CONGRESS CAN CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD ON IMMIGRATION REFORM

Jump to today’s actions:

Call the Senate
Call the House

Background

After four years of xenophobic immigration policies, Congress has the opportunity and moral responsibility to reestablish America as a welcoming nation that embraces immigrants, protects those fleeing persecution, and promotes immigrant participation in our shared prosperity. We need legislation, like the U.S. Citizenship Act (HR1177/SB348), that builds on immigrants’ contributions, reunites families, strengthens America’s economy, expands humanitarian protection, and provides a path to citizenship for those living in legal limbo. Unlike previous proposals, it doesn’t prioritize increased border enforcement--enraging GOP and worrying centrist Dems.

The House-passed American Dream and Promise Act and Farm Workforce Modernization Act are good first steps that need quick Senate passage. So is Citizenship for Essential Workers Act introduced last week by Senators Padilla and Warren and Representatives Castro and Lieu, providing a path to citizenship for the 5 million essential workers who put their lives on the line during the pandemic.

How they fare in the Senate, where GOP threatens not to discuss legalization until Trump’s border policies are reinstated, will show Democrats whether bipartisanship’s possible. Since failure to reform our immigration system is not an option, the Citizenship Act will have to be included in infrastructure legislation or pass through filibuster reform.

1. 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].

Democrats in the House have passed popular legislation--the American Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act--which recognizes that America is a nation of immigrants and that we thrive by providing a pathway to citizenship. I want to thank the Senator for championing immigration reform, and ask that he work for the swift passage of these bills, along with the recently introduced Citizenship for Essential Workers Act, even if that requires filibuster reform.

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].

Democrats in the House have passed popular legislation--the American Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act--which recognizes that America is a nation of immigrants and that we thrive by providing a pathway to citizenship. I want to thank the Senator for championing immigration reform, and ask that he work for the swift passage of these bills, along with the recently introduced Citizenship for Essential Workers Act, even if that requires filibuster reform.

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].

It is time for GOP members of Congress to recognize that America is a nation of immigrants, that we thrive by providing a pathway to citizenship, that federal immigration reform is essential to America’s economic success, and that sound economic solutions can help states rebuild and recover from the pandemic while powering the construction, agricultural, hospitality and tourism industries. For these reasons, I expect my Senator to drop the Party’s xenophobic rheteric and filibuster threats and vote for the American Dream and Promise Act, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, and the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act when they reach the Senate floor.

2. Call the House.

Look up your rep.

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].

Passing the American Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act are good first steps, for which I thank the Rep., but we still have a long way to go to reestablish America as a welcoming nation that embraces immigrants, protects those fleeing persecution and promotes immigrant participation in our shared prosperity. The next step should be passage of the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act as we move towards enacting Biden’s U.S. Citizenship Act. In doing so, please avoid the trap of acceding to the GOP’s demands for increased enforcement before they will even consider cooperating.

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].

It is time for GOP members of Congress to recognize that federal immigration reform is essential to America’s economic success and that sound economic solutions can help states rebuild and recover from the pandemic while powering the construction, agricultural, hospitality and tourism industries. Although the Rep. did not vote to help Dreamers regularize their status, I expect him to support the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act, which creates a path for citizenship for essential workers who continue to put their lives on the line for his constituents during the pandemic.

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].

Passing the American Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act are good first steps, for which I thank the Rep., but we still have a long way to go to reestablish America as a welcoming nation that embraces immigrants, protects those fleeing persecution and promotes immigrant participation in our shared prosperity. The next step should be passage of the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act as we move towards enacting Biden’s U.S. Citizenship Act. In doing so, please avoid the trap of acceding to the GOP’s demands for increased enforcement before they will even consider cooperating.

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].

Passing the American Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act are good first steps, for which I thank the Rep., but we still have a long way to go to reestablish America as a welcoming nation that embraces immigrants, protects those fleeing persecution and promotes immigrant participation in our shared prosperity. The next step should be passage of the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act as we move towards enacting Biden’s U.S. Citizenship Act. In doing so, please avoid the trap of acceding to the GOP’s demands for increased enforcement before they will even consider cooperating.

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].

Passing the American Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act are good first steps, for which I thank the Rep., but we still have a long way to go to reestablish America as a welcoming nation that embraces immigrants, protects those fleeing persecution and promotes immigrant participation in our shared prosperity. The next step should be passage of the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act as we move towards enacting Biden’s U.S. Citizenship Act. In doing so, please avoid the trap of acceding to the GOP’s demands for increased enforcement before they will even consider cooperating.