This issue is about children. As a mother, the plight of the unaccompanied minors crossing our borders breaks my heart. But, the hostility and vitriol expressed towards them in response to news reports and on social media as well as the public display in Murietta, California is disgraceful. They are not political pawns. They are precious children and they need our help. I had never heard of Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins before reading about him in a magazine article yesterday. I was grateful to read that someone in political office is standing up for these children. I was inspired to write this Petition-my first, to hopefully encourage other politicians to do the same. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins recently stood up to lead by example and help these children. As Judge Jenkins so eloquently stated in a recent article with Mother Jones Magazine: “We just need to get the will to recognize that these are children and not others. That these are children just like your children and my children, just like our ancestors when they came across as children, except these children came across without their parents. And they are scared, alone, and they need our help.” Read his interview here http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/07/texas-we-dont-turn-our-back-children Please show your support for what this issue is truly about, children who are suffering and in need of our help. Please support this petition to encourage Judge Clay Jenkins and others like him who bravely act against their political interests to do the right thing. Please sign this petition and help send a message to our representatives that AMERICA DOES NOT TURN ITS BACK ON CHILDREN. Thank you.

Since coming to the U.S. in 2007 on a work visa, Gabino has worked hard to support both his family living in the U.S. and back home in Mexico. Gabino believes that hard work and the love of one's family are the keys to success in life. He planned to make a deeper commitment to his family this month by marrying the love of his life, Amelia, and continuing the support he provides to her and her children. The community of DeWitt is devastated by the news of Gabino's impending deportation. His neighbors and community volunteers have rallied together to support Gabino's family, fiancee, and stepchildren, but they cannot do this alone. They need your help to make sure that this family is not separated. Please sign this petition so that this family can have the wedding and bright future that it deserves!

Almost 60,000 children are currently being held in disease-ridden, filthy facilities as prisoners. They are fleeing unbearable violence from drug cartels in their home countries. They do not need to be sent back to this violence, nor do they need to be treated as criminals. They are refugees.

Do we really want to be a people who turn our backs on children? One percent of the United States military budget would provide enough money for 60 or more hundred million dollar projects to assist children who arrive here and to assist those in the places they must now flee.

Leonel Salazar has lived in the United States for the larger part of his life, and has proudly embodied the American values of hard work and strong family life. Born in Zacatecas, Mexico, Leonel and his family first traveled across the Mexican-U.S. border when he was just one year old. As their stay in America became permanent, Leonel's parents embraced the legal pathways to be able to stay in this country, and were able to achieve legal status for everyone in the family except Leonel, who has been renewing work permits and awaiting a residency petition that was started by his citizen mother in 1995. Unfortunately, Leonel cannot wait any longer, receiving this week a letter ordering his voluntary removal in July 2014. Leonel resides in Rogers, Arkansas where he has contributed greatly to his community through his entrepreneurship, starting, in 2002, Leo’s Siding and Gutters, and through his strong volunteer spirit, giving countless hours and resources for over three years to local nonprofits organizations, such as Arkansas United Community Coalition and the Northwest Arkansas Workers Justice Center. In addition Leonel and his wife, Beatriz, have 4 U.S. citizen children, ages 18, 14, 7 and 3. Currently, the eldest is at basic training for the U.S. National Guard. Another proud Arkansan, their son now fears that he will graduate from training on August 8th only to NOT have his father with him to celebrate this life milestone. Leonel is the sole breadwinner for his family, has earned his living in a fair and just way, and has given back to his community. Please stand behind Arkansas values by keeping Leonel home, with his family and community.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy was voted to replace Rep. Eric Cantor as Majority Leader in the U.S. House of Representatives. As a key leader in the Republican Party, he can help to ensure that immigration reform actually comes up for a vote! He's supporting one measure to help provide a path to citizenship for young immigrants who are also members of the military, and his district is 35% Latino. If any Republican can "get it", he can.

Our broken immigration system deports 1100 people per day, tearing apart countless families. Congressman Roskam represents a district with a growing immigrant population, but his actions continue to show his anti-immigrant nature. It's time for Peter Roskam to be the leader the Illinois and America needs.

Over two million people have been deported from the United States since his time in office. Obama has done this to prove to Congress that he “is not soft on immigration” to try and pass comprehensive immigration reform. Congress will not support comprehensive reform because they are anxious the President will not enforce the law. We need to stop this now so if we all join together and end his support for enforcement-only policies that separate families and friends through unnecessary deportations with permanent or undocumented residents. We are a nation of immigrants and this is also a land of opportunity, so lets stand together to end the mass deportation of immigrants and ensure basic due process.

This is about the Dream Act. It is an act that will help undocumented students be eligible for federal economic aid. For example, because of this issue a lot of my friends couldn't get into college and they dropped out because they couldn't afford a large amount of money.

Can you imagine what the US would look like if the Tea Party set our immigration policies? But that's exactly what's happening. We have the votes needed to pass reform, but Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor are letting Tea Party extremists like Steve King set the agenda on immigration reform. 11 million aspiring Americans currently living in the US without papers need immigration reform now. Please join us in telling Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor to stop pandering to the extremists in the Republican party trying to kill immigration reform and mass deport 11 million people.

Can you imagine what the US would look like if the Tea Party set our immigration policies. But that's exactly what's happening. Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor are letting extremists like Steve King set the agenda on immigration reform. 11 million aspiring Americans currently living in the US without papers need immigration reform now. Please join us in telling Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor to stop pandering to the extremist in the Republican party trying to kill immigration reform.

Our immigrant and faith communities across the country are appalled by the daily deportation of 1,100 aspiring Americans. This separation of families is a moral tragedy, and as people of faith we cannot stay silent. Many immigrant families - like all families - are seeking better lives for their children, investing in communities, and contributing significantly to our economy and workforce. Tragically all across the country these families are being needlessly separated by detention and deportation, most of whom would benefit from pending legislation that has already passed the Senate but has lingered in the House of Representatives for a year. No one of good conscience can let this continue to our neighbors, congregation members, colleagues, and friends. We need President Obama and his administration to act now.