.
• If an immigrant has been in this country
  working, paying taxes, and learning English,
  there should be a way for them to become a
  citizen.
• Fixing our immigration system to make it safe,
  legal, and orderly will make us more secure from
  terrorists.
• (The Tarrance Group and Lake Snell
  Perry Mermin, March 2005)

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Work Yet To Be Done

• Help for the Undocumented
• No Clear Claim to Legal Status
• Law-abiding in every other aspect
• Willing to be held to high standards of
  citizenship
• English
• Paying Taxes
• Absence of Criminal Record

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Unique Opportunities Nebraskas Role in the
National Debate

• Our CIR Principles have shaped the dialogue
• First developed here in 2003
• Nebraska has a unique context of urban/rural
• No big city issues like extreme poverty, crime
• New Growth State
• 7th in nation in immigrant percentage growth in
  last census
• Senator Hagels bill may be the compromise
• We have the ability to be much more vocal if we
  have a single message

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Essential Elements of Our Campaign

• Public education
• Legislative visits
• Public media
• Demonstrations and rallies
• Public forums and conferences
• Letter writing campaign
• Community outreach
• visits with critical leaders
• Immersion activities
• Connected with national efforts

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Government representatives all agreed the system
is broken but stressed that immigration reform is
a monster issue that will take years to fix.
10/2005
Advocates want immigration reform, not just
border security 10/12/05
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Rally Urges Changes in Immigration Law 2/03/06
Nelson Proposes Impractical Wall 3/07/06
Like Kennedy and McCain, Hagel supports some
border enforcement measures, a guest worker
program and increased visas to reunite families.
2/3/06
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Opportunity Knocks

• Public forum with more than 300 in attendance

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Our Future Building Bridges

• Social workers as change agents
• Building bridges between clients and systems
• Educating clients and systems to combat
  misperceptions
• Empowering clients to be their own advocates
• Bringing local action to the national level

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Action Steps

• Get involved in local events that support our
  newest neighbors
• Write a Letter to the Editor of local paper and
  express your support for immigrants/reform
• Contact Members of Congress and demand fair and
  generous comprehensive immigration reform now!

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For More Information

• Please Visit
• www.neappleseed.org
• www.irnin.org
• www.cirnow.org
• www.migrationpolicy.org
• www.urbaninstitute.org