C-U Immigration Forum Comparison of Comprehensive Immigration Reform

This is a simplified version of the proposals for immigration reform as talked about in February 2013. The CU Immigration Forum synthesized several and then voted at a general meeting what the local position would be. We used expediency and morality as our primary criteria fully realizing that at times they contracted each other. When you find a blank our column, we either could not agree at the Forum or we judged it critical not to agree to any of the proposals as outlined since we either did not agree w/ the details or with the principle. CU Immigration Forum's summary of proposals' position on Streamlining  Immigration gaps CU Immigration Forum's summary of proposals' position on further enforcement CU Immigration Forum's summary of proposals' position on the Pathway to Citizenship CU Immigration Forum's summary of proposals' position on worker and employer proposals

Join us in the fight for meaningful and humane immigration reform

On Wednesday, April 10th more than two dozen local organizations and congregations will hold a candlelight vigil and march to underscore the need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR). The event, which is entitled "Light the Pathway to Citizenship - Don't Block It" is just one of dozens of events taking place on that day as part of a National Day of Action across the country to build support for CIR in communities throughout the nation.

"We want to demonstrate to our elected officials that there is broad community support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform," explained Ricardo Diaz, a member of the Steering Committee of the C-U Immigration Forum who is organizing the event. "There is growing consensus in our country that the time has come to fix our broken immigration system and provide a pathway to citizenship to the many undocumented immigrants living in and contributing to the vitality of our community."

Details: The event will begin at 5:30 PM at the University Y (1001 South Wright Street). From there we will march to the Unitarian Universalist Church, home of the East Central Illinois Refugee Mutual
Assistance Center (ECIRMAC) at 309 West Green, Urbana for a brief rally before proceeding to
the federal Courthouse in downtown Urbana.

Background: The November elections reset the national debate on immigration reform forcing even the most ardent opponents of immigration reform to reconsider their position. As a result there is a narrow more window of opportunity to make Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) a reality and provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of our family, friends and neighbors. The Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum is a group of immigrants, students, clergy, service providers, labor union representatives, residents and community organizations concerned about the progress and plight of immigrants in the Champaign County community works to:

• celebrate the diversity and culture that immigrants contribute to our community;
• educate the public about issues that affect local immigrant communities;
• advocate for the rights of immigrants and encourage their full participation in civic, cultural, social and political life in our community;
• promote permanent and positive changes that will improve the quality of life for immigrants in our community; and
• organize for policies that lead to just and humane treatment to all immigrants that are part of our community.

Unions support CIR, please join all campaigns

Dear friend, Immigration reform is about creating opportunities and unlocking America's future. Economic reports show that granting citizenship for 11 million immigrants would add $1.5 trillion to our economy over the next ten years. Unfortunately, Republican leaders are trying to convince us that citizenship is an extreme proposition. Where would we be if our past generations had been denied citizenship? When policymakers reject citizenship, they reject immigrants as equals in society and reject the American values we hold dear. It means creating a permanent group of second-class citizens. It means turning away our neighbors, friends, and co-workers whose children attend our schools, who contribute to our economy, who provide us support when we are in need. Congress needs to know that a path to citizenship must be included in immigration reform – and they need to hear from us right away. Thousands have joined our Time Is Now campaign and now it's your turn. Here’s how: 1.     Call Congress today and tomorrow at 1-877-848-8289. 2.     Share this message with your friends, families, and neighbors. Tell them that denying citizenship is wrong and unacceptable. A half-baked solution without citizenship is no solution at all – it’s not what this country expects or needs. What we need is a 21st century immigration system for our 21st century economy. The time is now for Congress to act in a bipartisan fashion to pass a fair, commonsense immigration reform, one worthy of our values and aspirations. Exercise your political muscle and join hundreds of thousands calling Congress to make their voices heard. Tell your representative: Support fair immigration reform with a clear path to citizenship.We will not forget the policymakers who vote the wrong way. They need to remember, we vote, too. Make the call today and support immigration reform: 1-877-848-8289 In solidarity, Eliseo Medina SEIU International Secretary Treasurer

SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION SEIU 1800 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036

Highway Safety and Mandatory Insurance bill for ALL Illinois motorists

The bill that would grant temporary driver licenses to the undocumented in Illinois has taken a step forward today by moving through the transportation committee. SB957 now needs a vote on the floor of the Illinois General Assembly. If it passes there, it would go to the governor for final approval.

