The recent executive action on immigration taken by President Obama came as a result of tremendous effort by affected communities. More than four million undocumented people will be eligible for relief but the way it is structured disproportionately excludes LGBTQ people. The President was not limited by law in the scope of his action. In fact, it was politics that guided his pen, as he calculated the safest level of risk, when what was needed was for him to show unflinching leadership to enact common sense reform. By expanding protection from deportation only to childhood arrivals and biological parents of U.S. citizen children and legal permanent residents the immigration action disproportionately excludes LGBTQ people. Limiting those who deserve to live without fear only to childhood arrivals or biological parents of US Citizens (and legal permanent resident children) is an error that must be corrected. Further, the executive action only recognizes certain types of families. Biological parenthood is not and should not be privileged as the sole relation that defines ties to this country. Undocumented LGBTQ people, through loving ties and chosen family, weave together relationships that should be honored, and community that makes up the fabric of this country too.

Pastor Max Villatoro is my pastor at First Mennonite Church in Iowa City. He was detained Tuesday, March 3 by ICE without being given a chance to say goodbye to his wife and four U.S. Citizen kids. He is not a priority for removal and he is definitely not a threat to national security, border security, or public safety. We need your support to help keep him here with his family. Please sign this petition urging ICE to grant Max Villatoro (A# 094-338-085) a stay of removal. Max’s US Citizen children belong together with their father and Max belongs here in Iowa city with his congregation. He is the type of person who should get a second chance, not deported.

Recently Jan Mickelson called one of the most prominent Latino members of Congress an "open borders Hispanic zealot" and an "open borders and amnesty con artist." He even said that DREAMers shouldn't be allowed to attend public schools. This is a big problem because Jan Mickelson is one of the most influential morning radio show hosts in Iowa. Bloomberg News recently called him one of the "Most Powerful Republicans You've Never Heard Of." Studies have found that Republican voters are more than three times as likely to trust their talk radio hosts than to trust their local reporters. That's why Presidential candidates flock to their shows. But Jan Mickelson doesn't use this influence for the good of others, he uses his spotlight to spread anti-immigrant and anti-Latino messages. That is why we're demanding that all 2016 presidential candidates boycott his show. No respectable public servant should reinforce these harmful messages. Please join with us by adding your name to this petition.

Thousands of undocumented immigrant families in Florida will soon have a chance to be a part of the American Dream--but Attorney General Pam Bondi is determined to get in the way. With Republicans in Congress failing to pass immigration reform, President Obama was forced to act on his own. Now immigrant families will soon have a chance to come forward and register, get permits to work legally and contribute to our system, and finally get a chance to live without the daily fear of deportation. But rather than embracing immigrants, AG Bondi joined in a partisan lawsuit against the federal government over the President’s program. Most legal experts agree that this lawsuit is a political stunt and has no legal standing. It’s nothing more than a mean-spirited attack on Florida immigrants and their families. Immigrants are a part of the Florida community and deserve a chance to work hard, contribute, and be together. Tell AG Bondi to drop Florida’s name from this partisan lawsuit, stop attacking our state’s immigrant families, and be on the right side of history.

Thousands of undocumented immigrant families in Tennessee will soon have a chance to be a part of the American Dream--but Attorney General Herbert Slatery is determined to get in the way. With Republicans in Congress failing to pass immigration reform, President Obama was forced to act on his own. Now immigrant families will soon have a chance to come forward and register, get permits to work legally and contribute our system, and finally get a chance to live without the daily fear of deportation. But rather than embracing immigrants, Attorney General Slatery has joined a partisan lawsuit against the federal government over the President’s program. Most legal experts agree that this lawsuit is a political stunt and has no legal standing. It’s nothing more than a mean-spirited attack on Tennessee immigrants and their families. Immigrants are a part of the Tennessee community and deserve a chance to work hard, contribute, and be together. Tell AG Slatery to drop Tennessee from this partisan lawsuit, stop attacking our state’s immigrant families, and be on the right side of history.

Thousands of undocumented immigrant families in Ohio will soon have a chance to be a part of the American Dream--but Governor John Kasich and Attorney General Mike DeWine are determined to get in the way. With Republicans in Congress failing to pass immigration reform, President Obama was forced to act on his own. Now immigrant families will soon have a chance to come forward and register, get permits to work legally and contribute our system, and finally get a chance to live without the daily fear of deportation. But rather than embracing immigrants, Gov. Kasich and AG DeWine have joined in a partisan lawsuit against the federal government over the President’s program. Most legal experts agree that this lawsuit is a political stunt and has no legal standing. It’s nothing more than a mean-spirited attack on Ohio immigrants and their families. Immigrants are a part of the Ohio community and deserve a chance to work hard, contribute, and be together. Tell Gov. Kasich and AG DeWine to drop their names from this partisan lawsuit, stop attacking our state’s immigrant families, and be on the right side of history.

