12-15-2009
Sent by Washingtonians for Immigration Reform
"Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity" to
be Introduced December 15
(Washington D.C.) On Tuesday, December 15,
Congressman
Luis V. Gutierrez
(D-IL) will
introduce new legislation, the Comprehensive
Immigration Reform
for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR
ASAP), to the U.S.
House of Representatives. Gutierrez will be joined by members of many
different faiths and backgrounds, including the Congressional Hispanic
Caucus, Black Caucus, Asian Pacific American Caucus and Progressive
Caucus. "We have waited patiently for a workable solution to our
immigration crisis to be taken up by this Congress and our President,"
said Rep. Gutierrez.
"The time for waiting is over. This bill will be presented before
Congress recesses for the holidays so that there is no excuse for
inaction in the New Year. It is the product of months of collaboration
with civil rights advocates, labor organizations, and members of
Congress. It is an answer to too many years of pain all caused at the
hands of a broken immigration system. This bill says 'enough,'
and presents a solution to our broken system that we as a nation of
immigrants can be proud of."
Who:
Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (IL-4)
Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force
Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-12)
Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-11)
Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus
Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15)
Chair of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (CA-6)
Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus
Rep. Xavier Becerra (CA-31)
Rep. Judy Chu (CA-32)
Rep. Joseph Crowley (NY-7)
Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15)
Rep. Pedro R. Pierluisi (PR-At large)
Rep. Jared Polis (CO-2)
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-9)
Rep. Jose E. Serrano (NY-16)
Other Members of Congress
What:
Introduction of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation
When:
12:30 pm, Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Where:
Room 2220, Rayburn House Office Building
FAIR says the
core principles of Rep. Gutierrez legislation is: (1) several different
amnesty programs aimed at legalizing the 12 million illegal aliens
currently living in the United States and (2) empty promises of
enforcement.
WE SHOULD
NEVER DESPAIR, OUR SITUATION BEFORE HAS BEEN UNPROMISING AND HAS CHANGED
FOR THE BETTER, SO I TRUST, IT WILL AGAIN. IF NEW DIFFICULTIES
ARISE,
WE MUST ONLY PUT
FORTH NEW EXERTIONS AND PROPORTION OUR EFFORTS TO
THE EXIGENCY OF
THE TIMES."
George Washington
National Association of Former Border Patrol Agents
Thursday,
12/10/09
El
Universal
(Mexico City) 12/9/09
Unwanted immigration policy
Leaders of organizations of Mexicans in the U.S. announced yesterday
that they will ask Janet Napolitano, Secretary of National Security
(sic), to halt the firm anti-immigrant policy. Activists of the
Mexican-American Coalition for Migratory Reform are searching for
support from at least 500 pro-immigrant organizations for a letter that
they will deliver to Napolitano in the next few days. In it, they assert
that, instead of promoting a migratory reform in the first year of
government, Barack Obama aims to “intensify the execution” of
anti-immigrant policies.
December 15, 2009
Lawsuit challenges in-state tuition for
illegal immigrants
Attorneys for an anti-illegal immigration
organization are challenging a Texas state law that allows illegal
immigrant students to attend colleges and universities at in-state
rates, saying it violates federal law.
David A. Rogers, a lawyer for the
Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas, an organization in
Austin that opposes illegal immigration, said the lawsuit filed on
Monday in Harris County District Court marks the first direct court
challenge of the Texas law.
Texas is one of 10 states in the nation that
have laws offering in-state tuition to illegal immigrants who meet
certain criteria, including graduating from a local high school and
pledging to legalize their immigration status as soon as possible.
The lawsuit specifically names the
University of Houston, Houston Community College and Lone Star College
systems. A spokesman for UH declined to comment on Tuesday, citing the
pending litigation. HCC officials said a copy of the lawsuit was under
review by their attorneys. A Lone Star spokesman said the college was
not prepared to comment Tuesday afternoon.
In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs allege that
at least 8,000 illegal immigrants attend Texas colleges and universities
at discounted tuition rates for in-state residents or receive some form
of state financial aid, saying the statute violates federal law. The
lawsuit also requests an injunction barring illegal immigrants from
receiving the in-state break on tuition or state-funded financial aid.
"We don't think that taxpayers should break federal law in order to
subsidize people who are in the United States illegally," Rogers said.
