CONGRESS MUST PERMANENTLY PROTECT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS
The time has long passed for Congress to prevent the removal of undocumented immigrants, who are Americans in all ways but their legal status.
QUICK READ: The vast majority of Americans favor a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and believe immigrants make our country stronger, but GOP-controlled states have been trying to kill DACA since its promulgation in 2012. The Fifth Circuit’s recent decision affirming DACA’S illegality likely signed its death warrant, unless Congress steps in to protect immigrants and their families, the communities they serve, and the economic benefits they provide to our country. Only increased Democratic majorities in Congress will make this possible.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
The vast majority of Americans favor a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and believe immigrants make our country stronger.
Congress’ decades-long failure to legislate has forced the executive branch to devise temporary workarounds.
Obama created DACA in 2012 as a stopgap measure so undocumented immigrants brought here as children before June 2007 could legally drive, pursue education, and work without fear of deportation.
Ever since, DACA’s been under continuous legal assault by Republicans.
While DACA survived Trump’s attempts to kill it, last week the Fifth Circuit likely signed its death warrant by declaring Obama’s policy, and probably Biden’s new one, illegal.
This is the fear DACA recipients and their families have had for years.
Neither the courts nor the President can fix America’s immigration problems. Protecting immigrants and their families, and the economic benefits they provide to our country, requires urgent Senate action.
Democrats, lacking the votes for Senate passage, tried to provide undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship by including provisions of the 2021 House-passed American Dream and Promise Act (HR.6) in its reconciliation bill (the eventual Inflation Reduction Act)—which the Senate Parliamentarian stymied.
Codifying a pathway to citizenship requires increased Democratic majorities in Congress.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Immigrant families deserve to live without the constant fear of deportation, which can only be guaranteed through legislation. Between now and November 8, you must continuously remind voters that only Congressional Democrats will enact this necessary legislation and urge them to elect more Democrats to both Houses of Congress.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Immigrant families deserve to live without the constant fear of deportation, which can only be guaranteed through legislation. Between now and November 8, you must continuously remind voters that only Congressional Democrats will enact this necessary legislation and urge them to elect more Democrats to both Houses of Congress.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
Immigrant families deserve to live without the constant fear of deportation. Over 70% of Americans, including the business community and your constituents, want a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. It is time for you to stop playing politics with the lives of DACA recipients and their families and to start working with Democrats to pass meaningful immigration reform.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Immigrant families deserve to live without the constant fear of deportation, which can only be guaranteed through legislation. Between now and November 8, you must continuously remind voters that only Congressional Democrats will enact this necessary legislation and urge them to elect more Democrats to both Houses of Congress.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Immigrant families deserve to live without the constant fear of deportation. Over 70% of Americans, including the business community and your constituents, want a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. It is time for you to stop playing politics with the lives of DACA recipients and their families and to start working with Democrats to pass meaningful immigration reform.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Immigrant families deserve to live without the constant fear of deportation, which can only be guaranteed through legislation. Between now and November 8, you must continuously remind voters that only Congressional Democrats will enact this necessary legislation and urge them to elect more Democrats to both Houses of Congress.
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Immigrant families deserve to live without the constant fear of deportation, which can only be guaranteed through legislation. Between now and November 8, you must continuously remind voters that only Congressional Democrats will enact this necessary legislation and urge them to elect more Democrats to both Houses of Congress. .
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Immigrant families deserve to live without the constant fear of deportation, which can only be guaranteed through legislation. Between now and November 8, you must continuously remind voters that only Congressional Democrats will enact this necessary legislation and urge them to elect more Democrats to both Houses of Congress.
ACTION THREE: Good Trouble.
GOOD TROUBLE: Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, go make some “good trouble.”
Get involved with Extinction Rebellion or another group working for climate change. For more information, click here.
Fridays at 4 - Letter and Postcard Writing — Indivisible Oregon.
Learn about persuasive language and communication research at the Zoom ASO Movement Briefings every second Wednesday. (DELAYED THIS AUGUST. WATCH THE WEBSITE FOR UPDATES.)
Join the campaign to hold the House and Senate at GiveNoGround.org
Work to protect democracy in the House by electing Democrats Val Hoyle in District 4, Jamie McLeod-Skinner in District 5, and Andrea Salinas in Oregon’s new Congressional District 6.
Check out the Poor People's Campaign Readies 'Massive, Nonviolent' Effort to Save Democracy
Outside of Portland? Check out COIN Oregon.
FURTHER READING
The Current State of DACA: Challenges Await in Litigation and Rulemaking
After the Fifth Circuit’s ruling, does DACA have a future?
Opinion: with DACA’s demise imminent, Congress must finally step up and save ‘dreamers’
US ‘Dreamers’ demand action as court ruling fuels uncertainty
U.S. appeals court sends DACA case back to lower court to consider new rule
Biden Calls Out MAGA Judges, Democratic Congress on DACA
An appeals court rules against DACA, but the program continues – for now
Immigration 101: Who is Judge Andrew Hanen
Bill would allow ‘Dreamers’ to join the military, become citizens
