Good evening, my name is Douglas Interiano and I am the executive director of Proyecto Inmigrante in Fort Worth. I am also a member of Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance, which goes by RITA. RITA is a statewide, multi-sector alliance formed in 2009 to build support for immigration reform.

Today, more than 300 Texans from El Paso, Austin, Dallas, Houston and the Rio Grande Valley, all members of the Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance (RITA), will travel to Washington, DC, by bus as the Texas Caravan for America.

The Texans will participate in the March for America rally on Sunday, March 21, 2010, which is expected to draw 100,000 participants from the four corners of the United States to the National Mall.

We are making this long, probably uncomfortable trip of 28 hours, spending our own money and sacrificing work time and family time because reforming the broken immigration system is urgent.

As immigrants and friends of immigrants, we want to send a clear message to President Obama, his administration and our elected officials to show leadership on comprehensive immigration reform.

We are frustrated that promises are not being fulfilled on this subject. Politicians have used immigration reform as a political punching bag for too long. We need to remind them that real people, families, children are at stake here.

We cannot afford to wait any longer to resolve the situation of millions who are living in the shadows of society instead of contributing fully to their adopted country. We must help employers connect legally with workers who want to work. And we owe it to children who came through no fault of their own to this country to give them the education and the future that any child deserves. Immigrants have made Texas a great state throughout its history. We cannot turn our backs on immigrants now.

But the fight for immigration reform is about much more than immigration. It’s about leveling the playing field and securing good paying jobs for all workers. It’s about helping us out of this economic crisis by increasing the tax base, allowing immigrants to contribute fully. It’s about security –national security, border enforcement and community safety. And, it’s about living up to our best values, not stooping down to our worst instincts.  Immigration reform is good for the economy, for security, and for families.

Thank you, Y Buen Viaje!

Lori Stafford, Welcoming Immigrants Network, Dallas, Texas, (214) 649.2233, lori.stafford@gulfstream.com

Louie Gilot, Border Network for Human Rights, El Paso, Texas, (915) 217-3621, lgilot@bnhr.org

**Press Advisory**

“TEXAS CARAVAN FOR AMERICA” TO GO TO DC IN SUPPORT OF IMMIGRATION REFORM

More than 300 people, including 40 El Pasoans, to travel 28 hours by bus to join thousands in national rally on the Nation Mall March 21

More than 300 Texans from El Paso, Dallas, Ft Worth, Houston and the Rio Grande Valley will congregate in Dallas on Friday to board 5 buses and three passenger vans for a long trip to the nation’s capital. The participants will join tens of thousands of others from all around the nation for a massive rally Sunday, March 21, in Washington, D.C. The rally, called March for America, aims to remind the government and Congress of the dire need for comprehensive immigration reform and to ask that our elected officials show leadership on this important issue.

The organizer of the Texas Caravan for America is the Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance (RITA), a statewide, multi-sector effort to build support for immigration reform and give Texas a voice in the ongoing debate. (El Paso’s Border Network for Human Rights is a founding member of RITA.) RITA members, including DREAM Act students, will march on Washington, D.C., to demand immigration reform and economic justice for all Americans. RITA’s vision of reform includes immigrants and native-born U.S. citizens working shoulder to shoulder to achieve better wages, working conditions, and labor protections, and of an American that’s back to work, with a fair balance between Main Street and Wall Street.

“We will come together as one voice on the National Mall for a strong America – for families, for workers, for businesses, and for security,” said Adriana Cadena, RITA Coordinator.

###

**Press conference:  6 p.m., Friday March 19, 2010**

“TEXAS CARAVAN FOR AMERICA” TO GO TO DC IN SUPPORT OF IMMIGRATION REFORM

More than 300 people from all parts of Texas to travel 28 hours by bus to join thousands in national rally on the Nation Mall March 21

More than 300 Texans from El Paso, Dallas, Ft Worth, Houston and the Rio Grande Valley will congregate in Dallas on Friday to board 5 buses and three passenger vans for a long trip to the nation’s capital. The participants will join tens of thousands of others from all around the nation for a massive rally Sunday, March 21, in Washington, D.C. The rally, called March for America, aims to remind the government and Congress of the dire need for comprehensive immigration reform and to ask that our elected officials show leadership on this important issue.

