1. Contact AILA’s Advocacy via advocacy@aila.org
Immigration Advocacy
Melina Roche,
Grassroots Advocacy Associate
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via

2. Contact AILA’s Advocacy via advocacy@aila.org
Agenda
The State of Play on Immigration
What to expect in 2016
AILA’s Current Priorities & Message
What are your advocacy goals?
AILA’s Advocacy Tools & Tips
Moving forward and taking action!
National Day of Action 2016
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via

3. Administrative & Legislative Update
ICE Raids targeting Central American Families
Family Detention
U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program
Visa Waiver Program
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via

4. AILA’s Priorities & Message
ICE Raids targeting Central Americans
Jan. 4 – DHS announces apprehension of over 121 adults and children from Central America
House and Senate members have asked that President Obama stop the raids
Including 18 NY Representatives & Sen. Gillibrand
Apprehended families are being held in Dilley, TX
AILA opposes these harsh and inhumane enforcement tactics
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via

5. AILA’s Priorities & Message
Ending Family Detention
Apprehended children and mothers from recent raids are being detained in the family detention center in Dilley, Texas
On 8/21/15, U.S. Federal District Court Judge Gee upheld her July decision and ordered the government to release children and mothers in accordance with the Flores settlement agreement by October 23.
Currently the government is appealing this order
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via

6. Ending Family Detention
Three quarters of House and Senate Democrats have called upon DHS to #endfamilydetention
AILA continues to keep pressure on the administration
Bottom line:
For more visit:
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7. AILA’s Priorities & Message
U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program
The American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of (H.R. 4038)
House passed the bill in November
Senate blocked motion to proceed in January
AILA opposes any bill that would impose unworkable security measures on the screenings for refugees
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via

8. AILA’s Priorities & Message
Visa Waiver Program
Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 (HR 158)
House passed the bill in December
Bill was included in appropriations bill of 2016
AILA opposes the bill, which categorical excluded nationals of Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Sudan, as well as any person who has traveled to those countries from the Visa Waiver Program.
A bipartisan bill has been introduced to remove the discriminatory dual nationality exclusion to the Visa Waiver Program.
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9. What Happened to Reform?
Immigration Reform Bill
S. 744 passed the Senate on a vote of 68-32
2013/ The House doesn’t take up reform
11/ Republicans take both chambers in elections
The House again doesn’t vote on legislation
Deferred Action
11/20/14 - DAPA & DACA+ are announced
2/16/15 - TX Court granted an injunction
11/9/15 - 5th Circuit Court affirmed Feb decision
1/19/16 - SCOTUS announces it will hear the case
For quick updates read AILA’s Immigration Politics
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via

10. The Future of Reform 72% of Americans support path to legal status
Demographics: the growing Latino voting population
Every 30 seconds a Latino becomes eligible to vote that’s about 800,000 every year
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11. What to Expect in 2016 Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI)
“It starts with border enforcement…It starts with
enforcing the rule of law. But you need to have a
vibrant, legal immigration system.” – November 2015
SCOTUS Decision on US vs Texas
2016 Presidential Election
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12. What are your advocacy goals?
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via

13. How to be an Effective Advocate
Easy ways to take action
Available advocacy tools at AILA.org
Advocacy/Media Center
Advocacy Action Center
AILA’s current advocacy initiatives
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via

14. Advocacy Begins by Taking Action
Lawmakers need your first hand knowledge and expertise
They don’t know immigration law like you!
You have a unique perspective on how it impacts your state and community
Participate in AILA’s National Day of Action
Thursday, April 7, 2016 in Washington DC
Contact your legislators by:
or social media
Scheduling an in-person meeting

15. Register: www.agora.aila.org/nda
When: Thursday, April 7, 2016
Where: Capitol Hill
Washington, DC
Register:
Registration is free and all are welcome!
This election year, you have the opportunity to educate members of Congress and their staff about the problems plaguing our immigration system and explain why we need immigration reform, not rhetoric.

16. AILA’s Advocacy-Media Center
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via

17. AILA’s Advocacy Action Center
Send a prepared message to your legislator; OR
Write your own message
Be brief, direct, & courteous
Don’t forget to mention you’re a constituent
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via

18. AILA’s Advocacy Action Center
Easy look up your legislator by state or address to find:
Legislator’s office and biographical info
Staff contact info
Social media profiles
Committees
Voting record on bills that AILA is tracking

19. Contact AILA’s Advocacy via advocacy@aila.org
More Advocacy Tools
Congressional “buddy” program – Establish and build a relationships with immigration caseworkers
Host a Congressional breakfast
Share case examples with AILA
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via

20. Contact AILA’s Advocacy via advocacy@aila.org
Action Items
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via

21. AILA Advocacy
Advocacy-Media Page
Immigration Politics 2016
What’s Happening in Congress
Melina Roche, Grassroots Advocacy Associate
Contact AILA’s Advocacy via