Mrs. Obama & The Second Grader's Immigration Question - Plus the Dream Act 5

by: KrisSchultz

Thu May 20, 2010 at 14:16:54 PM EDT

Heartbreaking, huh? Mrs. Obama handled it the best she could, but it shouldn't take the bird-dogging efforts of an innocent Second Grader with a heart-wrenching story to motivate the U.S.A. to change our broken immigration system! This "teachable moment" arises during the official State visit between President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderón, where immigration reform and concerns stemming from Arizona's new "show me your papers" law is a central concern.

You may have heard of the DREAM ACT 5 sit-in at Sen. John McCain's office in Arizona earlier this week.  That's when five young people without documents bravely risked deportation with a little civil disobedience.  This interview yesterday on NHPR's THE WORLD with Yahaira Carrillo, one of the Dream Act 5, really caught my ear.  Literally just heard this interview with Tania Unzueta, another Dream Act 5-er, on NHPR's HERE AND NOW.

So we've got a second grader's question to Mrs. Obama and a Dream Act 5 sit-in at Sen. McCain's office, but nothing seems to make the rhetoric become reality.  Thus, I've gotta ask: WHAT MORE WILL IT TAKE TO GET WASHINGTON LAWMAKERS TO REFORM OUR NATION'S BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM?  HASN'T ARIZONA'S ACTIONS PROVEN HOW URGENTLY CHANGE IS NEEDED?

Angry about Arizona's Anti-Immigrant Actions? You Can Make A Difference Here in New Hampshire!

by: KrisSchultz

Fri Apr 30, 2010 at 00:27:00 AM EDT

So many new developments abound on immigration reform in recent days, it's definitely been hard to keep up with them all.  So, for the sake of brevity and for your own research purposes, I'm going to post links to a variety of news for you to choose on your own.  Less editorializing from me = more deductions and information-gathering by you? That's my hope.

NH STATE SENATE & OUR PRESS CONFERENCE
Our organization - Reform Immigration FOR America - held a press conference yesterday.  The Speakers were former Ambassador George Bruno, former NH GOP Party chair Fergus Cullen, Eva Castillo, Sarah Chaisson Warner of NH Citizens Alliance, John Young of the National Agriculture Council for Immigration Reform, and Carlos Cardona, a school board member from Franklin.  Fergus has a very compelling story:

Cullen told the story of his own parents, who immigrated to America from Ireland. Cullen's parents came to America in the 1960s so his father could do a medical residency at a Boston hospital. At the time, foreign doctors were eligible for the draft, and Cullen's father served for a year in Vietnam rather than return to Ireland. In the 1970s, Cullen's parents became citizens.

Cullen said that in the last presidential primary, the Republican candidates with the most extreme views on immigration were largely ignored.

"There is support for comprehensive immigration reform, and it's not something we should put off for another election," Cullen said.

Many immigrants seek U.S. citizenship by time served in service with our military.  President Obama first spoke out about Arizona's actions during a swearing in ceremony for new citizens who served in our military, risking their lives for a country that was yet to accept them as a member.

Also yesterday, HCR22 - a pro-comprehensive immigration reform resolution - passed the NH State Senate Judiciary Committee and moves on to the full State Senate.  If it passes, that means that both bodies of the NH General Court calls on Congress and the President to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform.  And that's awesome.  So look for that on Wednesday.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Today Mayor Bloomberg said that our nation is "committing national suicide" if we don't pass immigration reform. He understands what this means to our economy and to our families. He gets it!

"We have to get real about the 12 million undocumented here," the mayor said. "We're not going to deport them. Give them permanent status. Don't make them citizens unless they can qualify, but give them permanent status and let's get on with this."
.....
He called on President Obama to lead the fight to overhaul the nation's immigration rules. "I will be there behind him supporting him 100%," he said.

Bloomberg long has been a supporter of immigration reform, saying current law deters international companies from sending employees through border hassles to work in the U.S. - and freezes out the highly skilled immigrants America needs.

Show Us Your Papers.... in NH?

by: KrisSchultz

Mon Apr 26, 2010 at 23:13:14 PM EDT

So, Arizona's Governor signed that crazy "show your papers" bill into law, underscoring the need for comprehensive immigration reform. Without federal action, the President and the Congress should expect a whole lot more of these misguided and extreme state based laws. The federal government needs to stand up and lead and fulfill their responsibility to lead on immigration. We don't need anymore band-aid fixes for our broken immigration system - NH urgently needs comprehensive immigration reform this year.

Think that can't happen in NH? Folks have actually already tried.  Remember what happened in New Ipswich?  Or in Hudson? Did you know that there was even a similar resolution by Reps Ulery and Renzullo, but it was turned on it's head by State Rep. Kris Roberts earlier this year? Despite still having the anti-immigrant State Representatives names on it, the resolution is now
headed for the State Senate's Judiciary Committee this week.  Spare one small segment, our group supports this resolution, as it now urges comprehensive immigration reform.

Comprehensive immigration reform is a much better fix for America, as it gives a pathway to citizenship to undocumented immigrants (that isn't an amnesty), accounts for a future flow of immigrants, eliminates bureaucratic backlog of visas and citizenship applications, and accounts for enforcement.  

Lock up anyone who "looks" like an immigrant....

by: KrisSchultz

Thu Apr 22, 2010 at 19:23:36 PM EDT

But why talk about Arizona on Blue Hampshire?  Think that can't happen here, too?  

NH's own Union Leader editorial page supports Arizona's steps towards a police state, according to an editorial last Friday.  This editorial makes a few erroneous claims, such as equating immigration reform with amnesty (which it is not) and assuming that our businesses and economy have no dependence on immigrants (they do.)