The organizer of the Texas Caravan for America is the Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance (RITA), a statewide, multi-sector effort to build support for immigration reform and give Texas a voice in the ongoing debate. RITA members will march on Washington, D.C., to demand immigration reform and economic justice for all Americans. RITA’s vision of reform includes immigrants and native-born U.S. citizens working shoulder to shoulder to achieve better wages, working conditions, and labor protections, and of an American that’s back to work, with a fair balance between Main Street and Wall Street.

“We will come together as one voice on the National Mall for a strong America – for families, for workers, for businesses, and for security,” said Adriana Cadena, RITA Coordinator.

**TEXAS CARAVAN FOR AMERICA PRESS CONFERENCE**

Where: Lovers Lane United Methodist Church,  9200 Inwood Road (corner NW Hwy and Inwood Rd),
Dallas, TX  75220

When: 6 p.m., Friday March 19, 2010

Who: Organizers from El Paso, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and the Rio Grande Valley; Travelers with personal stories of hardship due to the broken immigration system; Representative from the office of United Methodist Bishop Earl Bledsoe; Religious leaders; Elected officials (TBA); DREAM Act students from several states.

Visuals: Dozens of participants arriving in buses from El Paso, Ft Worth and elsewhere.

###

Texas Caravan for America

with 4 buses, over 200 people, to participate in the March for America on Sunday, March 21, 2010.

We will march on Washington, DC to demand immigration reform and economic justice for all Americans. Our vision of reform includes immigrants and native-born U.S. citizens working shoulder to shoulder to achieve better wages, working conditions, and labor protections, and of an American that’s back to work, with a fair balance between Main Street and Wall Street.

We will come together as one voice on the National Mall for a strong America – for families, for workers, for businesses, and for security.

Join the Texas Caravan for America and thousands from across the country in the

March For America in DC on March 21st, and demand Congress act NOW to pass immigration reform!

To join the Texas Caravan, please contact:

Austin/Houston: Caroline Keating-Guerra « Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition«

caroline@austinirc.org « 512-476-2472

El Paso: Martina Morales «Border Network for Human Rights « mmorales@bnhr.org «915-577-0724

Dallas: Rev. Owen Ross « La Fundación de Cristo « pastor@christsfoundry.org « 214-497-9552

Lori Stafford « Welcoming Immigrants Network « lstaf@sbcglobal.net « 214-649-2233

Ft. Worth: Douglas Interiano « Coalition for Immigration Reform of DFW & North Texas « douglas.interiano@proyectoinmigrante.org «817-922-0280

Statewide: Adriana Cadena « RITA « acadena@bnhr.org « 915-253-2262

Texas Caravan for America Itinerary

Friday March 19

El Paso Bus Departs to travel over 650 miles to Dallas to join Texas Caravan

Austin/Houston Bus Departs to travel over 200 miles to Dallas to join Texas Caravan

Ft. Worth Bus Departs to travel 50 miles to Dallas to join Texas Caravan

9:00 PM          Texas Caravan for America Press Conference

Lovers Lane United Methodist Church

9200 Inwood Road (corner NW Hwy and Inwood Rd)

Dallas, TX  75220

10:00 PM        Texas Caravan for America Departs to Washington, DC!

Saturday, March 20

PM                  Texas Caravan arrives in Washington, DC

Sunday, March 21

AM                  Texas Caravan Members Tour the Nation’s Capitol

1:00 PM          Texas Caravan Members join the March for American Events

Evening           Texas Caravan Returns to Texas

Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance (RITA) Participating Organizations

«  Austin Immigration Reform Coalition (AIRC), Austin

«  University Leadership Initiative, Austin

«  Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR), El Paso

«  Jóvenes Fronterizos por un Mismo Sueno, El Paso

«  Catholic Charities of Dallas Justice for Immigrants, DFW

«  Christ’s Foundry United Methodist Church, DFW

«  Coalition for Immigration Reform of Dallas / Ft. Worth & North Texas (CIR DFW), DFW

