BORDER CRUELTY AND GOP, COURT RULES AGAINST ASYLUM BAN
This week, America’s Voice worked to link together the extremism of the anti-immigrant side, connecting the dots between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s cruelty to immigrants, ongoing efforts to impeach Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and the continued politicization of immigrants. Executive Director Vanessa Cárdenas penned a Common Dreams op-ed, “The Dehumanizing Cruelty at the Texas Border Is Part of a Larger GOP Pattern,” that used Abbott as the starting point to frame broader issues in immigration. The article was complemented by talking points that AV developed for the pro-immigrant movement to keep pressure on immigration opponents and push pro-immigrant allies – or leaders who should be our allies – to do more. This week, a federal judge in California also struck down the Biden asylum ban. Judge Jon S. Tigar enjoined the ban, but stayed his injunction for two weeks in anticipation of appeals, which have since been filed by the Justice Department. AV issued a statement in English and Spanish and contributed a quote to the #WelcomeWithDignity campaign’s joint reaction statement.
HOUSE DEMS FORCEFULLY PUSH BACK ON GOP’S CONSPIRATORIAL RHETORIC
House Judiciary Republicans hauled Secretary Mayorkas in for a hearing as part of their two-year-long, pre-baked political impeachment effort infused with white nationalist conspiracy theories. Democrats, however, aggressively pushed back on their claims and called out the danger of mainstreaming the kind of “invasion” and “great replacement” theories cited by racist mass murderers. Their responses also underscored the way forward for Democrats to lean in on immigration issues. AV Political Director Zachary Mueller said an exchange between Georgia Rep. Hank Johnson and Mayorkas “affirmed what we have been warning about for years: when elected leaders amplify white nationalist conspiracy theories of the far right, they create a climate that encourages the horrific acts of domestic terrorism we have witnessed in Pittsburgh, El Paso, and Buffalo.” Read more here.
MIGRANTS HOPE FOR SOLUTIONS, REPUBLICANS PREFER POLITICKING
In their weekly column, America’s Voice En Español Director Maribel Hastings and Spanish-language Advisor David Torres say that while there are many issues on the immigration front that need sensible and urgent action – such as legalization of the 11 million undocumented in the U.S. – the Republicans who control the House are instead focused on politicking. “While those Republicans opt for racism, xenophobia, obstruction, and bad faith on the migration front, the real world continues to spin, and migrants who exercise vital functions in our economy and daily life continue on with a commitment worthy of admiration,” they write. “In fact, they are the best example of what the U.S. spirit means—that which gives everything for the common good, which stands in solidarity with the most noble causes, and is not afraid to continue on in the face of adversity.” Their column was also published at a number of outlets including La Opinión and Radio Bilingüe. Read their column in English here and in Spanish here.
NOTE TO REPUBLICAN TONY GONZALES: YOUR PARTY IS IN CHARGE
During an appearance on Face the Nation this past Sunday, Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales surprisingly credited the Biden administration with the noticeable drop in border encounters since the expiration of the anti-asylum Title 42 order back in May, adding that it’s time for Congress to act to fix our broken immigration system. Maybe he forgot – or is choosing to ignore – that it’s his party that’s stonewalling workable and humane solutions on immigration, AV Campaigns Director Mario Carrillo said. Gonzales has also failed to adequately take on his state’s cruelty to migrants at the border. “It seems that he has no intention of taking any concrete, meaningful steps to push back against his party and its failures on the border, and is only content at using this issue to seem moderate but still be in lock-step with his party,” Carrillo writes. Read more here.
TEXAS CONGRESSMAN LEADS THIRST STRIKE FOR HEAT PROTECTIONS
93-year-old labor legend Dolores Huerta was among advocates that joined Texas Rep. Greg Casar for a one-day “thirst strike” in Washington, D.C. to shine an urgent light on the need for the Biden administration to act as soon as possible on federal heat protections for outdoor workers, AV Editor Gabe Ortíz writes. While the Biden administration announced in 2021 that it would be launching an interagency response to extreme heat, federal rulemaking can take years. Many essential workers just don’t have this kind of time. In the past several weeks alone, farmworkers in Arizona and Florida have been killed by extreme heat while on the job. The youngest, Dario Mendoza, was just 26. “I’m on thirst strike today because families across Texas and across America deserve dignity on the job,” Casar said. Read more here.
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS URGED TO EXPAND WORK PERMITS
“Today we have a very simple message for President Biden: let immigrants work!” That was the message from Rep. Chuy García at a Capitol Hill press conference on Wednesday. He was joined by other House Democrats and business and immigration advocates at an event organized by the American Business Immigration Coalition Action (ABIC Action) calling on President Biden to use his executive powers to grant work permits to migrants. The chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Rep. Nanette Barragán, was also there, along with Reps. Veronica Escobar and Lou Correa. AV Administrative Assistant Olivia Butts captured the action. “Immigrants are here to work, President Biden: Let Them!” read signs as leaders helped ABIC Action launch their #HereToWork campaign. The coalition working with ABIC is urging the president to do all that he is legally able to do under existing law to issue work permits to long term immigrants in the U.S. and others, including those who are awaiting asylum cases, to address worker shortages in key industries. Click below and share our tweet supporting the expansion of work permits for immigrants.
YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS
New York-based progressive policy think-tank Next100 is actively recruiting for its next cohort of leaders who are interested in driving change at the local, state, and federal level. Applicants accepted into the two-year, salaried program will get an opportunity to focus on an area of their choosing, from immigration, to criminal justice, to education. “We’ll provide mentoring, professional support, opportunities for travel and networking, and policy training to help you drive policy change, hand-in-hand with communities and partners.” For more information on Next100 and how to apply, click here.
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