Immigration 101: An Introductory Webinar for Immigration Advocates in

the Jewish Community

Thursday, November 17th, 20111:00-2:15pm EST / 12:00-1:15pm CST / 10:00-11:15am PST

Outline of the Webinar

1. Relevance/Importance of immigration to the Jewish community

2. Background of immigration legislation in the U.S.

3. Current political climate

4. Overview of "We Were Strangers, Too" campaign

5. Example of congregational model

6. Programming ideas and next steps

Relevance and Importance to the Jewish Community

• Jewish teachingso “…you were once

strangers in the land of Egypt…”

o “…do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your needy kinsman…”

• Historical experienceo Jews fleeing

persecution and economic hardship

o “we were strangers too”

• Valueso Family unityo Social justice/tikkun

olam

History of Immigration Laws in the U.S.

• 1924: National Origins Act

• 1965: quota system

• 1986: Immigration Reform Control Act (IRCA)

• 1996: Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act

Five Ways to Legally Immigrate to the U.S. (since 1965)

1. Refugee

2. Asylee

3. Work-based immigrant

4. Diversity visa lottery

5. Family reunification system

"broken immigration system"

• 12 million undocumented immigrants

• borders are extremely dangerous

• not enough legal channels

• backlogs in the family immigration system

Economic Arguments for Immigration Reform

• Immigrant contributions to the U.S. economy:– Workers– Entrepreneurs– Consumers– Taxpayers

• Costs of enforcement:– Border patrol– Deportations– Detention

 

1. Allow immigrants to come out of the shadows.

2. Create new legal avenues for migration.

3. Protect our borders.

4. Prioritize family reunification.

5. Enhance integration.

Jane Ramsey of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) and Gideon Aronoff of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) lead a group of Jewish activists to the National Mall in Washington, DC where they joined over 200,000 advocates

for “March for America: Change Takes Courage and Faith.” March 2010.

Rabbi Darryl Crystal of Congregation Mkor Shalom (Cherryl Hill, NJ) leads a prayer at “Relief, Reform, and Respect,” an interfaith press event in

Washington, DC. September 2010.

Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) joins Emily Zucker Burns and Jane Ramsey of JCUA at a DREAM Sabbath event at Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel Congregation in

Chicago. October 2010.

IKAR – a Jewish spiritual community in Los Angeles, CA – held a press conference with Los Angeles Police Department Police Chief Beck to announce

a revision to the city’s car impoundment policy which was causing undue financial strains on the immigrant community. March 2011.

Programming Ideas

• In-district lobby visit

• Shabbat dinner/discussion

• Rabbinical roundtable

• Detention center visit

• Engage in upcoming elections

• Business endorsements

• Serve local immigrants

• Passover actions

• Quarterly WWS2 calls

Next Steps:•Join the We Were Strangers Too list serve for legislative and campaign

updates

•Check out our website wewerestrangerstoo.wordpress.com for resources,

educational materials, updates, and more

•Join our quarterly calls with other Jewish immigration activists and get the latest

on national and local immigration initiatives.

Email Liza.Lieberman@hias.org or

irene@jcua.org to join us.