«  Dallas Peace Center, DFW

«  Justice for Our Neighbors – United Methodist Church (JFON), DFW

«  Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, DFW

«  North Texas Conference United Methodist Church, DFW

«  Proyecto Inmigrante, Inc., DFW

«  Welcoming Immigrants Network (WIN), DFW

«  American Dream Community Agency, Houston

«  La Unión del Pueblo Entero, Rio Grande Valley

«  Movimiento del Valle por los Derechos Humanos, Rio Grande Valley

«  Texas Dream Act Alliance (TDAA)

Sponsors:

«  Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition (AIRC)

«  Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR)

«  Church World Service (CWS)

«  General Board of Church & Society UMC (GBC&S)

«  Global Board of Church & Society UMC (GBC&S)

«  Jóvenes Fronterizos por un Mismo Sueno, El Paso

«  North Texas Conference United Methodist Church (NTC UMC)

«  Reform Immigration for America (RIFA)

«  Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance (RITA)

«  Caravan participants and individuals.

February 22, 2010 ·

People are angry and disappointed that there hasn’t been significant change in immigration policy and this frustration was clear in people’s voices, signs and calls for reform at the convention. But more powerful was the general sense of urgency for the need to take action and the determination for change. That’s why more than 700 Texans came together in Austin to rally on Saturday for comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). Hundreds signed onto a letter urging President Obama to use his leadership and work with Congress to pass CIR that would unify families, respect civil liberties and human rights, and end the raids & deportations. The goal is to get 50,000 signatures on the letter, which will be delivered to the White House during the immigration reform march that’s being put together by RI4A.

Families testified about the unjust separation of families due to deportation & detention. Community organizations and advocates voiced their concerns about the erosion of due process, workers’ rights and basic human rights in the current immigration system. Police officers discussed the troubling 287(g) program and why they have refused to take part. Students spoke out the lack of affordability and access to higher education for undocumented immigrants. Keynote speaker, Ali Noorani, put the fight for immigration reform in a national context:

About 100 community members from the Valley attended the event as part of the Equal Voice Network, a coalition of groups working for immigration reform, along with housing, economic, education & worker justice:

The message from Texas is clear:
COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM NOW! It’s good for the economy, good for security and good for families!

See more pictures from the event here and videos here.

(Jay Janner, ¡ahora sí!) Lizbeth Salazar en el Capitolio el 1 de mayo, 2009.

El objetivo de la Convención en Austin es llegar a un mensaje y objetivos comunes para presentarlo en Washington.

Tania Lara, ¡ahora sí!

Si estás interesado en que el Congreso de Estados Unidos apruebe una reforma a las leyes de inmigración, el sábado 20 de febrero es tu oportunidad para exigir ese cambio en la Convención de Texas por la Integración del Inmigrante.

Este llamado por una reforma reunirá a más de 500 personas de todas las ciudades de Texas que luchan por una reforma al sistema de inmigración que beneficie la economía, la seguridad y a las familias del estado.

“Es un evento sin precedentes porque no sólo confluyen organizaciones a favor de los inmigrantes así como las familias inmigrantes, sino también representantes de negocios, sindicatos, funcionarios electos, académicos y autoridades”, explica Fernando García, fundador de la Alianza de Texas por la Reforma de Inmigración (RITA) y director ejecutivo de la Red Fronteriza por los Derechos Humanos.

Los organizadores recomiendan que las familias que anhelan un cambio en la reforma de inmigración, acudan a la Convención vestidos de blanco y con banderas de Estados Unidos y de Texas.

“Si no participamos, lo más seguro es que no pase nada”, dice García y agrega: “En Estados Unidos, las cosas suceden conforme la gente lo demanda y la única forma en que Washington lo entienda, es que la gente participe”.

El objetivo de la Convención, explica García, es llegar a un mensaje y objetivos comunes para presentarlo en Washington, debido a que Texas es el segundo estado con más inmigrantes, el de mayor extensión en la frontera y el que tiene más relaciones económicas y diplomáticas con México.

A group hoping to see comprehensive immigration reform pass this year has asked others to join them in calling on national and state leaders to tackle the issue.

Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance leaders said Texas is often overlooked at the national campaign level.

Caroline Keating-Guerra of the Austin Immigrants Rights Coalition knows that getting immigration reform passed is possible.

