Great News! The U.S. Senate passed commonsense immigration reform with a path to citizenship by a vote of 68-32. The vote showed bi-partisan support for the bill which included additional border security measures, an intact but still difficult path to citizenship and worker protections. The bill will lower the national debt, increase productivity and add thousands of jobs to our economy.
More importantly a recent public opinion poll conducted in Colorado showed that 73% of Coloradans, regardless of political party, support comprehensive immgration reform passage that includes a path to citizenship this year.
What we won in the Senate bill:
- The path to citizenship for nearly 11 million people stayed intact.
- We’ve got the best DREAM Act provision ever – with a 5 year path to citizenship for Dreamers.
- The bill allows for family reunification–meaning people who have been deported will be allowed to return. Families that have spent years, even decades waiting for their turn in line will finally be reunited.
- New temporary worker programs that protect immigrant workers and American labor force.
- New worker visa programs would provide for strict compliance with U.S. labor standards; portability of visas and the ability for workers to come to the U.S. in a safe, orderly manner.
- Inclusion of POWER Act, which would bolster legal remedies to immigrant workers who are fired in violation of labor laws.
- Future work-visa holders will be able to self-petition for green cards rather than relying on employers to decide whether they can call America home for good.
- All workers would be treated equally by the tax system and eligible for tax credits
- Farm workers would get a ‘blue card’ and will be on a 5 year path to citizenship.
- Expedited path for those already here in a temporary status.
- Prohibits ICE from conducting raids/arrests outside schools, churches, hospitals and other “sensitive locations.”
- Ensures access to affordable housing for battered immigrants.
SEIU Local 105 members across the union have been working diligently on our immigraton reform campaign these last few months calling our members of Congress, talking to co-workers and getting supporters to sign a postcard urging U.S. Representative Mike Coffman to take a public position supporting reform with a path to citizenship.
Our work has gotten the attention of media. Univision Colorado and Azteca Colorado have been covering our work in Aurora almost weekly.
Press coverage of our work…
Just last week, CBS Channel 4 came out to cover our members Mary Glenn and Claudia Esquivel talking to Aurora voters in support 0f immigration reform. The story made the 5 pm news on Friday, June 21st, check it out here. The Denver Post has been covering the immigration debate for the past few months including this article on Senator Bennet’s press conference calling on the House to bring a bill that includes a path to citizenship to a vote. The article features a picture of 105 member Claudia Esquivel.
