Save this afternoon! Feb 1, 1-4 PM for the annual retreat on immigration

On Saturday, February 1st, please join us for the 2014 C-U Immigration Forum Retreat

We sometimes need a chance to catch up each other on the issues and the news, and to discuss, prioritize the resources, and plan out strategy to meet the challenges. This year, there yet may be reform at the national level but we have the opportunity of very willing state and local governments to be immigrant friendly; we have learned that when we organize, the contribution and plight of immigrants can be changed positively. 

We need your help to plan and execute programs for making Champaign-Urbana the most immigrant friendly community in Illinois. With you, we can make it happen. 

When: Saturday, February 1st from 1-4 PM

Where: University YMCA
1001 S. Wright St.
Champaign
Parking is available behind the building. Refreshments will be served.


Please RSVP at the link below:

https://docs.google.com/a/universityymca.org/forms/d/10fS5x3eIEPtAEMCBJyPuzBG7QzCdoAPCkqmWWHFqkIQ/viewform


We have now drafted the agenda and it includes:

-Updating each other in the national debate on immigration reform

-Figure out some of the possible policy proposals that we can prepare for

-Tweak the way we have been helping people with their paperwork for driver licenses, youth brought as children, and on becoming citizens; help people advocate for themselves

-We will also be forming new working groups to smooth out communication, provide for new leaders, and help our monthly meetings be more streamlined

This is a good time to come, get more informed on one particular topic and get involved in another facet of the immigration debate or service to immigrants

We hope to see you there!

Driver Licenses for immigrants now a reality

• We see the new law as a positive step towards the safety of all 
• The general population will benefit from more insurance coverage 
• Local police departments and sheriff will have a way to verify people's driving eligibility and insurance coverage 
• We do not know how many people are affected locally, but they include many ethnicities and it includes students. 
• Everyone benefited will have to pass a written and a practical test and pay regular fees. 
• The bill will take effect on November 27th and the rules are not out yet, people should check CUimmigrationForum.org 
• We will hold trainings on the driving regulations through IF 
• The cooperation involves the governor but all legislators, including our own senator and assembly people supported the bill and we thank them for the reasonable support. 
• This measure makes sense for driving issues in our state but a better solution is to support immigration reform at the national level, much as the federal legislators and president are talking about 
• IF is composed of...and we meet the 2nd Tuesday of every month, at the University Y

Faith Allies and October Immigration Justice Month is October 2013

Faith Allies and October Immigration Justice Month


In an effort to foster greater dialogue about immigration within our congregations, the Allies of Faith of the CU Immigration Forum have launched the second annual Immigrant Justice Month for this October. Events are planned throughout the community, in congregations and public forums, to raise awareness of issues surrounding immigration and the immigrant experience. The calendar below offers the community opportunity to join in conversations approaching the immigration debate from a perspective of faith and justice.


5:00 pm Sunday, October 6 at UniPlace Christian Church, 403 S. Wright St., Champaign.
Beginning of 8-week seminar on Understanding Strife in the Congo. This class will meet weekly on Sundays and will increase understanding of Congolese immigration to our community. Open to the public. Go to unip lace.org for more information.


6:30 pm Monday, October 7 Harvest of Empire: film screening/discussion at Channing Murray Foundation, 1209 W. Oregon, U. This new feature-length documentary, "Harvest of Empire," examines the direct connection between the long history of U.S. intervention in Latin America and the immigration crisis we face today.


Monday, October 14 Fast Day Called: The Allies of Faith of the Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum have called for religious leaders and others in the community to join in a day of fasting as we pray for successful Comprehensive Immigration Reform for the sake of justice in our community.


7:00 pm Monday, October 14 abUSed: The Postville Raid: film screening/discussion at Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign, 309 W. Green, Urbana. This film weaves together the personal stories of those directly affected by the largest, most brutal and expensive Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid in the history of the United States. This event took place in Postville, Iowa, in 2008. The documentary presents the human face of immigration, the socioeconomic forces that fuel it, and serves as a cautionary tale against government abuses.


Saturday, October 19 at First Mennonite Church, 902 W. Springfield, Urbana 61801. Food Security Forum: Food for Today, Food for Tomorrow, Food for All. Program is free and includes an evening meal. Interactive shopping and cooking on a Food Stamp Budget begins at 10 am. Information and discussion sessions run from 1:00 – 7:30 pm. Details and meal registration at www.fmc-cu.org.


7:00 pm Monday, October 21 at Channing Murray Foundation, 1209 W. Oregon, U.
Justice in Motion: Responding to Changing Needs with Nicaragua’s Poor Presentation and Craft Display. Craft items will be available for sale.


12:30 pm Sunday, October 27 Food will be served from 12:30-2:00 pm at our Immigration Justice Fair held at University Place Christian Church, 403 S. Wright, Champaign. Faith groups and civic organizations will highlight ways they welcome the stranger and show hospitality to immigrants in Champaign-Urbana. A great networking event. Reserve an info table through https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1QXFNUh7yOd1QCRMVY7fI0KrXEdVR1pSBQVW4Hp0EXQ0/viewform


2:00 pm Sunday, October 27 Interfaith Worship Service at University Place Christian Church, 403 S. Wright, Champaign led by faith leaders from many distinct congregations. It will be a moving conclusion to a month-long effort to lift up the needs of our immigrant neighbors today even as we celebrate the immigrant history of our past.


6:00 pm Wednesday, October 30 University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright, Champaign. Dia de los Muertos celebration with live music and light refreshments. A festive celebratory event lifting up immigrant contributions to our community.


7:00 pm Thursday, October 31 “Our View From the Border,” an interactive presentation at
Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign, 309 W. Green, Urbana. Desert aid workers Kate Morgan-Olsen and Ricky Cheney from No More Deaths will offer firsthand accounts of trends in migration; human rights abuse documentation in Nogales, Sonora; migrant support in the Sonoran desert; and allied movement building in communities throughout Arizona with emphasis on a model for organizing that can be replicated in Champaign-Urbana. No More Deaths is a ministry of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson.

Pro-Immigration Rally this Saturday, August 31st

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