New America’s Voice Memo and Website Highlight the Political and Human Cost of Delay
A new memo from America’s Voice analyzes the political state of play for the GOP and a new web site—thecostofinaction.com—features a ticker that shows how the real-time human toll of deportations on the one hand and the strength of “immigration voters” on the other continue to grow with every passing day.
In the 88 days since the Senate passed its bill, up to 100,000 immigrants who may have benefited from the law have instead been deported. During that same time period, over 331,300 new U.S. citizens with ties to the immigration debate (Latinos, Asians, and naturalized citizens) have become eligible to vote. To them this is not just a policy issue, it’s personal. They are backed by a broad, diverse, powerful, and relentless movement that believes all families should be united.
This is why we are confident that broad immigration reform will pass the House: the cost of inaction for the GOP is too high, the politics of the issue for the GOP are too clear, and our movement won’t take no for an answer.
One only has to look as far as the latest editorial from the nation’s leading Spanish-language newspaper, La Opinión: “Americans deserve concrete action … instead of empty words from those who say they represent the people, but are treating them like children. Lawmakers are hiding the options available to address problems and trying to make their constituents take their own ideological medicines that heal nothing. If the House of Representatives boasts about representing Americans and their opinions, then it must respect them by allowing a clean vote on the Senate-approved reform. Not doing so would show a hypocritical attitude—and demonstrate fear of the will of the majority.”
Said Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice:
We have the votes to pass broad bipartisan immigration reform this year, but now we just need the will of Republican leaders to act. Every day they delay another one thousand families are torn apart and thousands more ‘immigration voters’ are added to the rolls. If the policy consequences don’t motivate House Republicans, the politics will. Either they show leadership and answer to the immigrant community now, or don’t and answer to Latino and Asian voters at the polls in elections to come.
- Americans’ Voice memo, ”Immigration State of Play”
- New America’s Voice Website: http://thecostofinaction.com/
