TO DO: Immigration/Women
Source: We Belong Together

There’s still time to make the Senate immigration bill better for women.  But only if we act TODAY.

We Belong Together and many of our allies are deeply disappointed in the Senate’s decision to move forward with the Corker-Hoeven amendment to the immigration reform bill, which will add 20,000 more border patrol agents, 700 miles of new fencing, and billions of dollars to further militarize an already secure border.  While we publicly express our outrage at this amendment, we have also come together with our allies in the CAMBIO and FIRM coalitions to urge our Senators to include key amendments that could offset some of the negative impacts of Corker-Hoeven, and make the bill better and safer for women and our families.

We have a narrow window of time to make this bill better for women and families.  But we can only do that with your help.  Can you make calls to your Senators TODAY?  And can you mobilize others in your networks to do the same?

PLEASE CALL YOUR SENATORS NOW AT 800-490-2010 and TELL THEM:

My name is ________.  I am from ____________.  I am calling to ask that you SUPPORT the following amendments that will make the immigration bill more fair for women.

SUPPORT Hirono/Murray/Murkowski #1504, Murray #1412, Murray #1414, Cardin #1294, Blumenthal/King #1429, Murray/Crapo #1368, and Gillibrand #1316. 

I also ask that you ensure the rights of residents at the border, and that you extend the date of presence and date of registration so that more immigrants will be able to access legalization.  

I ask you to OPPOSE any amendments that will weaken the bill for women and families.  These negative amendments will not be acceptable under any circumstances.

See below for a description of the amendments we are proposing.  Thank you for working to make immigration reform fair and inclusive of women.

- The We Belong Together team

 Here's more information on the amendments we’re proposing:

1)    Hirono/Murray/Murkowski #1504: Make sure that the proposed merit-based system does not disadvantage women who may come from countries where education and employment are not easily available to them.

2)    Murray #1412: Provide important provisions for victims of domestic violence, including ensuring judicial review of VAWA cases and helping survivors of violence access the safety net.

3)    Murray #1414: Provide protections to domestic violence survivors with visa-types not currently covered by VAWA or other laws

4)    Cardin #1294: Add community service to the list of eligible kinds of employment that would qualify for permanent status.  Having this alternative recognizes that many women do tremendous community service at their children's schools and in their communities, contributing every day.

5)    Blumenthal/King #1429:  Provide whistleblower protections for H-2B and U.S. workers in the same worksites who often face retaliatory firings when advocating for basic workplace rights.

6)    Murray/Crapo #1368: Limit shackling of pregnant women in detention.

7)    Gillibrand #1316:  Allow legal aid organizations to serve individuals who apply for RPI status and to help fully implement the legalization program