LULAC Council 4871
The Dallas Rainbow Council
The Dallas Rainbow Council
In 2009-2010, LULAC 4871 - The Dallas Rainbow Council embarked on a mission
to educate communities about Comprehensive Immigration Reform, the DREAM
Act and the UAFA. We reached out to several LGBT communities in Denton,
Tarrant, Collin and Dallas county to talk about the need to fix our broken
immigration system, plus dispel the myths about immigrants.
President Barack Obama has said reforming the immigration system is a priority
for him. But it's going to take more than just having the President on our side to
win. We need 279 votes to pass comprehensive immigration reform: 218 US
Representatives + 60 Senators + the President's signature.
So over the coming months, we're going to be asking you to help us flood
Congress and the White House with faxes, calls, emails, and visits to say (each in
our own way): "We cannot wait any longer. America needs to reform immigration
now."
Top Ten Immigration Myths and Facts
1. Immigrants don't pay taxes: All immigrants pay taxes, whether income,
property, sales, or other. As far as income tax payments go, sources vary in their
accounts, but a range of studies find that immigrants pay between $90 and $140
billion a year in federal, state, and local taxes. Even undocumented immigrants
pay income taxes, as evidenced by the Social Security Administration's suspense
file (taxes that cannot be matched to workers' names and social security
numbers), which grew $20 billion between 1990 and 1998. Source: National
Academy of Sciences, Cato Institute, Urban Institute, Social Security Administration
2. Immigrants come here to take welfare: Immigrants come to work and reunite
with family members. Immigrant labor force participation is consistently higher
than native-born, and immigrant workers make up a larger share of the U.S. labor
force (12.4%) than they do the U.S. population (11.5%). Moreover, the ratio
between immigrant use of public benefits and the amount of taxes they pay is
consistently favorable to the U.S., unless the "study" was undertaken by an anti-
immigrant group. In one estimate, immigrants earn about $240 billion a year, pay
about $90 billion a year in taxes, and use about $5 billion in public benefits. In
another cut of the data, immigrant tax payments total $20 to $30 billion more than
the amount of government services they use. Due to welfare reform, legal
immigrants are severely restricted from accessing public benefits, and
undocumented immigrants are even further precluded from anything other than
emergency services. Anti-immigrant groups skew these figures by including
programs used by U.S. citizen children of immigrants in their definition of
immigrant welfare use, among other tactics. Source: American Immigration
Lawyers Association, Urban Institute
3. Immigrants send all their money back to their home countries: In addition to
the consumer spending of immigrant households, immigrants and their
businesses contribute $162 billion in tax revenue to U.S. federal, state, and local
governments. While it is true that immigrants remit billions of dollars a year to their
home countries, this is one of the most targeted and effective forms of direct
foreign investment. Source: Cato Institute, Inter-American Development Bank
4. Immigrants take jobs and opportunity away from Americans: The largest
wave of immigration to the U.S. since the early 1900s coincided with our lowest
national unemployment rate and fastest economic growth. Immigrant
entrepreneurs create jobs for U.S. and foreign workers, and foreign-born students
allow many U.S. graduate programs to keep their doors open. While there has
been no comprehensive study done of immigrant-owned businesses, we have
countless examples: in Silicon Valley, companies begun by Chinese and Indian
immigrants generated more than $19.5 billion in sales and nearly 73,000 jobs in
2000. Source: Brookings Institution
5. Immigrants are a drain on the U.S. economy: During the 1990s, half of all new
workers were foreign-born, filling gaps left by native-born workers in both the high-
and low-skill ends of the spectrum. Immigrants fill jobs in key sectors, start their
own businesses, and contribute to a thriving economy. The net benefit of
immigration to the U.S. is nearly $10 billion annually. As Alan Greenspan points
out, 70% of immigrants arrive in prime working age. That means we haven't spent
a penny on their education, yet they are transplanted into our workforce and will
contribute $500 billion toward our social security system over the next 20 years.
