Saturday, November 9, 2013

The Least We Can Do

My daughter sent me a link to one of the many organizations working for immigration reform in the US.

Reform Immigration for America:
http://we.reformimmigrationforamerica.org/page/speakout/give-us-a-vote


This website does not ask for money.  It just asks you to send an email to three key Republicans in the House of Representatiaves: Kevin McCarthy, Eric Cantor,and John Boehner.

I did it--I sent my letter.  You can do it too.  In fact, the website provides a letter for you, which you can edit or rewrite as I did.

Here's my letter:

I've lived in California for 52 years, and I passionately support immigration reform--including the path to citizenship.

Please allow it to come to a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives!  It's the decent thing to do.  A majority of the citizens in California support comprehensive immigration reform, as do many other persons in every state.  

I lived in Bakersfield CA during my formative years and graduated from East Bakersfield High School in 1966, first in my class, graduated from Stanford University in 1970, and earned a doctorate to teach English literature, which I have done for most of my life.

I urge you, as a leader in the Republican party and the House of Representatives, to honor our nation's values of family, dignity and justice. This bill will permit reunion of families that are now unable to see each other over holidays or even when a parent is dying.  People who have lived here 20 years need to have family visitation rights.  As it is, when they return to Mexico or El Salvador or some other country to visit a dying parent, they cannot return to care for their children, except by trying to cross the border illegally at the risk of their lives.

I've visited both Tijuana, BC, and Nogales, AZ & Sonora.  I know.  I have talked with two women who returned to visit a dying parent and then could not get back across the border to take care of their children.

See my article on these women posted on a Christian feminist website:
http://www.eewc.com/viewpoint/immigration-reform-christian-feminist-perspective

See also my report on my visit to Nogales.  Take a few days and fly to Tucson yourself.  Drive down to Nogales and spend an hour at the soup kitchen for recent deportees "El Comedor," sponsored by the Catholic church.

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9112746109698291522#editor/target=post;postID=3261627817225865994;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=93;src=postname

Our current immigration system is inhumane.  It also wastes money.  You have the power to enact lasting reform that benefits our economy and keeps families together.

The American people deserve and demand a vote on citizenship. 

Representative McCarthy, you are the Majority Whip.  You can make this happen.  I call on you to lead the Republican party to act now, and pass immigration reform with a fair path to citizenship this year.

Representative Boehner, you are a family man.  Please care about the families of those who plant and harvest the food your family eats.

Representative Cantor, you are the leader.  Please lead.  This will help your party in the 2016 elections.  

Sincerely,
Anne Eggebroten

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