11 of us met in Delray Beach FL recently to discuss our support for immigration reform and how it should look. This is what we came up with and decided to create a petition for others to be able to join us with our directives to our elected officials in DC. We all shared our immigrant histories from recent immigrants to many generations and all agreed that current immigrants deserved respect for their contributions to our country and a pathway to citizenship.

I am a US citizen born and bred, and my foreign husband of four years has been denied his marriage visa to come live with me in the US because of a loophole in US immigration laws. He lives in Germany and has one minor infraction on his police record, for which he only had to pay a fine. Because German law does not break down the severity of different offenses like US law does, this infraction has a maximum penalty of 5 years in jail. In Washington D.C., the same offense has a 6 month maximum sentence. US immigration law states that any infraction can not have a maximum sentence of more that 1 year in jail in the country where it took place! That means that anyone with a small infraction in countries with laws like Germany CAN NOT get a US visa, while in other countries it is not an issue. This is clearly unfair. Please petition Congress to completely review US immigration laws and change these inequities that break up families.

Sojourners, a national organization committed to faith in action for social justice, was shocked when Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions recently said there is no “moral or legal responsibility to reward somebody who entered the country [without documentation].” We know we must care for every human being, regardless of their documentation status. Immigration reform is not about politics. It is about the well-being of our communities, and we have a moral responsibility to fix the broken immigration system that is hurting our brothers and sisters. Both Republicans and Democrats agree that a solution should include a roadmap to citizenship for the 11 million aspiring Americans who are contributing to our society. Senator Sessions’ statement cannot go unchallenged. Tell the senator that you believe we have a moral responsibility to care about ALL our sisters and brothers.

Senator Rob Portman could be a key vote this year on legislation to fix our broken immigration system, but we don't know where he stands on the issue. We need Senator Portman to publicly support a pathway to citizenship for ALL immigrants currently living in the United States without papers. Most of these immigrants have lived in this country for more than a decade and have come to America to seek a better life for their families. They are Americans-in-waiting who are ready to fulfill the requirements of our citizenship process - to study English, pay taxes, maintain a good record and be of good moral character. Instead of focusing only on the border, we need a new approach to immigration reform that includes families and helps the economy too.

We need Senator Corker and Senator Alexander to support immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants currently living in the United States without documentation. Many of these immigrants have lived in this country for more than a decade and have come to America to seek a better life for their families. They are Americans-in-waiting who are ready to fulfill the requirements of our citizenship process: to study English, pay taxes, and continue to contribute to our economy and community. We need a new approach to immigration that keeps families together and provides a path to citizenship.

Texas Senior Senator John Cornyn sits on the Senate Judiciary committee that is drafting comprehensive immigration reform legislation. Join us in calling on him to live up to the promise of opportunity and immigrant integration that makes Texas and the U.S. stronger, freer, and more prosperous.

Because our immigration system is broken, there are currently 11 million immigrants living in the US with no way of becoming citizens. Most of these immigrants have lived in this country for more than a decade and have come to America to seek a better life for their families. They are Americans-in-waiting who are ready to fulfill the requirements of our citizenship process - to study English, pay taxes, maintain a good record and be of good moral character. Senator McConnell is the leader of Senate Republicans and he will have tremendous power in moving or blocking immigration reform. Recently, Senator Rand Paul said that he supports a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants currently living in the United State without papers -- but so far we have heard nothing from Senator McConnell. We need Senator Mitch McConnell to support legislation with a pathway to citizenship for these 11 million people. Instead of focusing only on the border, we need a new approach that is better for families and makes more economic sense. Tell Sen. McConnell to follow Rand Paul’s example and support immigration reform that creates a pathway to citizenship.

my friend was illegally deported and so were a many of other people i know. its not right ,deported for small amounts of weed 2ounces,shop lifting.

The bipartisan group of senators working on immigration reform, known as the "Gang of Eight," proposed eliminating American citizens' ability to sponsor their immediate family members (siblings and adult children) for legal permanent residence. Despite that family-sponsored immigrants make up less than 9 percent of the annual immigration total, these senators are trying to further curtail family-sponsored immigration. We are facing an imminent threat.

The immigration laws in Alabama are unreasonable. Because it is illegal to give a helping hand to an immigrant without papers, the whole concept of "the good Samaritan" has been trashed in this state. The laws have also led to higher racial profiling in a state where racial profiling is already high. Individuals who have been "legal" immigrants for years have been stopped by police, and there are those who fear being stopped. Also, families are split when children have been born to illegal immigrants in Alabama, and the parents have been sent back to the home country.

Maine's U.S. Senators, Susan Collins and Angus King, will be major figures in the debate about immigration reform this year. We need Senator Collins and Senator King to support immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants currently living in the United States without documentation. Many of these immigrants have lived in this country for more than a decade and have come to America to seek a better life for their families. They are Americans-in-waiting who are ready to fulfill the requirements of our citizenship process: to study English, pay taxes, and continue to contribute to our economy and community. We need a new approach to immigration that keeps families together and provides a path to citizenship.

Deportations will continue to destroy immigrant communities and families unless Congress and the White House act to create a pathway to citizenship for all. We were promised a comprehensive immigration reform bill by now, but Congressional leaders have yet to produce legislation. Please sign this petition to urge our elected representatives in Washington to put a bill before the American people, and to act fast to fix our country's broken immigration system once and for all.