BAIRC Immigration Reform Update & Action | May 22, 2007`

Dear Friends,

The Senate debate on immigration reform is moving forward. Our message stays the
same - we don't want a flawed immigration reform package that keeps our families
separated, makes immigrant workers more vulnerable and further erodes due process
rights of immigrants. Our country can do better, Americans want better and
immigrants deserve better (action below).

For a brief summary on the Senate proposal check out our
website<http://www.immigrantrights.org/comp_reform.asp> (also attached). This
summary will be translated into Spanish and Chinese shortly and made available on
our website.

On Friday, May 25, Bay Area groups plan to conduct public awareness activities to
inform immigrants of the current legislation, and to urge individuals to contact our
Senators. If you would like to get involved in these efforts, or if your
organization is interested in doing public awareness on the legislation, let us
know<mailto:evelyn [at] immigrantrights.org>.

Mark your calendars! Saturday, June 2, we plan to have an early morning vigil (5am
to 10am). Stay tuned for more details!

For other reading material on the current immigration debate, check out Professor
Bill Hing's blog<http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/> where he shares his
thoughts on the current proposed legislation, and an opinion piece he wrote which
appeared in the Los Angeles Times. The Professor was also at the Asian Law Caucus
talking about family-based immigration on Monday, May 21.

Also, read about Senator Dianne
Feinstein's<http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=5d2812841d846297d5c8986e1f394ed6>
take on the "necessary trade-off" between family-based immigration and legalization.

ACTION
Our Senators really need to hear from you. Please call them today. we don't want a
flawed immigration reform package that keeps our families separated, makes immigrant
workers more vulnerable and further erodes due process rights of immigrants.

Sample points:

* Keep families together and not eliminate the family based system. No to a
point system that is crafted for big business and undermines the worthiness of
immigrants permanently settling in the US


* Legalization that does not keep families waiting in limbo, but happens
within a reasonable timeline without arbitrary triggers


* Greater investments to address family visa backlog rather than throwing
money away at border enforcement. It's a flawed policy that does not work!



* Stronger due process rights for immigrants.



* No guest worker programs that would create an underclass of workers in the US

Senator Dianne Feinstein
In Washington DC 202-224-3841
In San Francisco 415-393-0707

Senator Barbara Boxer
In Washington DC 202-224-3553
In San Francisco 415-403-0100

******************
Larisa Casillas
Director
Bay Area Immigrant Rights Coalition (BAIRC)
310 Eighth Street, Suite 303
Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: (510) 839-7598
Fax: (510) 465-1885
http://www.immigrantrights.org<http://www.immigrantrights.org/>