Comprehensive Immigration Reform 2013-2014:

The Road Forward from the Church's Perspective

November 1, 2013

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• Kevin Appleby, Director, Migration Policy and Public Affairs, US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

• Ashley Feasley, Immigration Policy Advisor, USCCB

• Michelle Sardone, Legalization Program Director, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC)

Our Presenters

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• Political overview• House legislation: enforcement• House legislation: legal immigration• House legislation: bills not yet introduced• Messaging• Potential questions/Challenges• Next steps/Moving forward• Preparing for implementation

Our Agenda

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• Strong Senate bill• Divided House Republican Caucus• Implications of Budget Debate/Shutdown• Three Pressure Points: Regular Order,

Democratic bill, Administration• Timeline

Political Overview

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• Border Security Legislation (HR 1417)– Metrics vs. More Resources (Corker-Hoeven)

Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement (SAFE) Act (HR 2278)

Criminalize Undocumented Presence

Criminalize Transporting/Harboring

Authorize State and local law enforcement

Authorize States to pass immigration laws

House Legislation: Enforcement

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• SKILLS Visa Act (HR 2131)– Elimination of Diversity Lottery and Family

Categories– Fundamentally changes purpose of

immigration system: family vs. economy

Ag Act (HR 1773)

Guestworker program for ag workers

No pathway to citizenship

Insufficient worker protections/wages

House Legislation: Legal Immigration

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• KIDS Act (version of DREAM Act)

• Legalization Bill—no path to citizenship

• Asylum “Reform”

• Low-Skilled Guestworker Program

House Legislation: Not Yet Introduced

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• Path to Citizenship: No permanent underclass

• Final product must be comprehensive• Congress must show bipartisan

accomplishment/cooperation• NO SAFE ACT• Suffering (family separation, exploitation,

death) must end

Messaging

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• Legalization: Support to get to conference?

• Position on HR 15 (Senate bill + House border security bill minus Corker-Hoeven)

• Administrative action (timing)• Path to conference committee• Pulling the plug

Potential Questions/Challenges

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• We have until December 2014

• Ongoing Advocacy toward swing members

• Advocacy on detention and deportation issues (Administrative Action)

Path Forward

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• Advocacy – Catholic Call-In Day November 13th

• Community education• Assist potential applicants to prepare• Partner with local immigration legal

service providers• Immigrant integration• Resources

Preparing for Implementation

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• There is NO new law• There is no waiting list• Reputable legal service providers

– https://cliniclegal.org/affiliates/directory– http://www.justice.gov/eoir/ra/raroster.htm– http://www.ailalawyer.com/

• Start saving money

Community Education

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• Immigrant contributions– https://cliniclegal.org/resources/othergeneral/

why-comprehensive-immigration-reform-good-states-without-footnotes-2013

• U.S. Bishops’ statements– https://cliniclegal.org/category/issues/catholic

-social-teaching

• Justice for Immigrants– www.justiceforimmigrants.org

Community Education

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• Translation of home country documents– Partner with consulates

• Address and immigration history – Help organize documents

• Proof of physical presence– How can your agency help?

• Employment/school records

Assisting Potential Applicants Prepare

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• Immigration legal service providers– https://cliniclegal.org/affiliates/directory– http://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprof

it/legaldirectory/

– Experts in immigration law• Community presentations• Materials• Consultations

– Need volunteers– Need resources

Partner with Local Experts

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• Financial literacy• Taxes

– Competent tax assistance– Pay your 2013 taxes before 4/15/14

• English classes– Consider starting a class in your community

Immigrant Integration

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• CLINIC’s Preparing for Comprehensive Immigration Reform manual: https://cliniclegal.org/resources/legalization-manual

• CIR planning outline: https://cliniclegal.org/sites/default/files/second_clinic_outline_for_cir_plans_2013_-_question_format_-_final.docx

• Sample funding templates: https://cliniclegal.org/resources/cir-budget-template-affiliates

Resources

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• Tax information:– http://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep– http://www.ilrc.org/files/documents/

itin_and_taxpayer_faqs_final.pdf

• ESL providers– https://www.literacydirectory.org/– http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/

pi/AdultEd/englit.html

Resources

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Free Friday Webinars

 Nov. 8, 15, and 22 at 2-3:30 pm EST

Recent Trends in State and Local Immigration Enforcement

Immigration Detention: Perspectives from D.C. and the Field

State & Local Immigration Laws: Recap 2013 and 2014 Outlook

https://cliniclegal.org/calendar/webinar-series-hot-topics-immigration-advocacy

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Questions?

3211 Fourth Street NE

Washington DC 20017

202-541-3000

kappleby@usccb.org

afeasley@usccb.org

8757 Georgia Ave., Suite 850

Silver Spring, MD 20910

301-565-4800

national@cliniclegal.org

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