Move That Bill Forward — Immigration Reform

This summer LUM is scheduled to unveil and open Immigration Clinic. In 2012, the LUM Board of Directors made the decision to offer immigration assistance citing its mission to “give witness to God’s saving love and prophetic power by loving neighbors, seeking justice, empowering the least among us.” Around the same time the Board issued a statement opposing policies separating children and expressing a desire to explore pathways for legal immigration and citizenship.

In lockstep with the sense of call expressed by the Board, LUM Campaign for Hoosier Families has made it a legislative priority to advocate for the legalization and a pathway to citizenship for the millions of immigrants. These individuals and families have come to the US with the same sense of purpose and desire for a better life much as the people who settled this country. Unfortunately though they enjoy none of the rights and protections that we consider as Americans to be unalienable. As you may know, the Senate passed comprehensive immigration reform last June, but thus far Republican House Members have refused to vote on the Senate bill or give the issue any type of consideration. If an immigration reform bill is not passed by the end of the year, which also constitutes the end of current congress, the whole process will have to start all over again.

This month and for the rest of the year as we prepare to open our Immigration Clinic, C4HF would encourage you to write or call our Congressman, Todd Rokita, and ask him to at least allow for immigration reform to come to the floor. You should also demand that he work with his colleagues to find a way to support legislation that would enable those who have invested through their labor and love for this country to be able to stay. To that end C4HF is going to provide a fact or story that you may use as a talking point when communicating with Congressman Rokita — or in conversations with friends and relatives. C4HF hopes that these facts will be both enlightening and empowering.

Move that Bill Forward #1

Myth:

Immigrants bring crime to US communities

Facts:

Immigrants come seeking economic opportunity, and crime jeopardizes that opportunity. The past two decades have shown significant increases in immigrant populations, yet crime rates have dropped significantly during the same period. Immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native-born residents and the gap between these two populations increased from 1980-2000. Under the Secure Communities program, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials can detain and deport individuals who have committed crimes. While intended to enhance the safety of communities, police leaders have expressed concern that these programs may have the opposite effect by increasing immigrants’ fear of law enforcement officials and making them less likely to report crimes when they are victims or witnesses.

Source: “10 Immigrant Myths” Catholic Legal Immigration Network. 2012

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