“We want to show there is and we do have the power to bring in the votes to make sure this is passed and we can bring votes from Texas, our Texas Congress people,” Keating-Guerra said.

About 1,000 Texans, including business, religious and elected leaders, as well as immigrants, will meet Saturday in Austin to gain support and educate people about comprehensive immigration reform.

Rio Grande Guardian

Mike Seifert, the Equal Voice for America’s Families coordinator in the Rio Grande Valley, asked for a moment of silence Saturday for those who have died crossing the U.S.-Mexican border.

AUSTIN, Feb. 21 – Rio Grande Valley community groups are to mount a postcard campaign to try to persuade U.S. Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn to back comprehensive immigration reform.

Details of the campaign, which will be spearheaded by the Equal Voice for America’s Families network, were announced at a major pro-immigration reform rally held in Austin on Saturday. More than 100 Valley residents attended the event.

“We are going to mount our postcard campaign as soon as our Cesar Chavez march is over on the 27th of this month,” said Martha Sanchez, a community activist with La Unión del Pueblo Entero.

“We know Senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison are not supporting comprehensive immigration reform at this point. We need them to listen to the people of the Rio Grande Valley.”

Sanchez said thousands of Valley families are negatively impacted by the nation’s current immigration laws.

“A lot of our families are suffering right now because of our broken immigration system,” Sanchez said. “We want to have a strong America. We need to keep our families together.”

LUPE is a member of the Equal Voice network. Other groups in the network include Proyecto Azteca, Proyecto Juan Diego, Project ARISE, the START Center, SCAN, Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, the Brownsville Community Health Center, and the Southwest Workers’ Union.

Mike Seifert, the Equal Voice coordinator in the Valley, referenced Cornyn and Hutchison in his speech at the Austin rally. In an interview with the Guardian afterwards, Seifert said there is a huge contrast between the policy position of the Valley’s delegation in the U.S. House, namely Reps. Rubén Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, and Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and the two U.S. senators that represent the region.

“The congressmen know our position and support us on immigration reform. But, the two senators represent us also and they need to work for us. They once again need to be reminded of that. The purpose of the postcard campaign is to say, here we are and we are serious about this,” Seifert said.

The rally in Austin was held at the Travis County Expo Center and was attended by more than 700 people. It was organized by the Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance and titled the “Texas Convention on Immigration Reform.

The purpose of the event, said Project ARISE Director Ramona Casas, was to send a “clear message” to President Obama and Texas senators and representatives that families, businesses and communities across the state cannot wait any longer for the federal government to fix the broken immigration system.

“This was an important convention for ARISE to be involved in because it allowed us to share the stories of the immigration community in the Rio Grande Valley,” Casas said. “We wanted to share our testimonies and let the legislators know that we need immigration reform now.”

Casas confirmed that Project ARISE will be part of the Cornyn-Hutchison postcard campaign. “We will not be quiet about this. We want immigration reform right now,” she said.

Two Valley residents who shared their stories on how the current immigration system can wreck family life were Alicia De Zavala from Edinburg and Laura Madrid from Port Isabel.

“I am a U.S. citizen with three jobs and I have just started my own painting and remodeling business with my husband, Margarito,” De Zavala explained. “However, my husband is from Mexico and does not have his documents. If I lose him, what am I going to do? He is a very good man. Why take the good men? Take the narcotraficantes people.”

In his speech, Seifert asked for a moment of silence for those who have died crossing the Chihuahuan Desert and the Rio Grande in order to get to the United States.

“Why did these people die? Because we do not have a way of facilitating immigration. We want the labor but we do not seem to want to do the right thing by them. It is unconscionable,” Seifert said later.

Seifert pointed out that more than 3,000 people have died crossing the U.S.-Mexico border since 1996. He contrasted this number to the 221 people who died attempting to cross the Berlin Wall in the 43 years it stood. “That is a conservative figure. We do not know how many people have died in the desert. It could be 4,000, 5,000, 6,000. It is a tragedy and a travesty at the same time,” he said.

Other speakers at the rally included Ali Noorani, director of the National Immigration Forum in Washington, D.C., Sam Guzman, president and CEO of the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce, Eliseo Medina, vice president of the Service Employees International Union.