Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR)
COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM: NOT JUST WHEN BUT HOW
Download CLINIC’s Anti-Fraud Flyer
A CALL FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM
CLINIC, and its parent-organization the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), believes the U.S. immigration system is broken, does not serve the needs of the nation, and demands significant reform. Current immigration laws do not provide an estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants access to legal status and a means to fully integrate into the American society. CLINIC believes that the long-term presence of undocumented immigrants, who make significant contributions to the nation’s economy and social fabric, compels the United States to create a legal process for them to become documented, authorized to work, and prepare for naturalization to become U.S. citizens. This earned pathway to citizenship, also called legalization, is a significant component in achieving comprehensive immigration reform. Comprehensive immigration reform is expected to make our nation’s immigration laws fair for immigrants and relevant for the current and future needs of the country, thereby making the U.S. stronger, more secure, and competitive in a globalized economy.
In preparation for passage of comprehensive immigration reform, CLINIC is growing the largest network of grassroots non-profits providing charitable legal immigration services. CLINIC supports its affiliates to respond to the current needs of low-income immigrants and prepare non-profits to serve the expected needs of undocumented immigrants seeking legal status and eventually citizenship under new immigration laws.
This webpage is a resource for non-profit legal immigration programs, their stakeholders, and immigrants who will benefit from favorable immigration reform. The webpage seeks to help programs:
- Understand the need to legalize undocumented immigrants;
- Educate people of faith and other advocates on the issue;
- Inform immigrants on how to prepare for immigration reform;
- Increase or start legal immigration services in their non-profits.
To assist local, charitable immigration programs in planning for immigration reform, CLINIC has updated its report, “Preparing for Comprehensive Immigration Reform: An Earned Pathway to Citizenship and Beyond.”
Visit this website often to keep up-to-date on new developments and resources. Meanwhile, you will find links to additional resources below.
ARTICLES ABOUT IMMIGRATION REFORM
The Case for Legalization: Lessons Learned from 1986 and Recommendations for the Future- By Donald Kerwin and Charles Wheeler, CLINIC.
Legalization Readiness: Gathering Supporting Documentation - By Peggy Gleason, CLINIC.
Will History Repeat Itself? A Guide to Immigration Legalization Preparation - By Peggy Gleason, CLINIC.
Structuring and Implementing an Immigrant Legalization Program: Registration as the First Step – By Donald M. Kerwin and Lauren Laglagaron, Migration Policy Institute
AFFILIATES ONLY RESOURCES
Outline for CIR/Legalization Preparation and Implementation Plans
New Webinar - CIR Planning & Preparation: Budgeting and Resource Development
New Templates for CIR Fundraising - Proposal Narrative, Work Plan, Budget Narrative
New Preparation Checklist for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR)
OTHER RESOURCES
Summary of “Building Legal Immigration Services Capacity Through National Networks and their Affiliates”, 4th annual meeting co-hosted by CLINIC and World Relief. This year's event focused on preparing for comprehensive immigration reform.
Written Testimony Of Most Reverend José H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles and Chairman, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee for its hearing entitled, “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” - February 12, 2013
The Catholic Church and Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Issues Around Immigration Reform
Preparing Immigrants for Immigration Reform
Developing a Comprehensive Immigration Reform Plan
Starting a Legal Immigration Program: Capacity Building in a Charitable Community Agency
Promoting Immigrant Integration
USEFUL LINKS
Justice for Immigrants - A campaign to promote and build nationwide support for comprehensive immigration reform. CLINIC is a member of the campaign.
Immigration Advocates Network (IAN) - An online resource for organizations and individuals working on immigration issues. CLINIC is a manager of IAN and a contributor to its resources.
Migration Policy Institute - A non-partisan think tank that provides analysis, development, and evaluation of migration and refugee policies at the local, national, and international levels.
Pew Hispanic Center - A nonpartisan research organization that seeks to improve understanding of the U.S. Hispanic population and to chronicle Latinos' growing impact on the nation. CLINIC uses its data to analyze where services need to expand in order to serve a growing Hispanic population in the United States.
Grant Makers Concerned for Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) - A network of foundations that provide resources that philanthropic organizations need to address the challenges facing newcomers and their host communities and to strengthen society as a whole. CLINIC is a beneficiary and contributes resources for its website.