08 OCT 2021
Hub Highlights: Direct Actions at Nation’s Capital and Across Country Call on Democrats to Move Forward Immigration Reform in Reconciliation
Washington, DC — This week, advocates, lawmakers and directly-impacted people held demonstrations and civil disobedience actions, sent letters and upped their calls for Democrats to provide citizenship and lasting protections for undocumented immigrants through reconciliation or any other means necessary. With a majority of Americans supporting advancing citizenship for undocumented immigrants, a groundswell of urgency continues to grow for Democrats in Congress to deliver on an immigration solution via reconciliation or face a challenging midterm election.
Highlights to Follow:
This week, pro-immigrant Actions in Washington, D.C. included:
No Recovery Without Immigrants: Immigrant Youth Demanded Biden and Democrats Deliver Citizenship This Year: On Wednesday, immigrant youth and allies from United We Dream Action, NAKASEC, CASA, Church World Service, We Are Home, and others took action in front of the White House to demand President Biden and Democrats provide a pathway to citizenship through reconciliation. Immigrant youth and allies traveled to D.C. from Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Utah, South Carolina, Washington, and Virginia to let the Biden Administration know, with millions of lives on the line, real economic recovery from the pandemic will stall without the full inclusion of immigrants.
“I traveled to D.C. to demand President Biden and Democrats stick to their promise and deliver a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented people like me and my parents,” said Natchel Bello, Member of United We Dream Action from San Diego.
Hundreds Take Action at Lafayette Square Park, D.C.: Over 500 immigrants and allies rallied at Lafayette Park Thursday, urging the President and Vice President to use their power and authority to pass a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants. 50 elected officials, labor and immigration movement leaders, and faith leaders also joined the action. CASA, along with CPD Action, NAKASEC, People’s Action, The UndocuBlack Network, Adhikaar, African Communities Together, Haitian Bridge Alliance, National Network for Arab American Communities, participated in the event.
Capping Off Two Weeks of We Are Home’s Immigrant Justice Fly-Ins: As members of Congress returned to Washington, D.C., hundreds of directly-impacted individuals from across the country descended to the capital to advocate for themselves and other immigrants. The increased presence of advocates while Congress was back in session showed strength in numbers as they pushed lawmakers to recognize the invaluable contributions of immigrants in the U.S. and ensure a pathway to citizenship for those who are considered “essential” yet remain “deportable”.
51 People Shaved Their Heads In Solidarity With Immigrant Communities: This week, in front of the Washington Monument, more than 51 people shaved their heads to symbolize the 51 minimum votes needed from Senate Democrats and Vice President Harris to create an immediate pathway to citizenship. The three-hour event, hosted by NAKASEC Action Fund along with CASA, United We Dream Action, and FIRM Action resulted in a powerful demonstration rooted in the historical and cultural act of shaving one’s head as both resistance to oppression and a symbol of one’s deep commitment to a cause.
92 Legal Scholars Urge Immigration Action via Reconciliation: Legal scholars across the country signed and delivered a letter urging Senate Democratic leadership and Vice President Harris to ensure protections for undocumented immigrants in the Build Back Better reconciliation bill. The letter disagrees with the Senate parliamentarian’s reasoning against the inclusion of the proposed immigration reforms, arguing the proposal clearly met the Byrd Bath requirements. The scholars stated, "For the Senate to reach its own conclusion on the Byrd Rule’s application to [immigration provisions] should not be seen as an 'overruling' of anyone. Rather, it would recognize that elected members of Congress are ultimately responsible for deciding whether to enact legislation, in accord with statutory constraints, the advice of civil servants, the voices of their constituents, and their own considered judgment."
Meanwhile, Republicans and right-wing actors continue to obstruct immigration solutions through fear-mongering and disinformation tactics that scapegoat immigrants in an effort to distract from their own policy failures.
Leading Experts Highlighted the Dangers of Misinformation Targeted at Migrants and Voters: As reported by Border Report, leading independent researchers from NYU Cybersecurity for Democracy, the Tech Transparency Project, EquisLabs and GQR on Monday discussed how targeted messaging and misinformation to both migrants, including Haitians, and the American public greatly contribute to political and policy challenges on immigration. As the 2022 midterm elections near, ads and unchecked xenophobic or false online content will only continue to proliferate, as demonstrated by the recent reportpublished by Immigration Hub and America’s Voice.
"Unregulated and targeted online misinformation is both an American and global problem,” said Beatriz Lopez, Chief Political and Communications Officer for the Immigration Hub. “Republicans and right-wing media continue to normalize ugly, racist rhetoric against immigrants and people of color via social media for the sole purpose of scoring political points while creating cultural, social and political divides. As we noted in our collective report with America’s Voice, Republican and right-wing entities have centered their strategy to misinform the public with three top messages: (1) 'Biden-Harris border crisis', (2) mass amnesty and (3) COVID-infected migrants and drugs crossing the border. This is the new normal of hyperboles and misinformation driven through social media and paid campaigns. Unchecked, this type of misinformation will have consequential impacts in election cycles to come. And more immediately for the Biden administration and other global leaders, targeted messages, false narratives and promises to migrants, such as Haitian migrants, will have human consequences."
The Immigration Hub Debunks GOP Lies and Myths Surrounding Immigration: As Republicans continue to fuel false, racist narratives in an attempt to scapegoat immigrants for their own policy failures, the Immigration Hub is exposing and busting the most egregious and pervasive myths about immigration. From COVID-19, to the economy, to crime, Republicans have shown they will try anything and everything to distract, demonize, and divide.
###
The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.