Farmworker Justice Immigration Reform Update 11/15/13

In the last month, three Republicans, Representatives Denham (CA), Valadao (CA) and Ros-Lehtinen (FL), have signed on as cosponsors to the House comprehensive immigration reform bill, HR15, which together with the 187 Democrats brings the total number of cosponsors to 190. Farmworker Justice applauds their action in support of this bill, which includes the agricultural stakeholder agreement and the broad legalization program contained in the reform bill passed by the Senate. While this is only a modest step toward the greater bipartisanship that marked the Senate’s comprehensive immigration legislation bill, which is similar to HR 15, we are hopeful that more Republicans will join the effort to fix our broken immigration system.

Unfortunately, House leadership has said that it does not plan to address immigration legislation before the end of the year. Yesterday Speaker Boehner said that House leadership has no intention of ever going to a House-Senate conference committee based on the Senate bill. However, some Republicans, including Rep. Diaz-Balart and Rep. Issa, have said that they are still working on bills that would legalize undocumented immigrants, which they plan to file at some point in the future. Many business groups and other individuals active in the Republican Party have also been urging the House to address immigration reform. Many of these groups support a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented individuals currently living in the US. Republican leadership still maintains that it will address immigration legislation in the Spring.

Immigration reform advocates have not been deterred by the House’s inaction as they continue to escalate their efforts all around the country. Last week in Bakersfield, a group of immigrant women staged a sit-in at Republican Whip Representative McCarthy’s office refusing to leave even when the office closed for the day. Rep. McCarthy and his wife eventually returned to the office at 11:00pm to speak with the protesters. Although he said immigration reform would not occur in 2013, the women demonstrated the movement’s determination. Many other actions have occurred and are planned.

In DC, a group of five advocates has committed to fast until Congress passes immigration reform. The group is staying in a tent on the National Mall and welcomes visitors, vigils and shorter fasts in solidarity. One of the participants is Eliseo Medina, Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU, a former farmworker and United Farm Workers organizer. The AFL-CIO and SEIU have each begun to run television ads supporting immigration reform in key Congressional districts where Republicans who hold office are considered to be in close races and there are significant Latino populations.

In the last month, three Republicans, Representatives Denham (CA), Valadao (CA) and Ros-Lehtinen (FL), have signed on as cosponsors to the House comprehensive immigration reform bill, HR15, which together with the 187 Democrats brings the total number of cosponsors to 190. Farmworker Justice applauds their action in support of this bill, which includes the agricultural stakeholder agreement and the broad legalization program contained in the reform bill passed by the Senate. While this is only a modest step toward the greater bipartisanship that marked the Senate’s comprehensive immigration legislation bill, which is similar to HR 15, we are hopeful that more Republicans will join the effort to fix our broken immigration system.

Unfortunately, House leadership has said that it does not plan to address immigration legislation before the end of the year. Yesterday Speaker Boehner said that House leadership has no intention of ever going to a House-Senate conference committee based on the Senate bill. However, some Republicans, including Rep. Diaz-Balart and Rep. Issa, have said that they are still working on bills that would legalize undocumented immigrants, which they plan to file at some point in the future. Many business groups and other individuals active in the Republican Party have also been urging the House to address immigration reform. Many of these groups support a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented individuals currently living in the US. Republican leadership still maintains that it will address immigration legislation in the Spring.

Immigration reform advocates have not been deterred by the House’s inaction as they continue to escalate their efforts all around the country. Last week in Bakersfield, a group of immigrant women staged a sit-in at Republican Whip Representative McCarthy’s office refusing to leave even when the office closed for the day. Rep. McCarthy and his wife eventually returned to the office at 11:00pm to speak with the protesters. Although he said immigration reform would not occur in 2013, the women demonstrated the movement’s determination. Many other actions have occurred and are planned.

In DC, a group of five advocates has committed to fast until Congress passes immigration reform. The group is staying in a tent on the National Mall and welcomes visitors, vigils and shorter fasts in solidarity. One of the participants is Eliseo Medina, Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU, a former farmworker and United Farm Workers organizer. The AFL-CIO and SEIU have each begun to run television ads supporting immigration reform in key Congressional districts where Republicans who hold office are considered to be in close races and there are significant Latino populations.