2. WELCOME – UULMCA Immigrant Justice Webinar

3. Agenda AGENDA Presenters: Daniel Stracka, Richard Hobbs, and Rev. Lindi RamsdenDaniel StrackaRichard HobbsRev. Lindi Ramsden UULMCA Immigrant Justice Steering Committee members Opening Words Welcome and Intros Comparison of President and Senate “Gang of 8” Proposals with Compassionate Immigration Reform Next Steps Resources Q & A Closing

4. Opening Words Excerpt from Prayer for Migrants By Jane Deren For all those who see "home" and all it means Disappear behind them; For all those who cannot see a home In the days ahead of them; For all those who dwell in Daily insecurity; For all those who are weary and Without a safe place to rest their heads; For all families in migration we pray.

5. Welcome & Introductions Your Name Congregation On this ground hog day, where you live, what is your weather report for immigrant justice?

6. Ground Hog Day Have we been here before? What is today’s Immigration Weather Report? The politics are more public Less posturing Softer language…

7. Potential to create an underclass Pre-conditions will prolong family separation Eroded civil liberties of those with no criminal background Penalties but…some clouds

8. Compassionate Immigration Reform What is Compassionate Immigration Reform? Interfaith Platform on Humane Immigration Reform (Interfaith Immigration Coalition)Interfaith Immigration Coalition Rectifying the Violation of Fundamental Human Rights The right to live in family – The right to work – The right to vote & participate – The right to federal jobs – The right to serve on juries – The right to a safety net – The right to higher education – The right to drive and travel -- The right to live free from fear Compassionate vs. Comprehensive Immigration Reform

9. Compassionate Immigration Reform 1. Prioritize family unity. 2. A reasonable path to earned citizenship. 3. Create stability – to study, to work, to hire employees. 4. Foster safe inclusive communities. 5. Restore due process and humanitarian values. Five Essential Features of Compassionate Immigration Reform

10. President’s & Senate’s “Gang of 8” proposals share some broad principles. But…the details matter!

11. 1.Create a path to citizenship for unauthorized immigrants already here 2.Improve our legal immigration system & attract the world’s best and brightest 3.Implement strong employment verification 4.Admit new workers and protect worker’s rights Senate “Gang of 8” Proposal

12. 1.Continue to strengthen border security 2.Crack down on employers who hire undocumented workers 3.Earned citizenship 4.Streamline legal immigration President’s Principles

13. Prioritize Family Unity Proposals Reduce Visa backlogs – President calls for immediate temporary increase in visas: Senate is silent on how to reduce backlog President calls for keeping families together, including same –sex couples, Senate does not. Neither mention removing “unlawful presence penalties” (currently a 3 or 10 year wait before allowed to re-enter the US) Currently - families are separated for decades due to: long visa backlogs, 3 and 10 year bar to re-entry restrictions on who is eligible for relief of deportation same-sex couples are excluded.

14. Earned legalization Proposals Both offer a path to permanent residence and eventual citizenship (opponents call this amnesty) Registration process with additional background checks, Require that unauthorized go to the “back of the line” Pay taxes Learn English and civics Show history of work in US and current employment Senate proposal has major preconditions before allowing permanent residency (next slide) Currently: 11 million immigrants are unable to: live with family, work legally, vote, drive, serve on a jury, receive a loan for higher education

15. Earned legalization Senate Proposal – has major preconditions before allowing permanent residency securing the borders first - using drones & increased militarization a commission to determine when security is achieved, a visa tracking system to make sure legal immigrants leave when required President’s proposal does not have pre-conditions Currently: 11 million immigrants are unable to: live with family, work legally, vote, drive, serve on a jury, receive a loan for higher education

16. Opportunities to work and study Both Proposals: Support Dreamers, agricultural workers, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Require mandatory E-Verify – however, President’s phases in over 5 years and has exemptions for some small business President’s proposal creates a tamper resistant Social Security Card and Work authorization Currently lack legal access to higher education and stable work

17. Safe Communities Neither proposal discontinues “Secure Communities” Both target for deportation immigrants who have committed crimes Militarization makes border communities unsafe Currently “Secure Communities” has deported over 90,000 in California alone, ripping apart families and creating distrust of local law enforcement

18. Immigrant Integration President’s proposal encourages linguistic, civic and economic integration of immigrants Currently, language and citizenship classes not adequately funded

19. Restore Due Process Protections and Humanitarian Values President’s proposal addresses humanitarian concerns by eliminating current limitations for asylum seekers Increases number of immigration judges Streamlines deportation of undocumented for national security reasons (raises concern for due process) Currently families are separated when a parent is removed - about 2 million U.S. citizen children who have at least one parent who is undocumented.

