To: Sen. Doug Jones (AL-2), Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-1), Sen. Martha McSally (AZ-2), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (CA-1), Sen. Cory Gardner (CO-2), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (CT-1), Sen. Chris Coons (DE-2), Sen. Rick Scott (FL-2), Sen. Mazie Hirono (H...

Make immigration reform fair for women

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and of the Gang of Eight: protect the Senate immigration bill from attacks that would weaken it, and strengthen it by supporting amendments that give women, caregivers, and family the respect they deserve by:

• Honoring the family immigration system—which has been the main channel for women to come to America for centuries. Support amendments put forth by Senator Hirono that value family immigration and reject any amendments that further limit family immigration or devalue family ties in the merit system proposal.
• Letting all undocumented women in the country today reach their dream of citizenship. Support Senator Feinstein’s amendment to change the date for qualification for legalization to be the date of bill enactment (and vote against any attempts to move the date earlier than 12/31/2011); support amendments that allow penalties or fines to be paid in installments; and oppose amendments that increase penalties, income requirements, or back taxes.
• Honoring the work that women do as caregivers and domestic workers in the paperless economy. Vote against amendments that exclude the use of sworn affidavits as proof of employment and support amendments that ensure that pay lost due to labor violations will not be held against an applicant.

Why is this important?

My mom taught me that everyone deserves fairness and the same level of respect. She taught me about kindness, decency, and hard work. Above all, she taught me to do what is right.

That’s why this Mother’s Day, I’m asking you to tell the Senate Judiciary Committee that immigration reform must give moms the respect they deserve.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin voting on amendments to the immigration reform bill this week, in preparation to take it to the floor for a vote. This is a huge step forward—but we need your help today.

Send a message to the Committee and the "Gang of Eight" Senators who wrote the bill. Ask them to protect the bill from attacks that would weaken it, and strengthen it by supporting amendments that give women, caregivers, and family the respect they deserve by:
• Honoring the family immigration system—which has been the main channel for women to America for centuries
• Letting all undocumented women in the country today reach their dream of citizenship
• Honoring the work that women do as caregivers and domestic workers

This Mother’s Day, tell Congress we need an immigration process that honors mothers and families—not just for one day but every day of the year.

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Mi mamá me enseñó que todas/os merecemos la equidad y el mismo nivel de respeto. Me enseñó la bondad, la decencia y a trabajar duro. Sobre todo, me enseñó a hacer siempre lo correcto.

Por eso hoy en el Día de la Madre, yo te pido que le digas al Comité Judicial del Senado que la reforma migratoria tiene que darles a las mamás el respeto que merecen.

En esta semana el Comité Judicial del Senado comienza a votar sobre las enmiendas a la propuesta de ley sobre la reforma migratoria, antes del proceder al voto general. Este es un paso enorme—pero necesitamos tu ayuda hoy.

Mande un mensaje al Comité y a la “Banda de los Ocho” Senadores que redactaron la propuesta de ley. Pide que protejan la propuesta de los ataques que la debilitarían y que la refuercen con las enmiendas que les darían el respeto que merecen las mujeres, las cuidadoras/es y las familias al:
• Honrar el sistema de migración familiar— el cual ha sido la vía principal desde hace siglos para que las mujeres ingresen a los Estados Unidos
• Permitir que todas las mujeres indocumentadas que hoy radican en el país alcancen su sueño de ciudadanía
• Honrar el trabajo que hacen las mujeres como cuidadoras y trabajadoras de hogar dentro de la economía informal

Este Día de la Madre, diles al Congreso que necesitamos un proceso migratorio que honre a las madres y a las familias—no solo por un día sino en todos los días del año.