Michael Olivas, a University of Houston law
professor who specializes in higher education and immigration issues,
said that the lawsuit filed Monday was based on a flawed reading of
federal statutes and the Texas residency law.
In 2001, Texas became the first state in the
country to pass a law that allowed undocumented students to pay in-state
rates and possibly receive state financial aid, provided they meet
certain criteria.
Since then, California, Illinois, Kansas,
Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin have
passed similar laws. Oklahoma also approved a bill granting in-state
tuition to undocumented students, but it later was rescinded and now
only covers those grandfathered under the now-defunct statute.
Four states, including Arizona, have laws on
the books that ban illegal immigrants from receiving in-state tuition.
Olivas, who helped then-Rep. Rick Noriega, a
Houston Democrat, draft Texas' original statute, said federal law
clearly allows states to pass their own legislation regarding in-state
residency for undocumented students.
Olivas also cited a 2008 letter from the
Department of Homeland Security to the North Carolina Attorney's General
office that said federal law does not prohibit the admission of
undocumented students to universities and colleges.
"The state can, and did act properly, and the statute is
constitutional," said Olivas, who also served as an expert witness when
a similar law was later challenged in Kansas.
Cesar Espinosa, a Houston immigrant
advocate, said Texas' law has led to success stories for students who
otherwise might not be able to afford higher education, even though they
spent years in the K-12 public school system.
"We're hoping that the lawsuit doesn't go
far," Espinosa said. "The reason many students who are undocumented
finish high school is because they know there is an opportunity to go on
with their studies. If we want to keep students engaged, we have to have
a means for them to continue with their education."
-- Susan Carroll
13-31-2009
Happy New Year to All
* * * * *
It is with a sense of satisfaction that as of
January 1, 2010
Citizens for Immigration Reform will be known
as IRCOT - N TX
(formerly IRCOT- N TX (formerly CFIR)).
We are confident that this merger will result
in strengthening
the fight against illegal immigration in our
state and subsequently will
add strength to fighting this issue
nationally.
You will continue to receive emails from
immigrationreform@sbcglobal.net
Re: IRCOT
lawsuit:
The following was posted
on a student "Dream Activist" website which has various chapters across
the nation:
http://www.dreamactivist.org/txdreamers/
".... on December
14th, a lawsuit was filed by the Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas,
challenging the in-state tuition provision provided by HB 1403 that
allows many of us the opportunity to pursue higher education. Note that
each of us planning this trip is either currently enrolled in a
community college or university, or already hold a degree from a
university here in Texas, so this challenge directly affects all of us."
_ _ _ _
They are planning a MARCH to
Washington DEMANDING Amnesty in 2010:
Beginning this New Year’s Day, Friday January 1st, 2010, my friends and
I are going to be marching from Miami, Florida to Washington D.C. to
demand from President Obama that he stop the deportation of DREAMers and
the separation of families. We are walking for just and humane
immigration reform that includes equal access to education, an end to
the separation of families, worker’s rights, and a pathway to
citizenship.
http://www.txdreamactalliance.com/
Illegals may lose tuition breaks
Nebraska weighs repeal of '06 law to offer in-state school rates.
http://www.onenewsnow.com:80/Security/Default.aspx?id=827570
A grassroots immigration
enforcement advocacy organization says a recent incident in Florida
illustrates that a substantial section of the illegal alien population
is virulently anti-American
http://www.bibdaily.com
DOJ and ICE REACH $4.5
MILLION AGREEMENT WITH PILGRIM'S PRIDE
BEAUMONT, TX: "U.S. Attorney John M. Bales; John Chakwin, Special
Agent in Charge, Dallas Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and
Donald Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation,
announced today that the U. S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of
Texas, Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, and Immigration and Customs
Enforcement have reached a non-prosecution agreement to resolve an
investigation with respect to the hiring and employment of unauthorized
aliens at Pilgrim's Pride's plants in the Eastern District of Texas.
Under the terms of the agreement, Pilgrim's Pride agrees to pay
$4.5 million and adopt more stringent immigration compliance practices
to ensure that its work force is composed of employees legally entitled
to work in the United States. In return, the U. S. Attorney's Office
agrees to conclude its immigration-related investigation of Pilgrim's
Pride and any current or former employees." DOJ, Dec. 30, 2009.
