Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id f3HFUHg20308; Tue, 17 Apr 2001 11:30:17 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2001 11:30:17 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <B701CA9D.450%azbecker@mindspring.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Aliza Becker <azbecker@mindspring.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:5824] FW: Reminder - Nationwide Immigration Policy Conference Call X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Status: O Content-Length: 8688 Lines: 184 There is a more extensive report on the repeal of Executive Order13166 below. Any advocates (including educators) can join on this call but there will be a fee. Aliza ------ Forwarded Message From: "Maurice Belanger" <Mbelanger@immigrationforum.org> Reply-To: <Mbelanger@immigrationforum.org> Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2001 10:55:39 -0400 To: <mauriceb@erols.com> Subject: Reminder - Nationwide Immigration Policy Conference Call Friday April 20 April 17, 2001 To: Interested Immigrant and Refugee Advocates From: Maurice Belanger Re: 2nd Nationwide Conference Call on Immigration Policy Friday April 20, 1:00 PM Eastern Time (10:00 AM Pacific Time) ---------------------------------------------------- Please join immigration advocates for updates and information sharing on immigrant and refugee policy issue on the monthly "Share-the-Cost" nationwide conference call on Friday April 20, 2001 at 1:00PM EST. You must have a Vialog conference call account code. If you do not have an account code, you should call Vialog at 888-727-2560 before the call. Without an account code, you will not be able to get on the call. To get on the call, dial 703-871-3094 and ask for the Immigration Policy Nationwide conference call. The confirmation number is 5159264. Angela Kelley will moderate this call. You will be asked for your conference call account code. Issues to be Discussed on the Call: *Capitol Hill and White House updates *Due Process *Asylum *Benefits *Border Issues *US/Mexico Update *Legislation Update *Activities of Anti-Immigrant Groups *May Day Activities *Other Issues Following are summaries from the Washington-based working groups. Asylum Working Group: Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), chair of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, will re-introduce the Refugee Protection Act after holding hearings, which are tentatively scheduled for May 3, 2001. The Asylum Working Group is currently mapping out a strategy for pushing this legislation forward, which will most likely include visits to key Congressional offices and press work. The Working Group is also planning a variety of events around World Refugee Day (June 20, 2001), including a national lobbying effort, a news conference, and an event sponsored by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on refugee protection. The goal of these activities will be to garner support for refugee and asylee-related legislation, including the Alien Unaccompanied Minor Adjustment and Protection Act of 2001 (HR. 505) and the Refugee Protection Act. Members of the Working Group has been running a national op-ed campaign, placing letters on refugee and asylee-related issues in targeted newspapers. If you can suggest effective signatories for these letters or would like to help out with the campaign, please contact Gene Guerrero of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights at (202) 547-5692, x206 or guerrerog@lchr.org. Benefits Working Group: In recent weeks, there have been serious threats to Executive Order 13166 signed last year by President Clinton calling upon agencies to prepare a plan to improve access to federal programs and activities by eligible limited English proficient (LEP) individuals. On March 8th, Rep. Stump introduced H.R. 969, legislation that would repeal Executive Order 13166. The bill has gained 44 cosponsors in the few weeks since its introduction. In addition, 51 medical and dental associations have signed on to a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Service, Tommy Thompson, asking him to "impose an immediate moratorium on enforcement of the Office for Civil Rights Policy Guidance on Limited English Proficiency," and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies has weighed in with the Department of Labor in opposition to their Guidance. Advocates believe that the White House is now in the process of developing its response to the proposed legislation, and by extension to the Executive Order. The threats have generated an enormous amount of energy around the issue. Advocacy groups distributed sign-on letters urging President Bush to affirm his administration’s support for the Executive Order. In total, over 300 groups signed the letters. Advocates from around the country participated in a conference call to share information and to come up with a continued coordinated response to pressures to repeal the Executive Order. As a first step, advocates are planning a call in day to Congressional Members and the White House on April 25th to respond to an inaccurate and inflammatory postcard campaign currently being circulated. Additional information on the call will be sent out next week. On March 21st a bipartisan group of House and Senate members introduced a package of bills under the banner “Healthy Solution for America’s Hard Working Families” which includes: · IMMIGRANT CHILDREN'S HEALTH IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2001 (S. 582, H.R. 1143), which would give states the option of covering all lawfully present pregnant women and children pregnant women and children under Medicaid and/or SCHIP. The bills were introduced by Senators Bob Graham (D-FL) and John McCain (R-AZ) in the Senate and by Representatives Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) in the House. · THE NUTRITION ASSISTANCE FOR WORKING FAMILIES AND SENIORS ACT (S.583) would allow qualified immigrants to obtain food stamps if they would otherwise be eligible, regardless of their date of entry. Sponsors would remain liable for use of food stamps by any immigrants they sponsor, with an exception for hardship or severe circumstances beyond the control of the sponsor. The Act would also make some additional improvements to the Food Stamp Program. The bill was introduced by Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA). Representatives Jim Walsh (R-NY) and Eva Clayton (D-NC) expect to introduce a similar bill in the House after the April recess. · WOMEN IMMIGRANT'S SAFE HARBOR ACT Although details of the bill are still being worked out, the proposed legislation would, at minimum, exempt battered immigrant women from the five-year bar, regardless of their date of entry. It would also eliminate deeming. The bill will be introduced by Representatives Sandy Levin (D-MI) and Connie Morella (R-MD) in the House. Due Process Working Group: During the week of April 23rd, the Supreme Court will be hearing two important cases having to do with the mandatory removal provisions of the 1996 immigration and anti-terrorist laws. This will provide advocates with an opportunity to draw attention to the harsh provisions of the 1996 laws, and to shine the media spotlight on individuals and families affected by the laws. Citizens and Immigrants for Equal Justice (CIEJ) will be in Washington around the time of the Supreme Court argument. On April 23rd, there will be a vigil in front of the Supreme Court with affected individuals, their families, and supporters. During the arguments on April 24th, immigrant victims of the 1996 law will be speaking with reporters outside of the Court, putting a "human face" on the legal arguments. The folks from CIEJ will also be making visits to Congressional offices, asking for legislative relief from the harsh 1996 laws. Outside of Washington, rallies will be held in Dallas and Los Angeles. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) has reintroduced a bill he sponsored last year. H.R. 1452, the Family Reunification Act of 2001, would make modest changes to the 1996 laws, restoring for some immigrants who committed crimes the opportunity to apply for relief from deportation. Among other things, the bill would allow an immigrant to apply for relief from deportation under rules that applied at the time the immigrant committed an offense (to fix the retroactive application of the law). The bill would also narrow the overly-broad definition of "aggravated felony." Additional legislation, with more sweeping fixes to the 1996 laws, are expected to be introduced in both the House and the Senate later this year. Border Working Group: On May 4th, the Border Working Group will be hosting a panel discussion on the University of Houston’s report “Causes and Trends in Migrant Deaths Along the U.S.-Mexico Border” at 10:00am on Capitol Hill. This public education forum will discuss the state of the United States border deterrance policy and the human toll effects of this policy. Further details on the forum will be circulated once they become available. ============================== Maurice Belanger Senior Policy Associate National Immigration Forum E-Mail: mbelanger@immigrationforum.org Web: http://www.immigrationforum.org ------ End of Forwarded Message
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