Thousands of undocumented immigrant families in Nevada will soon have a chance to be a part of the American Dream--but Governor Brian Sandoval and Attorney General Adam Laxalt are determined to get in the way. With Republicans in Congress failing to pass immigration reform, President Obama was forced to act on his own. Now immigrant families will soon have a chance to come forward and register, get permits to work legally and contribute to our economy, and finally get a chance to live without the daily fear of deportation. But rather than embracing immigrants, the state of Nevada has joined in a partisan lawsuit against the federal government over the president’s program. Most legal experts agree that this lawsuit is a political stunt and has no legal standing. It’s nothing more than a mean-spirited attack on Nevada immigrants and their families. Immigrants are a part of the Nevada community and deserve a chance to work hard, contribute, and be together. Tell Gov. Sandoval and AG Laxalt to drop the state of Nevada from this partisan lawsuit, stop attacking our state’s immigrant families, and be on the right side of history.

Thousands of undocumented immigrant families in Wisconsin will soon have a chance to be a part of the American Dream--but Governor Scott Walker and Attorney General Brad Schimel are determined to get in the way. With Republicans in Congress failing to pass immigration reform, President Obama was forced to act on his own. Now immigrant families will soon have a chance to come forward and register, get permits to work legally and contribute to our system, and finally get a chance to live without the daily fear of deportation. But rather than embracing immigrants, Gov. Walker and AG Schimel have joined in a partisan lawsuit against the federal government over the President’s program. Most legal experts agree that this lawsuit is a political stunt and has no legal standing. It’s nothing more than a mean-spirited attack on Wisconsin immigrants and their families. Gov. Walker is often mentioned as a Republican contender for President in 2016, and the demographics show no Republican can win without the Latino vote. If he does win, he’ll be the person to decide what happens with DACA and DAPA. Gov. Walker must commit to supporting DACA and DAPA now by removing Wisconsin from this lawsuit. Immigrants are a part of the Wisconsin community and deserve a chance to work hard, contribute, and be together. Tell Gov. Walker and AG Schimel to drop their names from this partisan lawsuit, stop attacking our state’s immigrant families, and be on the right side of history.

Just when we thought anti-immigrant rhetoric couldn’t get any uglier or inflammatory, in steps Republican Governor Paul LePage of Maine. During a speech this week, Gov. LePage claimed that though he’s “compassionate about illegal aliens,” their presence in Maine could lead to an “uptick of hepatitis C, HIV and tuberculosis.” Are you kidding me? Who says that? Gov. LePage made his claims during a prepared speech at his annual State of the State address. His remarks weren’t just fact-free, they were reckless. It’s just the latest example of Republican leaders blaming immigrants for everything from an Ebola scare, to measles (even though, according to ThinkProgress, immigrants from Central America are vaccinated at higher rates than native-born Americans). Immigrants are a part of Maine’s fabric. This state is home to almost 50,000 immigrants, and they and their families contribute tens of millions of dollars in taxes to the state’s economy every year. They deserve to be welcomed to Maine, not vilified by elected officials like Gov. LePage. Tell Governor Paul LePage: Shame on you for making up inflammatory rhetoric to attack Maine’s immigrants!

I followed the rules. I spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours studying how the immigration system works. I wrote a 500 page application. Like many others, I want my family to stay together. I am a US Citizen. Why is forgiving illegals with DACA so much more important than keeping my family together? Why am I being punished for following the rules? Why should legal immigrants who jump through so many hoops suffer to give way to illegal immigrants who openly violated those same laws?

My roommate is an international student from China. She earned her PhD last year and has lived here lawfully for almost 8 years. She has worked tirelessly to pursue her American dream. But she missed a deadline, and is now facing deportation. This is not right. She earned her PhD in materials chemistry and has been working to develop new research to assist in cancer drug delivery and cancer treatment generally. The deadline she missed was to apply for her employment visa. She missed the deadline due primarily to the fact that she was mentally consumed by the reality that her own mother has been suffering from breast cancer - and also the fact that she was preparing to present her PhD thesis. Her drive is admirable, and her intentions are pure. She has never had any prior issues with her status, yet after one missed deadline she is facing a complete upheaval of her life. Please sign to support.

If you're like me, then you're probably tired of hearing politicians like Steve King from Iowa say mean things about immigrants. But there is good news! This little known Iowa politician just took a stand for immigrants in Iowa and we need to thank him for it. Iowa Attorney General's Tom Miller recently co-signed an amicus curiae ("friend of the court") brief in support of DAPA and DACA. This is a really big deal in the legal world. The action was a direct result of the anti-immigrant lawsuit which tries to end DAPA and DACA and the brief argues that Obama's executive action presents a boon rather than a burden, allowing immigrant families to participate more fully in American society and increasing the amount of tax revenue for states. So while Steve King and his anti-immigrant colleagues are leading the charge to try and end DAPA and DACA through lawsuits, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is taking a stand for the 23,000 immigrants in Iowa who will qualify for these programs. This is the kind of leadership we need in Iowa. Please join me in thanking Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller.