As the millionaires in the U.S. Congress debate the content of a ‘comprehensive immigration reform’ bill, immigrant rights activists around the country will send a strong message from the streets in a national week of action May 28-31. The Legalization for All Network has initiated a week of action to demand immigration reform that includes legalization for all 11 million undocumented immigrants and that stops all deportations immediately.

While the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill that Congress is debating includes a path to legalization, the path is painfully long, restrictive and expensive. The process they’re proposing could exclude millions of immigrants from ever getting a green card or citizenship. Immigrants who enter into the new Registered Provisional Immigrant (RPI) status would be stuck in a second class limbo for well over a decade before even finding out if they’d qualify for a green card. The bill being debated is also heavy on repression against immigrants in the workplace and would dramatically ramp up militarization of the border.

The Legalization for All Network believes that immigrant workers are not criminals and should not be treated as such. The Network says that the immigrant rights movement can win something better than what Congress is discussing, but only if we mobilize to bring mass pressure in the streets.

Toward that end, protests are planned around the country for the May 28-31 week of action. In Chicago there will be a protest outside of a fundraiser where President Obama will be speaking. In Jacksonville, Florida, the protest will take the demand for legalization for all to the offices of Senators Nelson and Rubio. In Los Angeles, immigrant rights activists will send Senator Feinstein the message that “we deserve more!” In Milwaukee, Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES) will tell Senator Johnson that the people want a legalization process for all undocumented immigrants, an end to border militarization and internal enforcement, and an end to guest worker programs. In Provo, Utah there will be a candlelight vigil in front of the Courthouse to “share our grief and empathy for low-case deportations, the separation of families, obstacles built against undocumented students, and a continued broken immigration system.” In Tampa, Florida the Dream Defenders have a whole week of activities planned, including a call-in day, mass petitioning and attending a city council meeting as part of the campaign for drivers licenses for all, culminating in a rally at Florida Senator Marco Rubio’s office.

The Legalization for All Network encourages you to join the week of action by planning something in your city during the week of May 28-31. Email [email protected] to get your action added to the list. See the list of protests and the call to action at facebook.com/LegalizationForAll.

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