Let’s raise our voices for reform

It took years of activism to bring immigration reform to the door of Congress. Now is the time to redouble our efforts to make this overhaul a reality. We encourage Latinos to participate in pro-reform activities this week. Let’s keep up the pressure for an effective, humane reform that puts millions of undocumented workers on a real path to citizenship.

Civil rights and immigrant advocacy organizations are organizing a mega-rally in Washington, D.C. tomorrow to remind lawmakers about the immigrant community’s priorities for this legislation. We must make it clear that we’re keeping an eye on the process.

In New York, groups are organizing trips to D.C. to participate in the rally, as well as local activities to support the reform movement.

The immigration reform movement seems to have reached a historic critical mass. However, activists and voters must remember that their voices are still essential to ensure that the new legislation truly addresses the community’s concerns.

If after all this effort, the result is an immigration system that still separates families, leaving too many in limbo and continues to allow unfairness in our workforce, that would be a great loss.

The reason some lawmakers went from rejecting or ignoring immigration proposals to recognizing their merits was that voters (especially immigrants and their relatives) sent them a clear message last November: they won’t elect officials who disregard their needs and concerns. The key to this campaign was, and still is, the voice and vote of all of us who are part of this effort.

We’re closer than ever to achieving a significant and necessary overhaul of the immigration system. We can’t let our guard down or stop watching the negotiations. We must let all lawmakers—and not just the Gang of Eight that is leading negotiations in the Senate—know what kind of immigration reform is fair.