[May 15, 2010]

• that the misinformation that illegal immigrants are "cutting in line" is blathered on talk radio all of the time?

• that the truth is, there is no line for most undocumented immigrants?

• that there is no ¡°line¡± for the vast majority of undocumented immigrants?

• that accusations that immigrants in the U.S. illegally ? numbering an estimated 12 million, and representing five to six percent of the U.S. workforce ? should simply get in line miss the point: There is no line and the ¡°regular channels¡± do not include them?

• that approximately 500,000 undocumented immigrants enter the U.S. each year ? most coming to work and typically to do so in the service sector ? yet there are only 5,000 green cards for unskilled workers?? Legal residents don¡¯t want this job.

• that until there are more legal avenues for employers to hire immigrant workers, illegal immigration will fill the gap and we will not gain the control over immigration that the American people demand?

Devastating Reality to be Considered

• that 5.5 million children living in the United States have at least one parent who is undocumented?

• that since 1998, immigrant parents of U.S. citizen children have been deported from the United States?

• that a by the Urban Institute shows that detention, deportation, and other harsh forms of immigration enforcement have devastating effects on children and their families?

• that the fear and anxiety of family separation affects children's behavior and emotional well-being, and can lead to a lack of appetite, sleep walking, nightmares, and emotional withdrawal?

• that parents facing deportation are forced to make a decision no one should have to make ? to leave their children behind in the United States or to take them to countries they have never seen?

The Reality of Waiting Many Years for Legal Immigration

• that arbitrary limits, outdated information, and administrative delays in our current immigration system have created an unreasonable and unnecessary backlog for family-based visas?

• that due to these delays, many families have been kept apart for years, even decades, while waiting for green cards to become available and be processed?

• that even spouses of permanent residents must wait 7-10 years to come to the U.S. legally, while most others, including adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, are forced to wait between 4-23 years?? Isn¡¯t it time to correct such injustice?

Why Doesn¡¯t Congress Listen to their Voters?

• that the economic downturn has a lot of people murmuring that now is not the right time for a new law?

• that the opinion polls show by consistently strong majorities, that Americans want a fair, common sense plan to fix our broken immigration system?

• that in 2009 as in previous years, voters want the President and Congress to advance an immigration plan that legalizes the undocumented workforce and requires them to pay taxes; levels the playing field for workers and employers; and restores the rule of law?

• that the same was true in the run-up to the 2008 elections, when swing voters chose candidates who offered practical solutions to the broken immigration system over those who offered just empty rhetoric?

• that 71% to 26% believed that illegal immigrants should take steps to become legal taxpayers?

• that 71% of respondents also believe that those illegal immigrants should not be forced to leave and were not responsible for taking American jobs? ?

• that the majority of Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Moderates, and Conservatives supported legalization?

• that the Washington Post polling showed that support for legalization of undocumented immigrants was high despite political affiliation?

• that 70% of liberals, 68% of Democrats, and 59% Republicans and Independents alike supported an amnesty program?