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A long-time area resident asked a question about immigrants who fear deportation. He wondered, when some people have been living and working here for many years, why they havent become citizens.

I am glad he asked that question. Because it has been on the minds of many Americans, its a good question. It has a good answer: Many cant.

There are very few routes to legal immigration. In some cases U.S. citizens can sponsor members of their immediate family to become legal permanent residents and then citizens. (This is not absolute -- the citizen must show a certain level of income and the citizens spouse, parent, son or daughter has to pass a background check to be admitted.) Under a few limited circumstances, an employer may sponsor an immigrant employee. (Again, the immigrants background is scrutinized.) Some victims of horrendous persecution from dangerous parts of the world -- a fraction of the total number of these victims -- have been able, after long waits and intensive investigation -- to enter as refugees.

If someone doesnt fit the short list of immigration categories, there is no way for them to come in as legal immigrants. Many of us are descended from people who left difficult situations, endured hardship to get here, got in line to come in, worked hard and eventually became citizens. Many people today are in equally (or more) difficult places, are willing to endure hardship and to work steadily and contribute to the community, but today there is no line. Most people who want to come to the U.S. to live, even if their familys lives are at risk (from war, crime, or famine) have no legitimate route to do so.

If someone is already here, no matter how long, if they have worked and paid taxes and followed the law, for almost everyone there isnt a line they can get into to legalize their status.

Some ask, didnt they come illegally? True, some did (some risking their lives to seek a better future for their families). Most of the so-called illegal immigrants in the U.S. today entered legally, with appropriate documents, but stayed, for one reason or another, after the documents lapsed. As we know, some were brought here as children; some know no other home.

Throughout its history our country has reaped enormous benefits from people who have come here from all parts of the world. Todays immigrants are an important part of our community.

Most people think there should be a line to get legal status, with criteria that allow law-abiding immigrants to stay. Thats what a path to citizenship is, like the path that was there for my great-grandparents.

As Rep. Walz said, a fair and effective policy could be passed and implemented very quickly if the political will were there. Its in all of our interests to allow our newest neighbors to come out of the shadows, to use his phrase, and become fully-recognized Americans.

See original here:
Letter: Immigration reform could, and should, be passed quickly - Daily Globe

Fred Funderburgh lost his son Billy and daughter-in-law Natalee in June when a Kia Optima slammed into the back of the couples motorcycle just outside of Elgin one Sunday morning, killing both of them.

Rodolfo Campuzano, who was driving the Kia and is suspected of being in the country illegally, fled the scene of the crash, according to police. He was later arrested at his home, intoxicated twice the legal limit.

Last week, Fred Funderburghs second son, Jason Synatschk, committed suicide.

Now, the family is asking for help from the public to pay for Synatschks funeral expenses, as well as to shine national attention to the plight of families who have lost loved ones at the hands of unauthorized immigrants.

Funderburgh is actively involved with the Remembrance Project, a nonprofit that advocates for these families.

In January, President Donald Trump flew Funderburgh and his other son James to Washington D.C. for a private meeting. They spoke in the Secretary of War Office at the White House then watched the president sign two executive orders: one to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and the other to deny federal funds to sanctuary cities that shield unauthorized immigrants from deportation.

Fred Funderburgh and his son James, who lost Billy Billy was Freds son and Jamess brother. Billys wife Natalee was also killed by an illegal immigrant, somebody that should never, ever have been here, Trump said in a speech in January.

On June 26, 2016 at 1:45 a.m., Campuzano failed to control his speed and struck the back of Billy and Natalees blue motorcycle as they were headed southbound on Texas 95 outside of Elgin, police said.

The couple was pronounced dead at the scene.

Campuzano, who fled the crash, was later found at his girlfriends house, where he failed a field sobriety test, according to his arrest affidavit. He was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter.

In September, he was released on a personal recognizance bond since a grand jury failed to indict him within 90 days.

Campuzano was arrested again in October, that time on two counts of causing an accident resulting in death. He was indicted in December and is being held at the Bastrop County Jail on $500,000 bail and a U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement detainer. If found guilty, he faces two to 20 years in prison.

The Funderburgh family came out in full force to the Bastrop County Courthouse on March 1 for Campuzanos pretrial hearing, which was later rescheduled to the end of the month.

