As Senate Considers Legislation, Immigrant Advocates Continue the Drumbeat for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Tens of thousands of people gathered on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, April 10, urging Congress to introduce comprehensive immigration reform that includes a clear pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in America today. Those same immigration advocates are now waiting with bated breath to see whether the Senate will pass an immigration reform bill that protects the rights of citizens and immigrants alike.

During the Rally for Citizenship, civil rights, faith, labor and immigrant rights leaders addressed the crowd as immigration reform activists waved signs with phrases such as “Ya Basta de Deportaciones!” or “Enough Deportations!” and shouted “Si se puede!” while standing or marching under the hot sun. The people at the rally truly represented the diversity of this nation – Black, White, Asian, and Latino Americans all stood together to demand a change to the current immigration system. Benjamin Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP, delivered the keynote address. “Now is the time to fix our nation’s broken immigration system,” he said. Jealous emphasized that immigrants come from many different backgrounds, and that our communities across the nation rely on the contributions of hard working aspiring citizens.

The rally was hosted by local organizations CASA de Maryland and SEIU 32BJ and supported by prominent local and national organizations including the Alliance for Citizenship and the Center for Community Change. It was part of a week of action in which dozens of events were held in communities across the country to urge immediate action to address the nation’s immigration crisis.  Many people took action with The Leadership Conference staff at the rally by taking pictures holding signs explaining why they believe now is the time for immigration reform, and continuing the conversation online via #timeisnow on Twitter.

Now that the “Gang of Eight”  — a bipartisan group of senators working together to draft legislation that at least 60 members would support — has introduced legislation, and  the Senate Judiciary Committee has held a hearing on the bill, the civil rights community remains hopeful that this reform would eventually put undocumented immigrants on the road to citizenship, address the use of racial profiling, and promote alternatives to cruel and expensive detention policies. A growing number of supporters across the country are calling for immigration reform by signing a pledge to support a comprehensive immigration reform bill that ensures a roadmap to citizenship and upholds the civil and human rights of every person in the United States.

“Our immigration laws are unjust, outdated, and unworkable,” said Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, in a press release. “By any standard, it is simply untenable to have 11 million people living outside of the scope and protections of our laws and society. That’s why all Americans deserve a common sense immigration process that includes a roadmap for people who aspire to be citizens.”