House Democrats have broken Speaker John Boehner's deadlock and introduced an immigration bill with a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million without papers. So far, over 180 House Democrats have signed on as cosponsors! But in order to get this bill past the finish line, we're going to need Republican support. The good news is that it's there. Your district's representative in the House, Congressman Steve Pearce, is part of a group of Republicans who are open to immigration reform. His support for this new bill could be the tipping point for our movement. If he becomes a part of the growing group of Republicans who have already cosponsored this bill, we know more of his colleagues in his party will build up the courage to follow. While Rep. Pearce has held town halls with his constituents on immigration and proposed a bill that would allow many mixed-status families to stay together, he's also drawn the line for the 11 million at legalization, saying that "there is another alternative that would allow families to stay together, that would allow people to work, that just would not make them citizens." But that's simply not good enough. We already have a good bill waiting in the House, and Rep. Pearce's alternative would leave millions in second-class status. He needs to instead stand for all aspiring Americans by joining the more than 180 House members and cosponsoring this new immigration bill! We need you and other advocates in your district to pressure Rep. Pearce into supporting this bill. If we get Rep. Pearce on board, your district could make all the difference for the millions without papers across the nation. The momentum is on our side because enough votes exist in the House to pass reform today. But instead Speaker Boehner hides behind excuses, delays, and flat-out refuses to give us a vote. We've come too far to stop now. Tell Rep. Pearce to stand up for his district by cosponsoring this new immigration bill in the House and passing the path to citizenship for the 11 million!

In our mid-western town we have a large number of Hispanics. Our local United Methodist Church has sponsored a Hispanic Church for many years. About 5 years ago we brought a Hispanic minister and his whole congregation under our auspices and they all joined the United Methodist Church. The Hispanic minister has been in the US for over 10 years and has been a very positive influence in the community. Recently the United Methodist Conference of our state discovered he does not have a green card even though he has been trying to get one for 10 years. Now the Church feels they can no longer support him nor let his family live in the parsonage. For persons like this we need IMMIGRATION REFORM NOW!!!

President Obama needs to rein in the murderous tendencies of his Border Patrol. Last year, Border Patrol killed a 16 year old Mexican boy named José Antonio Elena Rodríguez who was accused of throwing rocks over the fence at the US-Mexico border. Local police said there was little chance the rocks ever would’ve hit someone on the other side, but that didn’t stop Border Patrol from shooting him 11 times -- at least 10 of those times in the back. Since then, a government-commissioned independent review board recommended that Border Patrol end the practice of responding to rock throwing with gunfire. Border Patrol refused. Since 2010, Border Patrol killed Jose Antonio and seven other people in rock throwing incidents. They’ve killed 18 people total in alleged excessive force incidents in the same timeframe. Border Patrol has a serious problem, and it’s time for President Obama to take control of the out of control agency. Responding to rocks with gunfire is not self-defense -- in the face of a rock attack Border Patrol agents have numerous options including tactical engagement so that agents can be safe when approaching a scenario or control the area from further back. When the Administration agreed to review its use of force policies earlier this year, it seemed like real change was imminent. Now it just looks like another cheap public relations move. The Obama Administration’s decision threatens to destroy the thin trust developed between border communities and the Department of Homeland Security. We demand real change at the border -- the Obama administration must respect human life. Please sign our petition calling on President Obama to stop Border Patrol from using deadly force against rock throwers at the border.

Now is the time for our members of congress to stop dragging their feet and support a comprehensive immigration reform that will help millions of families to come out of the shadows and fully participate in our communities. On October 27, California Congressman Jeff Denham did what many thought impossible. As a Republican, he decided to put families over politics and signed on to the comprehensive immigration reform bill H.R. 15. This is an opportunity for Representative Pittenger to do the same. We need Rep. Pittenger to also be a leader and put families over politics. A recent Harper Polling report states that 69% of North Carolinians support immigration reform in principal. The same report says that 74% of North Carolinians believe that Congress should enact immigration reform this year. Also, 48% of respondents said they were less likely to support an elected official who opposed reform, compared with just 20% who were more likely to support a reform opponent. According to a study published last month by the political research group Latino Decisions, because of changing demographics, Rep. Pittenger is in danger of losing his congressional seat in 2014, if he does not support comprehensive immigration reform. Latino Decisions report: http://bit.ly/17aYs7K Harper Polling report: http://bit.ly/17Hccgt

We finally have a strong bipartisan supported House bill that will strengthen our economy, keep families together, and offer a clear roadmap to citizenship for nearly 11 million tax-paying, aspiring Americans. All we need now is for a Democrat to start a discharge petition and introduce the bill for an up-or-down vote. As an American citizen, and the great-grandchild of immigrants from Ireland and Slovakia, I want legislators to stand on the right side of history, and side with the majority of Americans who believe that we need comprehensive immigration reform now - reform that represents our true values of family, community and opportunity for all.