On Friday, Synatschk, one of Billys brothers, shot himself in the head.

Jason took it really, really hard, Funderburgh said. He couldnt even come to court down there because it was so emotional for him. It was so sad and hurtful and afraid this guy was going to get out again. He didnt believe in the judicial system.

Campuzano had been previously arrested for driving while intoxicated in Travis County in 2011, according to court records. He served 14 days in jail and was released.

This guy shouldnt have been here, Funderburgh said. He should have been deported after the first DWI.

Maria Espinoza, cofounder and national director of the Remembrance Project, said the Funderburghs went to the Bastrop Countys Sheriffs Office for help through victim services, which covers funeral expenses, emotional support services and crime-related travel for families of victims that have died in a crime.

Synatschks funeral services would not be covered since his death was not the result of a crime, the office said.

The family is now asking the public for help. Anyone wishing to donate can do so through a GoFundMe page set up for Synatschk.

Fred has lost two of his sons, Espinoza said. He is just trying to keep his family and whats left of it together.

The Remembrance Project was founded in 2009 and advocates against the creation of sanctuary cities, where officials do not devote resources to enforcing federal immigration policies. Sanctuary cities have been a hot-button issue this legislative session.

In February, the Texas Senate approved a bill that would criminalize police and sheriffs departments who fail to participate in federal immigration enforcement. A Class A misdemeanor could be assessed against police chiefs, sheriffs, city and county officials and anyone in a position of authority who blocks law officers from asking detainees about their immigration status or fail to honor detention requests from federal immigration authorities.

Senate Bill 4, as it is known, would also require county jails to honor federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement requests to extend the detention of inmates suspected of being in the United States illegally.

Sen. Kirk Watson, whose district includes Bastrop County, has opposed the measure. He said SB 4 is not about public safety.

If it were, wed listen to the professional public safety leaders who tell us this wont make Texas safer. Instead, they tell us it makes us less safe, he said.

The bill was sent to the House in February.

Campuzano is scheduled to appear again in court for his pretrial hearing on March 29.

Statesman reporter Chuck Lindell contributed to this report.

Read the original:
Father who lost son in Elgin crash advocates for immigration reform - Austin American-Statesman

Plenty is bound to change in the first year of a new president, no matter who is elected. And Donald Trump is certainly more of a change agent than any president in recent memory.

On immigration, things are in a state of flux. But how on-the-ground policy has changed and will change under the Trump Administration is unclear. Anecdotal evidence has popped up of increased raids and deportations of domestic violence victims, farm workers and community linchpins across the nation, but there is also increased media scrutiny on the issue due to Trumps extreme campaign rhetoric.

We know Trump has ordered stricter enforcement of immigration laws, more detention and deportation and has plans to hire 15,000 more ICE agents. He has also promised a new travel ban from war-torn countries to replace a previous iteration that was declared unconstitutional.

In Umatilla County, immigration will be the primary issue in 2017. Perhaps it has been for a few years already.

Fear from the presidents promises has resonated locally, especially in immigrant communities in Hermiston, Milton-Freewater and Umatilla. Social unrest has rippled through each town, and school districts are dealing with increased absences caused by families distrustful of government in any form even public schools.

There have also been strains of celebration by those hoping the harder stance on people living here illegally will cure some of our social ills.

Much of the growth in Umatilla and Morrow counties is due to immigrants both documented and undocumented, some with full citizenship, others with work visas and still others with no legitimate paperwork. Those communities are an irreplaceable part of our economy. We have a lot to lose with a change in immigration policy, but a lot to gain, too.

This newspaper has reported on immigration issues multiple times since the election. It has been surprising to see the basic rights many readers want to rip from noncitizens Miranda rights, the right not to incriminate yourself and the right to attend public schools, for instance.

The Fourteenth Amendment addresses citizenship questions and the rights of citizens of this country and those who live here. It reads in part: No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

The equal protections clause may be the most powerful and defining words in all of the U.S. Constitution. It is among the most commonly used and most commonly fought over phrase in a court of law. The phrase has helped decide landmark cases like Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade and Bush v. Gore.

We can and should argue about changing our immigration laws and how best to enforce them, but we should allow everyone the same human rights that American citizens have. That cannot be up for debate.

