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| After months of negotiations, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S744) has finally been introduced by a bipartisan group of senators known as the “Gang of 8.” This is an encouraging sign that both parties are serious about passing immigration reform this year. The legislation includes an earned path towards citizenship, creates a new “W” visa for hiring foreign workers, increases the number of available high-skilled visas, and features several measures focused on border security. As expected, the legislation is not perfect. It abolishes the Diversity Visa Lottery—a valuable program that has ensured diversity within our U.S. immigration system—over an 18-month period, eliminating the visas available for U.S. citizens who are trying to bring their siblings or adult children above age 31 to the U.S. Senators will likely seek to address these and other issues during a process known as “mark-up,” where the Judiciary Committee votes on specific amendments to the legislation and then votes on whether to send the final bill to the full Senate for consideration. As this process unfolds, senators will be seeking input from constituents. While others will frame this as a legal, political, or economic issue, people of faith must remind their senators that this is fundamentally a moral issue, and urge them to support amendments that create an immigration system embodying our shared values of fairness, compassion, and accountability. We must also keep our elected officials and our immigrant brothers and sisters in our prayers as this process unfolds. In faith, The Sojourners Immigration Team  (VIDEO) Evangelicals Take Immigration Reform to Hill: Say Amnesty v. Deportation a 'False Choice' This coalition is notable as demographics and changing social sentiments continue to diversify the evangelical community. Dr. Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, agreed, noting there are 5,000 Southern Baptists and nine million Latino evangelicals—suggesting a significant demographic shift in the "lived experience" of immigration in evangelical churches. ‘Nuns on the Bus’ Will Hit the Road for Immigration Reform The “Nuns on the Bus” are revving up their engines for another national campaign, only this time the Catholic sisters are taking their mobile platform for social justice along the country’s southern border to push Congress to pass immigration reform. Sierra Club Endorses Immigration Reform Undoubtedly, the growing momentum for immigration reform will invite a backlash from those struggling against the tidal wave of support. Before those voices can take over the debate, let’s show our appreciation to groups willing to publicly endorse immigration reform... The Sierra Club’s announcement is an important reminder of the many ways that public policy issues relate. We can’t forget we’re all in this together. 'Si, Se Puede!' Tens of Thousands Gather on National Mall for Immigration Reform The diverse crowd, many of whom had bussed in from across the country, stood through the unusually sweltering April heat to raise chants, noisemakers, and cheers in a show of unified solidarity for immigration reform. Flags dotted the Capitol lawn, with American flags mixing with the flags of Peru, Guatemala, Honduras, Brazil, and other countries to form a visual tapestry of American diversity.  Broad Outlines of Senate Immigration Agreement Emerge A bipartisan group of senators has largely agreed on a broad immigration bill that would require tough border measures to be in place before [undocumented] immigrants could take the first steps to become American citizens, according to several people familiar with drafts of the legislation. Tougher Border Security Language Added to Immigration Bill In a direct appeal to Republicans, the Senate Judiciary Committee made the first major change to the bipartisan immigration bill, agreeing Thursday to require the government to achieve “effective control” of the entire Southern border, not just high-risk areas.  Five ways immigration reform will help low-wage workers But the evidence for those low-wage losses is mixed, and a lot of it relies on excessively narrow models of the economy. The right question is whether low-wage workers are better off under a world in which we’ve passed immigration reform or under the status quo. On this, I think the answer is clear for at least five reasons. Marco Rubio: Immigration Reform Compromise Isn't 'Amnesty,' Will Be More Onerous Than Current Law Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) suggested Sunday that the bipartisan immigration reform currently being negotiated by eight senators would not constitute "amnesty" because the path to legal status it proposes would be more onerous than the standards under current law.  While the discussions about changing immigration policy often seem complex, people of faith must do all they can to educate others about what’s at stake in this debate. Here are the latest resources to help you talk with others about the need for comprehensive immigration reform:
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