20. Priorities for Advocacy Support: Compassionate immigration reform, including: A generous, not onerous, earned legalization Increase in visa numbers Full equal rights for same sex couples Priorities for Advocacy

21. Oppose: Increased militarization of the border Conditioning the grant of permanent residence on border security Temporary guest worker programs that don’t lead to green cards Requiring the undocumented to go to the “back of the line” (19 year wait if family visa caps are not increased) Continued use of “secure communities” Priorities for Advocacy

22. We are poised at a historic moment with the opportunity to affect one of the greatest civil rights issues of our time. 67% of Americans support immigration reform Unitarian Universalists and people of faith can help engage and educate those who are not “the usual suspects.” We need the whole community! This is the time to act! We Can Do This!

23. Pew Hispanic Center Immigrants & Demography Research (some fascinating studies!) Immigrants & Demography Research Immigration Policy Center Legalize Who? A Portrait of the 11 Million Unauthorized Immigrants in the United States (IPC Fact Sheet, 1/13) Legalize Who? A Portrait of the 11 Million Unauthorized Immigrants in the United States (IPC Fact Sheet, 1/13) An Immigration Stimulus: The Economic Benefits of a Legalization Program (IPC Fact Sheet, 1/13) An Immigration Stimulus: The Economic Benefits of a Legalization Program (IPC Fact Sheet, 1/13) Back to the Future: The Impact of Legalization Then and Now (IPC Special Report, Republished 1/13) Back to the Future: The Impact of Legalization Then and Now (IPC Special Report, Republished 1/13) Economic Progress via Legalization: Lessons from the Last Legalization Program (IPC Special Report, 11/09) Economic Progress via Legalization: Lessons from the Last Legalization Program (IPC Special Report, 11/09) Immigration Research Resources

24. Compassionate Immigration Reform 1)Focus on the President, Senate Leaders and National immigrant advocacy organizations to get a compassionate bill without inhumane enforcement mechanisms. 3) Advocate with the House of Representatives. 4) Piecemeal Legislation if CIR Does Not Pass DREAM Act AgJobs Residency Campaign for Central Americans with TPS STEM Act Uniting American Families Act (LBGT) Strategies - National

25. Compassionate Immigration Reform The California TRUST Act – AB4 (Ammiano) - starts in Assembly Public Safety – Orange County and San Diego keyAB4 Drivers License Bill – AB60 (Alejo)AB60 - starts in Assembly Transportation Get the Governor’s support Strategies - Statewide Strategies - Local Mayors, City Councils, County Boards, Police Chiefs & Sheriffs Business and Congregational endorsements

26. Advocacy Senator Feinstein – 4 regional offices4 regional offices San Francisco Los Angeles Fresno San Diego As a person of faith, I urge the Senator to support a common sense, humane immigration reform bill that prioritizes family unity and creates a generous pathway to citizenship for aspiring Americans who are currently undocumented. I ask that she recognize that onerous enforcement mechanisms can create a permanent underclass which harms families and divides communities. CIR Advocacy in the Senate

27. Many New Members of Congress 53 California Representatives

28. How we can help Identify stories of family separation where the family is willing to be public. Sign on letter from your congregation or clergy to endorse compassionate immigration reform.Sign on letter Identify supportive “Grass Tops” in your congregation and community. How We Can Help

29. Public Witness Passover (starts March 26) Easter Week (March 24 -31) Join with your local interfaith coalition! Faith events & Vigils

30. Public Witness February – build coalitions, seek endorsements March 15-16 LA Central American TPS March 12 – 14 1 Million Calls to Congress April 10 – National Day of Action in DC with local echoes May 1 st International Worker Day Mobilization in Major Cities Timeline for Action

