Immigration Activists Target Local Republican Congressmen

A day after the Senate voted to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation, the Coalition for Humane Immigration of Los Angeles announced an effort by members of a California Table to move the Republican House members to support reform.

CHIRLA described the California Table as a network of independent organizations throughout California fighting for immigration reform. The groups will team to launch a series of what they call actions aimed at moving Republican House Members to vote in favor of immigration reform, organizers said.

The effort begins July 2 with the delivery of petitions to several local congressional representatives. On their list is Congressman Gary Miller who represents the 31st Congressional District that serves Redlands and Loma Linda; Ed Royce who represents 39th Congressional District serving Diamond Bar, Walnut and Industry; Rep. Paul Cook from the 8th Congressional District; Rep. Buck McKeon from the 25th Congressional District; And Rep. Darrel Issa from the 49th Congressional District.

The Korean Resource Center will deliver petitions to Ed Royce’s Brea office. What some people may not realize is that immigration is an issue that affects many nationalities, said Dayne Lee, member of the Korean Resource Center.

In the U.S. there are about 230,000 undocumented Korean Americans, Lee said.

“We obviously support immigration reform,” Lee said. “What we’ve heard in our towns when we’re out there is that a lot of people are in favor of immigration reform.”

A show of unity is what is needed, he said.

According to the White House Blog, the bill “continues to secure our borders; ensures that every worker and employer is held accountable, plays by the same rules and pays taxes like everyone else; establishes a pathway to earned citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants; and modernizes the legal immigration system.”

Meantime Democrats have released written statements or taken to social media to issue statements.

“We are glad the Senate has worked in a bipartisan manner and taken this critical step toward fixing our broken immigration system,” said Rep. Grace Napolitano with the 32 Congressional District that serves La Verne, Baldwin Park and a section of Glendora. “It is now up to our House of Representatives to act responsibly and bring millions out of the shadows. This is what the voters have indicated they want in poll after poll; it is time to get it done. Contact your representatives to request the passage of true comprehensive reform that includes an earned path to citizenship and keeps our families together.”

“Today is a landmark moment in the fight to fulfill America’s promise as a nation of immigrants,” Rep. Judy Chu with the 27th Congressional District said through a news release.

Among the cities in Chu’s district are Arcadia, Claremont, part of Glendora, Monterey Park, Monrovia, Pasadena, San Marino, Sierra Madre and Upland as well as the communities of Altadena and San Antonio Heights.

“More than two thirds of the Senate, from all reaches of the country and both ends of the political spectrum, answered the call for immigration reform that the American people made loud and clear in last year’s election. In doing so, they also leveled a challenge for the House to follow suit,” Chu said.

Anyone interested in participating in the delivery of the petitions is welcomed organizers said. Locations and times for the delivery of the petitions as provided by CHIRLA are:

• CARECEN delivers petitions to Rep. Gary Miller, at 10:30 a.m. Congressional office, 8300 Utica Avenue Suite 105 Rancho Cucamonga.
• KRC delivers petitions to Rep. Ed Royce office, 10:30 a.m. at 210 W Birch St., Suite 201 Brea.
• The COFEM delivers petitions to Rep. Paul Cook, at 1:30 p.m. Apple Valley Town Hall, 14955 Dale Evans Parkway, Apple Valley.
• CHIRLA delivers petitions to Rep. Buck McKeon, at 10:30 a.m.at 26650 The Old Road, Suite 203 Santa Clarita.
• NBOP/JOB Delivers petitions to Rep. Darrel Issa, July 2, 2013, Time TBD. Delivery to, 1800 Thibodo Road, Suite #310 Vista, Ca.