Call to Action for a Comprehensive Immigration Reform
CalProv 07.33
May 21, 2007
Dear Jesuits and Lay Colleagues of the California Province :
Over the past 18 months, members of our province have been engaged in prayer, fasting, service and advocacy on behalf of our particular commitment to solidarity with immigrants as well as our participation in the national Justice for Immigrants campaign.
Today, the full Senate will begin to debate a bill to establish comprehensive immigration reform. After months of high-level negotiations, key Senators announced agreement on an immigration reform deal on Thursday, May 17. Though the bill begins to address some of the key concerns of the Justice for Immigrants campaign, much remains to be improved during markup and debate before the bill would gain full support of the Jesuit Conference and the USCCB.
Now is a crucial time to reach out to our Senators via telephone, fax, and e-mail. If the Senate is unable to pass comprehensive legislatio in the next few weeks, the issue will likely be shelved for the next two years. In the meantime, the current Administration will continue a campaign of sporadic workplace enforcement raids designed to look tough on immigrants (without severe penalties for employers), striking fear in undocumented persons by separating family members and forcing them further underground.
What is the appropriate message to send to our Senators at this crucial time? The Jesuit Conference and the Justice for Immigrants campaign have identified the following four areas of concern to be emphasized for inclusion in immigration reform legislation:
- The preservation of family unity in our immigration system;
- A new worker program with appropriate worker protections;
- A path to citizenship for new migrant workers;
- The restoration of due process for all immigrants.
The California Province urges you to contact each of your Senators immediately. In terms of weight, Senate aides have told us that telephone calls are given significant weight, followed by faxed letters,and then finally e-mail. Attached, please find a document containing Talking Points that you can use when you phone your Senator's office.
In addition, we have prepared a Sample Immigration Letter that you may customize and either fax or paste into the body of an e-mail message.
Finally, we have provided Senate Contact Information for each of the Senators from our Province, as well as additional resources for those living beyond the province.
I hope you will take advantage of this important opportunity to engage in legislative advocacy on behalf of our Province-wide commitment to solidarity with immigrants. If you have any further questions or concerns, feel free to contact me directly at mpotter@calprov.org.
Sincerely,
Mark Potter
Assistant for Social Ministries
California Province of the Society of Jesus
171 S. Gless Street
Los Angeles, CA 90033-3307
Phone: (323) 780-9503
Mobile: (310) 367-3851
Fax: (323) 780-9505
Attachments:
- Telephone Talking Points
- Senate Contact Information
- Sample Immigration Letter