Remember that passage of the bill improves safety for everyone. The Chicago Tribute states, that:
"The proposal would allow an estimated 250,000 illegal immigrants in Illinois to get three-year renewable license to drive a vehicle. They could not officially be used for other identification purposes, such as for boarding a plane, buying a gun or voting.To become eligible, a person would have to live within Illinois for at least a year, a provision that would require applicants to provide a copy of a lease, utility bills and the like."

Actions

-Join in contacting your representatives to ask them to vote YES on SB957. To easily contact your representative, see this link to and enter your zip code at the bottom of the page. 

-Easily sign this petition asking the leader of the General Assembly to move SB957 to a floor vote.

-Join in the organizing:

The CU Immigration Forum agreed last year that we would work towards the improvement of immigrants' lives by helping get driver licenses. We joined the statewide coalition that organized to get sponsors for a bill and then for its passage. The Highway Safety Coalition  http://highwaysafetycoalition.org/ welcomes all kinds of organizations and individuals so make sure to Like their page.

Hospitals, law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, churches agree that this inclusion of safe drivers is good for all.

The leadership of local churches have also joined in this effort through the Allies of Faith (they meet on the first Tuesdays of the month at 9 AM. For more information on how congregations can get involved contact Claire at cszoke@cuimmigrationforum.org.

'Surviving the Prairies of Illinois'

The 2012 Election and the Specter of Immigration Reform
Surviving the Prairies of Illinois

12.21.12 | by ALEX E. CHÁVEZ | Read Article in Counterpunch

CU-Immigration Forum and University YMCA receive national press on Counterpunch in article that examines the relationship between national and local politics around immigration reform. The article makes a fair point that local action around immigration is "accountable" to the people who are affected everyday, whereas national level policy can neglect the way people and families are impacted.

Kasey Umland and Francisco Baires speak about Jose Antonio Vargas' visit, with a message to keep fighting - and that's exactly what we're doing.

The Presidential Candidates and Immigration

This is a compilation by CNBC on where the candidates stand on immigration issues: http://www.cnbc.com/id/49694507

Los Condendados at the Y in celebration of Immigrant Justice Month

Los Condenados Huastecos (The Condemed Huastecos) is coming to the University YMCA   this Friday to perform in celebration of Immigrant Justice Month, an initiative of our inter-faith friends, the Allies of Faith!

Show starts at 7pm, and Cynthia a local blogger at The Sandwich Life has recently put up a great post about the acclaimed Chicago-based trio.

Posting a video of a past performance, Cynthia writes, "Try listening to this and tell me it doesn't feel like a Friday night!"

Wouldn't you agree?

Watching the clip, the music that Los Condenados Huastecos play is a HUGE sound when you take into account that there's typically only three musicians playing son huasteco.  The huasteco style of the Mexican central gulf coast region is distinguished by its virtuosic fiddle playing, canorous falsetto singing, and poetic improvisation.  Known for improvising and making up lyrics on the spot at performances, Los Condenados Huastecos dialogue with the local Champaign-Urbana immigrant community and raise awareness about their rights and contributions.  It's what Immigrant Justice Month is all about!
 
The performance is free and open to the public. So, bring yourself and everyone you know to what should be nothing short of a good time.

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Los Condenados Huastecos at the Y
October 19th, 7pm
University YMCA
1001 S. Wright Street, Champaign 

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