Take the Lead, Mr. President
March 23, 2006
As Filipino Americans, we know that the immigrant community is the most vulnerable sector of our society. We are deeply concerned about recent moves in Congress to pass a law that would further put immigrants at a disadvantage in all aspects of their new life in the US. One such move is H.R. 4437.
We believe the House of Representatives has done a great disservice to our nation in passing the Border Protection and Anti-Terrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act (H.R. 4437). It is an anti-American bill that blatantly denigrates all the good things that America stands for.
Ours is a just and humane society, but H.R. 4437 seeks to criminalize compassion and humanitarian assistance to undocumented immigrants. Ours is a nation that was built by immigrants, but H.R. 4437 seeks to criminalize unlawful presence despite our failure to fix a broken immigration system that keeps families apart for several years. Our government is strong and stable because it adheres to the principle of check and balances. But H.R. 4437 seeks to deny immigrants access to courts to challenge abuse of discretion by immigration officers.
In our humble opinion, there is more to immigration reform than simply putting up more fences and tougher border controls. It must consider earned adjustment for the 11 million undocumented immigrants that include thousands of Filipinos. It must facilitate family reunification. It must meet the urgent need for workers to keep our economy vibrant and competitive.
We believe H.R. 4437 will not fix our broken immigration system. It will only make things worse for non-citizens and citizens alike. We ask that you oppose the passage of H.R. 4437 and support a comprehensive immigration reform bill that is just, humane and realistic.
Very truly yours,
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Phone Directory of Senate Judiciary Committee Members:
Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE), 202-224-5042
Sam Brownback (R-KS), 202-224-6521
Tom Coburn (R-OK), 202 224-5754
John Cornyn (R-TX), 202-224-2934
Mike DeWine (R-OH), 202-224-2315
Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), 202-224-2152
Russel D. Feingold (D-WI), 202-224-5323
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), 202-224-3841
Lindsey Graham (R-SC), 202-224-5972
Charles E. Grassley (R-IA), 202-224-3744
Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT), 202-224-5251
Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), 202-224-4543
Herbert Kohl (D-WI), 202-224-5653
John Kyl (R-AZ), 202-224-4242
Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), 202-224-6542
Jeff Sessions (R-AL), 202-224-4124
Chairman: Arlen Specter (R-PA), 202 224-4254.