Skip to main content

Immigrant Rights

Driver Cards and In-State Tuition Pass through the Assembly!

On June 13th, the Assembly passed Driver Cards and In-State Tuition in the State Budget! 

Next Step, the Senate-  

Call your Senators and tell them to pass a budget that includes in-state tuition and driver's cards for immigrants and pass it FAST!  Ask them to support the Driver Card provision in the State Budget.  To find your legislators, click here: Who is my Senator?

Senators in our region:

  • Senator Robert Cowles, (800) 334-1465
  • Senator Michael Ellis, (920) 751-4801
  • Senator Randy Hopper, (608) 266-5300
  • Senator Al Lasee, (920) 336-8830
  • Senator Joe Leibham, (888) 295-8750

Some Helpful Advice for When you Call your Legislators:

  • Give them your name and let them know that you live in their district.  They may ask for your contact information.
  • Ask them to support the Driver Card provision in the 2009-2011 State Budget. Tell them why this is important to you and your community.
  • If they support the Driver Card provision, thank them for being a supporter.

One more vote and a signature until victory! Sign the petition!

 For more information click here.

May 12 - Immigrant Rights - Candlelight Vigil

Taking Action in the Fox Valley
 
Date: Tuesday, May 12th
Time: 6:30-8:00pm
Location: First United Methodist Church, Appleton  (325 East Franklin Street)
 
Tuesday, May 12 marks the first anniversary of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on Postville, Iowa.  To stand in solidarity with the 389 people who were detained and their families, a nationwide day of remembrance has been declared to promote awareness of the devastating effects of raids.  Postville is a small American town with a population of just over 2,000 people, about 20 miles from the Wisconsin border.
While this story is one of great tragedy, it is also a triumph of justice as it brought faith communities together to respond to the need of addressing comprehensive immigration reform and calling an end to immigration raids.
 
Vigil is open to the public, join us!
 
The story of one of the largest immigration raids in US history at a kosher meatpacking plant will be revisited with a prayer vigil of solidarity on this first anniversary of the event through hundreds of events across the nation.
Program to include a trailer of a yet-to-be-released documentary “abUSed", produced in Postville and Guatemala by filmmaker Luis Argueta, testimonials and supportive documents that call for an end to the raids and true comprehensive immigration reform.
We will use this time to remember the events and take action towards the powerful potential we have for change as faith communities to build a community that includes all of the residents in the Fox Valley, the state and our nation.  We do not need people hiding in the shadows!
Click here for the Vigil Flyer.
Event is sponsored by the ESTHER Immigration Task Force.

Event Date: 
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 18:30 - 20:00

What is the DREAM Act?

Posted in

The DREAM Act allows for children of undocumented workers that graduate from US high schools meeting the requirements for higher education to pay in-state tuition rates rather than international rates, which are out of financial reach of most students.  Watch this video about the DREAM Act.

 

Summary of the DREAM Act:

Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to repeal the denial of an unlawful alien's eligibility for higher education benefits based on state residence unless a U.S. national is similarly eligible without regard to such state residence.

Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to cancel the removal of, and adjust to conditional permanent resident status, an alien who:

  1. entered the United States before his or her 16th birthday and has been present in the United States for at least five years immediately preceding enactment of this Act;
  2. is a person of good moral character;
  3. is not inadmissible or deportable under specified grounds of the Immigration and Nationality Act;
  4. at the time of application, has been admitted to an institution of higher education or has earned a high school or equivalent diploma;
  5. from the age of 16 and older, has never been under a final order of exclusion, deportation, or removal; and
  6. was under age 35 on the date of this Act's enactment. 

Sets forth the conditions for conditional permanent resident status, including:

  1. termination of status for violation of this Act; and
  2. removal of conditional status to permanent status.

Authorizes an alien who has satisfied the appropriate requirements prior to enactment of this Act to petition the Secretary for conditional permanent resident status.  Provides for:

  1. exclusive jurisdiction;
  2. penalties for false application statements;
  3. confidentiality;
  4. fee prohibitions;
  5. higher education assistance; and
  6. a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report respecting the number of aliens adjusted under this Act.

 

DREAM Act 2009 Reintroduced - Learn More

 

Bill S.729 DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act 2009 has been introduced and sponsored by Senator Dick Durbin (D, IL) and Senator Richard Lugar (R, IN) with 19 co sponsors including Sentator Feingold (D, WI). 

Learn More

Legislative Joint Finance Committee in Appleton on April 1

No foolin'! The committee was in session in Lawrence University's Stansbury Theatre from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Opening to a packed crowd, the meeting offered opportunities for citizens and interest groups to share their views and positions on items included in (or omitted from) the Governor's proposed 2010-11 budget. ESTHER was well represented. Gwen Gibson and Rev. Maynard Beemer spoke (see photo) on behalf of earned early release and drivers certificates for immigrants who cannot get driver's licenses because of RealID. Representatives from JOSHUA were also present and spoke.

Syndicate content