My mom taught me that everyone deserves fairness and the same level of respect. She taught me about kindness, decency, and hard work. Above all, she taught me to do what is right. That’s why this Mother’s Day, I’m asking you to tell the Senate Judiciary Committee that immigration reform must give moms the respect they deserve. The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin voting on amendments to the immigration reform bill this week, in preparation to take it to the floor for a vote. This is a huge step forward—but we need your help today. Send a message to the Committee and the "Gang of Eight" Senators who wrote the bill. Ask them to protect the bill from attacks that would weaken it, and strengthen it by supporting amendments that give women, caregivers, and family the respect they deserve by: • Honoring the family immigration system—which has been the main channel for women to America for centuries • Letting all undocumented women in the country today reach their dream of citizenship • Honoring the work that women do as caregivers and domestic workers This Mother’s Day, tell Congress we need an immigration process that honors mothers and families—not just for one day but every day of the year. // Mi mamá me enseñó que todas/os merecemos la equidad y el mismo nivel de respeto. Me enseñó la bondad, la decencia y a trabajar duro. Sobre todo, me enseñó a hacer siempre lo correcto. Por eso hoy en el Día de la Madre, yo te pido que le digas al Comité Judicial del Senado que la reforma migratoria tiene que darles a las mamás el respeto que merecen. En esta semana el Comité Judicial del Senado comienza a votar sobre las enmiendas a la propuesta de ley sobre la reforma migratoria, antes del proceder al voto general. Este es un paso enorme—pero necesitamos tu ayuda hoy. Mande un mensaje al Comité y a la “Banda de los Ocho” Senadores que redactaron la propuesta de ley. Pide que protejan la propuesta de los ataques que la debilitarían y que la refuercen con las enmiendas que les darían el respeto que merecen las mujeres, las cuidadoras/es y las familias al: • Honrar el sistema de migración familiar— el cual ha sido la vía principal desde hace siglos para que las mujeres ingresen a los Estados Unidos • Permitir que todas las mujeres indocumentadas que hoy radican en el país alcancen su sueño de ciudadanía • Honrar el trabajo que hacen las mujeres como cuidadoras y trabajadoras de hogar dentro de la economía informal Este Día de la Madre, diles al Congreso que necesitamos un proceso migratorio que honre a las madres y a las familias—no solo por un día sino en todos los días del año.

The Obama administration so far has deported over ONE MILLION non-criminal, otherwise law-abiding, undocumented immigrants: family women and men contributing to Society and pursuing their American Dream. That is an order of magnitude larger than the forced relocation of American Indians from their homelands in the Southeast to the Southwest, in what came to be called "The Trail of Tears." In this, its XXI century version, however, it could be argued the pain is even worse, and the tears more abundant. Families, where the dearest and most important human bonds reside, are broken apart by senseless and needless actions of the Government - and at great expense to the taxpayers, may we add.

I am not affected personally, but as I consider all people to be my brethren and sisters I stand by their side in all ways. The term "illegal" also tends to destroy families. My support will always be for families also.

Senator Dianne Feinstein is a sponsor of the bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. But she's remained silent on whether she'll vote to protect LGBTQ immigrant families when the Uniting American Families Act is introduced next week! We need her to take a stand!

Senator Richard Blumenthal CT is asking to be including the "Little Dreamers" as an amendment of S.744. But there are a group of dreamers who also must be included.

The Associated Press recently stopped labeling immigrants whose legal status is in doubt as "illegals," but individual news outlets still use the label. Labels expressing verdicts for groups of humans close our minds to further investigation of how we should understand those people. Verdicts before trials, in which evidence is presented and we hear from the accused, are a national embarrassment, especially in the case of immigration policy where there is so much ignorance and so little discussion.

A person is a person by any other name. But some names are disrespectful and inappropriate.

As part of immigration reform, we need media outlets to reframe people as "undocumented" rather than "illegal". Now is the time to shift our language to be more respectful and in line with American principles of opportunity and respect. Media outlets are key in this shift to drop the "i" word when referring to people. I want our young daughter to grow up respecting all members of our community as people with value.

Stop the use of the term illegal when referring to human beings.

Stop using the modifier "illegal" to describe an undocumented person. And while we are at it, eliminate "alien" as it sounds like someone from "outer space"

The immigration reform bill recently introduced by the Senate made no specific provisions for LGBT citizens in binational relationships - our LGBT families were EXCLUDED and FORGOTTEN! Presently, the Federal Government recognizes only marriages between a man and a woman. As a result, same-sex couples are “legal strangers” in the eyes of the US government. To remedy the injustices same-sex binational couples endure – discrimination, separation and exile – Congress must include our LGBT families as they address Immigration Reform! Senator Leahy has promised that he will introduce the Uniting American Families Act as an amendment to address the omission of LGBT families. As of today, Senator Dianne Feinstein has not taken a public position on whether she will support the amendment!

A call for responsible journalism