///Rapid Response 06/15/07
Immigration Reform Legislation in the Senate

Senate leaders agreed on June 14th to revive stalled immigration legislation. It is expected to return to the Senate floor for additional debate as early as next week. The legislation has generated intense controversy, particularly for provisions envisioning eventual citizenship for many of the estimated 12 million immigrants now in the country without documentation. The bill also calls for greater border security and a crackdown on the hiring of undocumented employees. It is expected that both Republicans and Democrats will be given roughly a dozen chances each to amend the legislation, including an expected amendment that would require all undocumented persons (not just heads of households) to return to their home country before gaining legal status and an amendment that would guarantee several billion dollars for tougher border security and law enforcement.

If you would like to let your voice be heard as the amendments come rapidly to the floor of the Senate, you can sign up to receive "Speak Out" action alerts from the Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program (CWS/IRP). They will be sending e-mails each day as the bill progresses through those amendments. Sign up for the immigration-related Speak Out e-mail list at www.capwiz.com/churchworld/mlm/signup/.

If you would rather send one message to your Senators regarding the whole legislation, CWS/IRP has outlined some general principles for immigration reform legislation which can be found at http://www.churchworldservice.org/Immigration/archives/2007/01/106.html. Additionally CWS/IRP requests that you ask your Senators not to let immigration reform die and to pass legislation that:

1. Reduces waiting times for separated families to be reunited, (Family unity must not be sacrificed to a “point system” that will keep family members apart.);
2. Expands avenues for immigrants to safely and legally work in the United States; and
3. Allows undocumented immigrants to earn their legal status. (The pathway to legalization must be workable and fair, not overly punitive.).