Immigration reform is an emergency

By Renata Soto
Executive Director
Conexión Américas

(as published in the Tennessean July 15, 2013)

Tennessee Republican Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker demonstrated wisdom and leadership when they voted for the bipartisan immigration bill that passed the Senate June 27 by 68 to 32.

Their votes supported what Tennesseans and the American people overwhelmingly want. Comprehensive immigration reform is strongly supported by:

  • 77% of Tennesseans
  • business leaders such as the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville Area Chamber, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
  • religious leaders such as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Jewish Federations of North America, the United Methodist Church, the Southern Baptist Convention and the Association of Evangelical Churches.

Some irresponsible media personalities and politicians offer falsehoods as facts and have dehumanized the issue of immigration to the point that it has been reduced to a faceless conversation. We must counter falsehoods with truth and those who seek to divide us with unity.

As the Senate bill moves to the House of Representatives, our political leaders must be reminded to listen to their electorate. Common-sense immigration reform is a national emergency and a local priority. Our current immigration system is broken, and it doesn’t serve the social and economic interests of the nation.

Our immigration laws don’t serve employers well. Outdated quotas determine how many people from which country for what occupation can obtain a work visa, no matter what the needs are of our changing job market. That’s why the technology community, including leaders in the emerging high-tech community in Nashville, is for reform.

Our immigration laws don’t serve workers well. Our broken system has welcomed millions of individuals to respond to local labor needs — but has kept them as an underclass of invisible, exploitable, undocumented workers. That’s why faith leaders support reform.

Our immigration laws don’t serve family values well. As a refugee from a war torn country, such as Kurdistan, Egypt, or Somalia, it may take you years – sometimes over a decade — to be reunited with immediate relatives. That’s why advocates for immigrants and strong families are for reform.

Our current immigration laws don’t allow talented young people to further their education. Brought here as children, through no fault of their own, they are not able to advance in their educational goals, nor contribute in a meaningful way to our economy. That’s why teachers and students are for reform.

Our current immigration laws don’t serve our national security interests, either. We are a less safe nation when we don’t recognize millions of individuals within our borders cannot be accounted for, even as thousands of them are fighting and dying for our country’s defense in our foreign wars. That’s why national security and military leaders are for reform.

As Nashvillians, it is in the best interest of our city and its future prosperity that we have a national immigration system that works.

We urge Tennessee members of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass bipartisan immigration reform. We need an orderly process that allows immigrants to work and improve their lives and contribute, legally, to our economy and our nation.

Contact your Congressional Representative

Click here to contact Tennessee representatives to Congress and ask them to vote for bipartisan and comprehensive immigration reform.

Or call their offices directly:

  • Diane Black, 202-225-4231
  • Marsha Blackburn, 202-225-2811
  • Steve Cohen, 202-225-3265
  • Jim Cooper, 202-225-4311
  • Scott DesJarlais, 202-225-6831
  • John J. Duncan Jr., 202-225-5435
  • Stephen Fincher, 202-225-4714
  • Chuck Fleishmann, 202-225-3271
  • Phil Roe, 202-225-6356