31. UULM Lobby Day in Sacramento May 19th evening & May 20 th Immigrant Day in Sacramento Come up Sunday evening to build UU community, or come on Monday to join with our allies at California Immigrant Policy Center

32. March 23 – Orange County April 6 - San Joaquin Valley (tentative) April 26 (3-5PM Friday) UU Western Regional Assembly – San Jose May 11 – Sacramento (tentative) Motivate: Educate UULMCA Regional Spring Justice Trainings

33. Educate Experiential Learning Human Rights on the Border Trip March 14 – 17, 2013 Register Here Contact Rev.Tera Little at PSWD

34. Link with local immigrant services partners Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Detention Center Visitation Healthcare Enrollment Day Labor Support DREAMers

35. Detention Visitation Detention Visitation Resources Lost in DetentionLost in Detention – Frontline Video Community Initiatives for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement CIVIC Detention Watch Network Visiting Immigrants in U.S. Detention Facilities - Detention Watch ManualVisiting Immigrants in U.S. Detention Facilities The Sojourner Detention Program video Lutheran Access Toolkit Women's Refugee Commission If your congregation is interested in learning more please contact: Jan Meslin from the UULMCA Immigrant Justice Team jmeslin@cox.net

36. CIR Collaborating Organizations Asian Pacific American Legal Center APALCAsian Pacific American Legal Center APALC (LA) CCC Center for Community Change CCC Center for Community Change (DC) CHIRLA Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights for LA CHIRLA Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights for LA (LA) Interfaith Immigration CoalitionInterfaith Immigration Coalition (national) CIPC California Immigrant Policy Center CA CLUE Clergy and Laity United for Economic JusticeCA CLUE Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice – (East Bay, LA, San Jose, San Diego) COFEM Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanas en Norteamérica COFEM Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanas en Norteamérica (LA) Episcopal Diocese of California (SF Bay Area) JFI – Justice for Immigrants JFI – Justice for Immigrants (Catholic Bishops) Mi Famila Vota Mi Famila Vota (Riverside) NDLON National Day Labor Organizing NetworkNDLON National Day Labor Organizing Network (LA and National) PICO CaliforniaPICO California (19 local faith based federations across the state) NBOP – North Bay Organizing Project NBOP – North Bay Organizing Project (Gamaliel) SIREN Services Immigrant Rights and Education Network SIREN Services Immigrant Rights and Education Network (Silicon Valley) United Farm Worker Foundation United Farm Worker Foundation (LA, Salinas, Bakersfield)

37. Community Partners TRUST Act California Immigrant Policy Center ACLU Immigrant Rights Project California Dream Network National Day Labor Organizing Network Asian Law Alliance Asian Law Alliance - Santa Clara County

38. UU & Interfaith Resources Unitarian Universalist UU Legislative Ministry, CA UU Legislative Ministry, CA & UULM Action Network, CAUULM Action Network, CA UU RISE UU RISE UU Refugee and Immigration Services and Education UUA Immigrant Justice Resources PSWD Border Issues & Migration Resources Interfaith Interfaith Immigration Coalition PICO California Affiliates PICO California Affiliates Photo by Mike Kerwin East Bay UUs protest expansion of Contra Costa Jail to hold more immigrant detainees California CLUE Interfaith Committtee for Worker Justice Interfaith Committtee for Worker Justice (San Diego) Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (SF East Bay) Ventura County Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice

39. Stay Connected! UULMCA Immigrant Justice monthly calls Please send the name of your congregation’s Immigrant Justice contact to lramsden@uulmca.orglramsden@uulmca.org UULM Cluster Collaboration with the forming Alliance for Citizenship “Tables” Daniel Stracka – San Diego County Jan Meslin – Orange County Richard Hobbs – Santa Clara County Barbara Moore & Rev. Tera Little – LA County Bob Lane – Contra Costa Amy Moses Lagos – SF and Peninsula Natalie Da Silva – Alameda County

40. Make Friends

41. Q & A - General Discussion

42. Together we are making a difference. The UULMCA Immigrant Justice Team has made great strides in engaging UUs in moving from promise to commitment, from talking justice to doing justice. Together we are doing more than we could ever do alone!

43. Thank you for joining us!www.uulmca.org