We have to act quickly. Time is running out for the House of Representatives to pass a bill that includes a pathway for citizenship for the 11.5 million undocumented immigrants among us. Congressman Eric Cantor holds a lot of power as the House Majority leader. He has the influence to help push through a bill that would fix our broken immigration system. We need him to hear our voices, our stories and our shared hope that thousands of immigrants who call this country home will have a chance to become citizens. Too many families have been torn apart by deportation. Too many individuals live on the margins of our society because they have been denied the full promise of citizenship. We are a nation of immigrants. We must not close the doors of opportunity for others who come here seeking to build a new life and to strengthen our country.

Eleven million undocumented Americans and their family members are waiting while John Boehner and the Tea Party Caucus play politics with their futures. H.R. 15 enjoys bi-partisan support in Congress with endorsers on both sides of the aisle. We believe that, if introduced on a discharge petition, H.R. 15 will pass the House. Representative Alan Grayson, we are counting on you to introduce H.R. 15 for discharge to the House of Representatives.

Immigration reform is personal to me. Grace, my good friend, was one of the 11 million people working in our shadow economy. She lived and worked in the United States for 15 years without the protection of basic civil rights or labor protections, without access to many services, and in constant fear of persecution. Her story has a happy ending; Grace now has a “Green Card” through the sponsorship of a qualifying family member. We need to help millions of others who deserve a happy ending to immigration vulnerability. Immigration reform is, and should be, a priority to correct decades of wrongs. Let’s work to support a road map to citizenship with a reasonable time frame, economic protections and a fair system to deal with the future flow of immigrants coming to pursue their own chance at the American dream. This legislation has passed the US Senate and should soon come up for a vote in the US House. Please sign this petition urging our legislators to do the right thing. Pass immigration reform legislation.

Maria's fiancé Brigido has been a devoted father to their three-year-old son, and has been the only dad her 13-year-old daughter has ever known. But now immigration officials are planning to deport Brigido and tear their family apart -- despite the fact that he'd likely qualify for a pathway to citizenship currently stalled by Republican leadership in the House of Representatives. Brigido's entire case hinges on an incident from over ten years ago when his valid tourist visa was -- for reasons still unknown to him – stamped with an alleged expedited removal order at the airport. Threatened with six months detention if he didn't return to Mexico right away, Brigido did as they said. Now ICE officials are detaining him based on that decade-old alleged expedited removal order. In the years that Brigido has been in the US, he has devoted himself to being a loving dad, and runs an insurance business together with Maria. If he's deported, the effects would be devastating for Maria and their two children, both US citizens. Fortunately, there is a temporary fix for Brigido and his family. Immigration officials in the Obama administration have the power to grant Brigido "prosecutorial discretion" and defer his case. We just need to show that we support Brigido and his family by adding our voices! Right now Brigido would likely qualify for the path to citizenship the Senate passed months ago. But with the House stalling on reform, the Obama administration shouldn't punish Brigido for Congress' inaction. In fact, because they support the Senate's legislation, the administration shouldn't be deporting immigrants like him at all! Please join us in demanding that the immigration official overseeing Brigido's case stop his deportation. Brigido's kids shouldn't be separated from their dad -- we need to help keep this family together. They're depending on us!

I have been personally affected by this issue and would like to see a solution NOW!

On January 13, 2012, Patricia was on her way home from work when she stopped at a gas station to service her tank. As soon as Patricia drove off, a police officer parked in the same gas station followed her and pulled her over. When asked for her driver's license, she was arrested because she does not have one. Once at the police station in Mecklenburg County, Patricia was placed on an ICE hold. After her state bond was paid, she was told she was charged with re-entry into the US. She was detained for six months and put on probation for a year. Upon release, Patricia checked in to the Charlotte immigration office where she was released under supervision. During Patricia's time detained, her children suffered. Her oldest daughters were forced to step up and take care of their siblings. Her youngest children, including Daniel, living in fear that his mother would be deported, developed depression, tried to hurt himself and exhibited suicidal ideation. A letter from Daniel's juvenile court counselor states the following: "Daniel has made it very clear to both myself and others involved in his care that his family is of critical importance to him. He has a history of being a caregiver to his younger siblings so that his mother could work to support the family.. it is in my opinion that his mother's involvement in his life plays a vital role in his behaviors and his emotional well being. I believe, based upon my experience with Daniel and his mother, that if Patricia were to be deported, his recent stability would be seriously jeapordized." Patricia first came to the United States from Mexico in 1987 looking for work and a better life. Since then, she has worked hard as the head of household for her family and contributed her labor in NC's tobacco fields, asbestos clean-up, and as a restaurant worker. In February 2009, Patricia returned to Mexico but upon learning of her daughter Allison's condition after an epileptic seizure she had, Patricia decided to come back to the United States so she could get the medical care and treatment she needed. Allison is due for x-rays and scans periodically, she takes medication, and her condition is monitored by doctors in Winston Salem. To deport Patricia would be to put Allison in danger as she cannot get the same care and treatment she receives here in Mexico. According to the memo issued by John Morton, Patricia is a low priority case and should be granted favorable exercise of prosecutorial discretion. I urge you to take action and immediately stop the deportation of Patricia Pena Martinez (A# 088-79-5260).

I am the director of the Human Rights Center, and we have learned in the past about ICE's practices - non-transparent and without accountability. Victor has a wife and 4 young children. This is urgent because deportation is inevitable and will be fast..