Immigration reform must do right by women. Immigration reform MUST create a pathway to citizenship for all aspiring citizens and MUST treat women fairly.
Why is this important?
As you read this, eight senators--all men--are writing an immigration reform bill. That's good--we need a bill introduced immediately. But we need to make sure it is fair to women and includes the millions of immigrant women and children in this country.
Email the “Gang of Eight” senators today and tell them that even if no women participated in drafting it, the bill they introduce must do right by women. It’s a simple message: immigration reform MUST create a pathway to citizenship and MUST treat women fairly.
Here are some of the ways a new immigration reform bill could make things worse for women and families:
Tying a path to citizenship to proof of work, leaving out stay-at-home moms or women who perform domestic work in the paperless economy.
Failing to provide safe ways for victims of domestic or workplace abuse to report these crimes.
Increasing work visas, which overwhelmingly go to men, while providing fewer family visas, which overwhelmingly go to women.
Leaving the backlog of 4.3 million family members, mostly women and children, waiting for decades to be reunited with those currently in the United States and closing off certain types of family immigration altogether.
The Gang of Eight legislation will set the conversation moving forward. Unless we make our voices heard, this bill could include provisions that bias the law against women and children.
Email the “Gang of Eight” senators today. Then tell your friends to join you.