Yet the debate is here. And its worth noting that its existence is directly tied to governments failure to solve a clear problem. For decades, both political parties admitted our immigration system was a wreck, and neither did anything about it.

That is one reason the presidents views, equal parts extremist and overly simplistic, have gained traction. Building a multi-billion dollar beautiful wall along our 2,000-mile border with Mexico is patently absurd, but neither political party has put any meaningful effort toward a better plan.

When our government cannot solve problems that exist for generations, it causes enmity and anger from citizens. Sometimes those citizens revolt at the ballot box, and those in control realizes they should have taken action long ago, before things got out of control.

Lets hope it doesnt get to that point. Eastern Oregon has a lot to lose.

Go here to read the rest:
Immigration reform will affect Oregon directly | As Others See It ... - NRToday.com

Members of the Lowell House of Prayer attend a prayer campaign (above and below) for immigration reform on a recent Wednesday in Lowell. SUN photos by Amaris Castillo

Sun staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

LOWELL -- Members of the Lowell House of Prayer are placing their faith in the cause for immigration reform, part of a 12-day campaign launched last week.

"The purpose is to gather people together in praying for immigration reform -- laws for immigration reform that could meet our reality," senior pastor Marco Romeiro said last Wednesday inside the house of worship located at 14 McIntyre St., Lowell. "The intention is to go to a higher authority, going to God's presence for that."

Behind Romeiro stood a member of his predominantly Brazilian congregation on a stage, warming up a guitar before the special service began. Portuguese chatter filled the air as parishioners greeted one another.

Romeiro said he respects President Donald Trump.

Sun staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

"He was elected by the people and we pray for him, like the Bible says, and we understand that he's dealing with his promises during the campaign," Romeiro said. "But for us, every crisis is an opportunity for God's intervention."

Trump on Monday signed a new executive order that blocks citizens of six Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. The revised order, which removed Iraq and continues the 90-day ban on travelers, follows protests fueled by the president's initial immigration directive on Jan. 27.

"As threats to our security continue to evolve and change, common sense dictates that we continually re-evaluate and reassess the systems we rely upon to protect our country," said U.S.

Romeiro described Trump's initial order as too extreme.

"You have to find the terrorists," he said, "but hurting good people because of this is not fair."

The special service last Wednesday included prayer, testimonies, and performances. Romeiro told his members at the very beginning that the focus was immigration reform.

"We're so happy, Lord," Romeiro said in Portuguese. "We know You will do great things."

The man with the guitar later took over the stage and engaged the congregation in praise songs. Some members bowed their heads, while others raised their hands and swayed to the music. "Vim para adorar-te," they sang, which translates to "Here I am to worship."

Read more from the original source:
Lowell House organizes campaign for immigration reform in USA - Lowell Sun

The Pew Hispanic Center has just released a new report that indicates that the U.S. population would fall in the future if current levels of legal and illegal immigration were not continued.

The projection is that between now and 2065 immigration will account for 88 percent of the countrys population growth. But the study is not focused on the total population, but rather the working-age population. It depicts a drop from 173 million persons aged 25-64 to 166 million if there were no further immigration. Of course, no one is advocating zero immigration. With the continued present level of immigration, the working-age population would increase to 183 million.

The reason for the drop in the working age population without immigration is that the spike in population growth of the postwar baby boom increase is passing as that generation ages and dies. This, of course, is a natural phenomenon that has been long anticipated. The passing of the baby boom is destined to restore population dynamics to a more stable long-term balance.

So, what is the purpose of this report? Pew supports liberal immigration. The report is ammunition for the business interests that oppose the agenda of the Trump administration to tighten enforcement against illegal immigration and to reduce legal immigration and refugee flows. Economists and business interests generally support population growth fueled by immigration because of the view that the availability of more workers holds down wages and the availability of more consumers props up consumption of manufactured products.

That is a glass half full perspective. The contrary perspective is a nation with decreased crowding, less demand for new infrastructure, less intrusion on the nations environment and non-renewable resources. Currently efforts to make the country more energy independent and less reliant on fossil fuels are eroded by the growing population of energy consumers. That Sisyphean challenge will be much more realistic when the population tends to stabilize with a lower level of immigration.

The rest is here:
What if the U.S. Population Wanes? | Immigration Reform Blog - ImmigrationReform.com (blog)