A Message from John Keller, Director of the Immigration Law Center in St. Paul

Dear Friend,

I write to thank you for signing up to receive these alerts, for following through on the actions we suggest, and to encourage your on-going and even increased participation over the next six to nine months as this movement and struggle defines itself. Your actions and voices are absolutely critical to keep this issue moving.

Yesterday, as many of you know, President Obama began to publicly lead on immigration. He and a bipartisan group of over 20 Senators and Congressmen committed themselves to passing comprehensive immigration reform bill in the next year. President Obama announced a working group headed by Secretary Janet Napolitano and stated in no uncertain terms that he wanted a bill that creates a functional path to legalization for the 12 million immigrants currently in the country.

Progress on this issue requires a broad base of support, including the cooperation of both parties and groups from many sectors. It is an excellent sign, then, that Senator McCain was firmly and visibly behind the President on Thursday, stating that he favored both the details and the timetable laid out. Senator Schumer (replacing Senator Kennedy as the Democratic lead on this issue) and Representative Conyers have accepted the mantle of leadership on this issue and both houses of Congress have now committed to putting a bill before President Obama either late this year or at the start of 2010.

We have our work cut out for us. We know that the other side on this issue is well-organized and active, even though they represent the "vocal minority" and not the strong majority of Americans on this issue. This vocal minority was crucial to killing this bill last time. Now they claim to have sent, in June alone, nearly 700,000 faxes opposing any positive immigration reform. Yet in just the past few days, you and others supporting pragmatic, solution-based reforms made over 26,000 calls to the White House and sent at least 11,000 faxes to your representatives urging reform. Because of your work and dedication we now have a fighting chance to pass the most sweeping immigration reform in a generation.

We cannot afford to let this opportunity slip away from us. We can do this, but we can only suceed if we work together and commit to taking action each and every time it is required. This will be a long fight, but one that we can win when we work and act together.

Thank you so much to all of you,

John C. Keller
Executive Director