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Comprehensive Immigration Reform 2013-2014: The Road Forward from the Church's Perspective November 1, 2013. Our Presenters. Kevin Appleby , Director, Migration Policy and Public Affairs, US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Ashley Feasley , Immigration Policy Advisor, USCCB
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Comprehensive Immigration Reform 2013-2014: The Road Forward from the Church's Perspective November 1, 2013
Our Presenters Kevin Appleby, Director, Migration Policy and Public Affairs, US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Ashley Feasley, Immigration Policy Advisor, USCCB Michelle Sardone, Legalization Program Director, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC)
Our Agenda Political overview House legislation: enforcement House legislation: legal immigration House legislation: bills not yet introduced Messaging Potential questions/Challenges Next steps/Moving forward Preparing for implementation
Political Overview Strong Senate bill Divided House Republican Caucus Implications of Budget Debate/Shutdown Three Pressure Points: Regular Order, Democratic bill, Administration Timeline
House Legislation: Enforcement Border Security Legislation (HR 1417) Metrics vs. More Resources (Corker-Hoeven) Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement (SAFE) Act (HR 2278) Criminalize Undocumented Presence Criminalize Transporting/Harboring Authorize State and local law enforcement Authorize States to pass immigration laws
House Legislation: Legal Immigration SKILLS Visa Act (HR 2131) Elimination of Diversity Lottery and Family Categories Fundamentally changes purpose of immigration system: family vs. economy Ag Act (HR 1773) Guestworker program for ag workers No pathway to citizenship Insufficient worker protections/wages
House Legislation: Not Yet Introduced KIDS Act (version of DREAM Act) Legalization Bill—no path to citizenship Asylum “Reform” Low-Skilled Guestworker Program
Messaging Path to Citizenship: No permanent underclass Final product must be comprehensive Congress must show bipartisan accomplishment/cooperation NO SAFE ACT Suffering (family separation, exploitation, death) must end
Potential Questions/Challenges Legalization: Support to get to conference? Position on HR 15 (Senate bill + House border security bill minus Corker-Hoeven) Administrative action (timing) Path to conference committee Pulling the plug
Path Forward We have until December 2014 Ongoing Advocacy toward swing members Advocacy on detention and deportation issues (Administrative Action)
Preparing for Implementation Advocacy Catholic Call-In Day November 13th Community education Assist potential applicants to prepare Partner with local immigration legal service providers Immigrant integration Resources
Community Education There is NO new law There is no waiting list Reputable legal service providers https://cliniclegal.org/affiliates/directory http://www.justice.gov/eoir/ra/raroster.htm http://www.ailalawyer.com/ Start saving money
Community Education Immigrant contributions https://cliniclegal.org/resources/othergeneral/why-comprehensive-immigration-reform-good-states-without-footnotes-2013 U.S. Bishops’ statements https://cliniclegal.org/category/issues/catholic-social-teaching Justice for Immigrants www.justiceforimmigrants.org
Assisting Potential Applicants Prepare Translation of home country documents Partner with consulates Address and immigration history Help organize documents Proof of physical presence How can your agency help? Employment/school records
Partner with Local Experts Immigration legal service providers https://cliniclegal.org/affiliates/directory http://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/legaldirectory/ Experts in immigration law Community presentations Materials Consultations Need volunteers Need resources
Immigrant Integration Financial literacy Taxes Competent tax assistance Pay your 2013 taxes before 4/15/14 English classes Consider starting a class in your community
Resources CLINIC’s Preparing for Comprehensive Immigration Reform manual: https://cliniclegal.org/resources/legalization-manual CIR planning outline: https://cliniclegal.org/sites/default/files/second_clinic_outline_for_cir_plans_2013_-_question_format_-_final.docx Sample funding templates: https://cliniclegal.org/resources/cir-budget-template-affiliates
Resources Tax information: http://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep http://www.ilrc.org/files/documents/itin_and_taxpayer_faqs_final.pdf ESL providers https://www.literacydirectory.org/ http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/AdultEd/englit.html
Free Friday Webinars Nov. 8, 15, and 22 at 2-3:30 pm EST Recent Trends in State and Local Immigration Enforcement Immigration Detention: Perspectives from D.C. and the Field State & Local Immigration Laws: Recap 2013 and 2014 Outlook https://cliniclegal.org/calendar/webinar-series-hot-topics-immigration-advocacy
Questions? 3211 Fourth Street NE Washington DC 20017 202-541-3000 kappleby@usccb.org afeasley@usccb.org 8757 Georgia Ave., Suite 850 Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-565-4800 national@cliniclegal.org twitter.com/cliniclegal facebook.com/cliniclegal