NT-NL Giving Public Witness to Peace and Justice: LIRS Welcomes New Bipartisan Immigration Framework, Awaits Obama Speech

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

LIRS Welcomes New Bipartisan Immigration Framework, Awaits Obama Speech

Linda Hartke, President and CEO of Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service, affirms the immigration ideas unveiled by bipartison senators in her blog. Click here to read the article.

Hartke writes, "It’s encouraging to see the framework for comprehensive immigration reform released today (Jan. 28, 2013) by a bipartisan group of senators. This, together with President Barack Obama’s speech tomorrow in Las Vegas, gives me hope that lawmakers will move rapidly to pass fair and compassionate reform legislation.

"The principles unveiled by the group of eight senators confirm that now is the time for Congress to pass immigration reform. We at LIRS look forward to working with Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress as they come together, for the well-being of our nation, to answer the president’s call to build an immigration system that works for America. The principles put forward today, if enacted into law, would provide a workable process for migrants to continue contributing to the United States." Click to Read Linda Hartke's blog at this link.

LIRS released a press statement: LIRS Welcomes New Bipartisan Immigration Framework, Awaits Obama Speech.

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This is the website for Goal Team C - Giving Public Witness to Peace and Justice - the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Mission Area (ELCA).

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ELCA and immigration reform in support of families

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) continues to advocate for comprehensive federal immigration reform as the Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearings on legislation that calls for reform. A bipartisan group of senators introduced a reform bill April 17.

[Read the full story at this link]

In anticipation of the Senate’s bill, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service sponsored a leadership summit April 14-16 that brought together 40 Lutheran leaders from across the country to Capitol Hill to support the new legislation.

“I’m proud that Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service could convene so many skilled and respected leaders at such a critical time at this year’s Lutheran Immigration Leadership Summit, as the Senate rolls out history-making immigration legislation. There’s never been a more important time for us, as Lutherans and Americans, to make our voices heard,” said Linda Hartke, president and CEO of the service.

Listen: Drug Laws That Changed How We Punish

Sharing this link in preparation for NT-NL's upcoming workshop, The New Jim Crow in Texas. Listen to NPR's news report on how US drug laws changed the way we imprison citizens.

"The United States puts more people behind bars than any other country, five times as many per capita compared with Britain or Spain.It wasn't always like this. Half a century ago, relatively few people were locked up, and those inmates generally served short sentences. But 40 years ago, New York passed strict sentencing guidelines known as the "Rockefeller drug laws" — after their champion, Gov. Nelson Rockefeller — that put even low-level criminals behind bars for decades.Those tough-on-crime policies became the new normal across the country. But a new debate is under way over the effectiveness of tough sentencing laws."