Source: National Academy of Sciences, Center for Labor Market Studies at
Northeastern University, Federal Reserve
6. Immigrants don't want to learn English or become Americans: Within ten
years of arrival, more than 75% of immigrants speak English well; moreover,
demand for English classes at the adult level far exceeds supply. Greater than
33% of immigrants are naturalized citizens; given increased immigration in the
1990s, this figure will rise as more legal permanent residents become eligible for
naturalization in the coming years. The number of immigrants naturalizing spiked
sharply after two events: enactment of immigration and welfare reform laws in
1996, and the terrorist attacks in 2001. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Services)
7. Today's immigrants are different than those of 100 years ago: The percentage
of the U.S. population that is foreign-born now stands at 11.5%; in the early 20th
century it was approximately 15%. Similar to accusations about today's
immigrants, those of 100 years ago initially often settled in mono-ethnic
neighborhoods, spoke their native languages, and built up newspapers and
businesses that catered to their fellow émigrés. They also experienced the
same types of discrimination that today's immigrants face, and integrated within
American culture at a similar rate. If we view history objectively, we remember that
every new wave of immigrants has been met with suspicion and doubt and yet,
ultimately, every past wave of immigrants has been vindicated and saluted.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
8. Most immigrants cross the border illegally: Around 75% have legal permanent
(immigrant) visas; of the 25% that are undocumented, 40% overstayed temporary
(nonimmigrant) visas. Source: INS Statistical Yearbook
9. Weak U.S. border enforcement has lead to high undocumented immigration:
From 1986 to 1998, the Border Patrol's budget increased sixfold and the number
of agents stationed on our southwest border doubled to 8,500. The Border Patrol
also toughened its enforcement strategy, heavily fortifying typical urban entry points
and pushing migrants into dangerous desert areas, in hopes of deterring
crossings. Instead, the undocumented immigrant population doubled in that time
frame, to 8 million— despite the legalization of nearly 3 million immigrants after
the enactment of the Immigration Reform and Control Act in 1986. Insufficient legal
avenues for immigrants to enter the U.S., compared with the number of jobs
available to them, have created this current conundrum. Source: Cato Institute
10. The war on terrorism can be won through immigration restrictions: No
security expert since September 11th, 2001 has said that restrictive immigration
measures would have prevented the terrorist attacks—instead, they key is good
use of good intelligence. Most of the 9/11 hijackers were here on legal visas. Since
9/11, the myriad of measures targeting immigrants in the name of national security
have netted no terrorism prosecutions. In fact, several of these measures could
have the opposite effect and actually make us less safe, as targeted communities
of immigrants are afraid to come forward with information. Source: Newspaper
articles, various security experts, and think tanks
to educate communities about Comprehensive Immigration Reform, the DREAM
Act and the UAFA. We reached out to several LGBT communities in Denton,
Tarrant, Collin and Dallas county to talk about the need to fix our broken
immigration system, plus dispel the myths about immigrants.
President Barack Obama has said reforming the immigration system is a priority
for him. But it's going to take more than just having the President on our side to
win. We need 279 votes to pass comprehensive immigration reform: 218 US
Representatives + 60 Senators + the President's signature.
So over the coming months, we're going to be asking you to help us flood
Congress and the White House with faxes, calls, emails, and visits to say (each in
our own way): "We cannot wait any longer. America needs to reform immigration
now."
Top Ten Immigration Myths and Facts
1. Immigrants don't pay taxes: All immigrants pay taxes, whether income,
property, sales, or other. As far as income tax payments go, sources vary in their
accounts, but a range of studies find that immigrants pay between $90 and $140
billion a year in federal, state, and local taxes. Even undocumented immigrants
pay income taxes, as evidenced by the Social Security Administration's suspense
file (taxes that cannot be matched to workers' names and social security
numbers), which grew $20 billion between 1990 and 1998. Source: National
Academy of Sciences, Cato Institute, Urban Institute, Social Security Administration
2. Immigrants come here to take welfare: Immigrants come to work and reunite
with family members. Immigrant labor force participation is consistently higher
than native-born, and immigrant workers make up a larger share of the U.S. labor
force (12.4%) than they do the U.S. population (11.5%). Moreover, the ratio
between immigrant use of public benefits and the amount of taxes they pay is
consistently favorable to the U.S., unless the "study" was undertaken by an anti-
immigrant group. In one estimate, immigrants earn about $240 billion a year, pay
about $90 billion a year in taxes, and use about $5 billion in public benefits. In
another cut of the data, immigrant tax payments total $20 to $30 billion more than
the amount of government services they use. Due to welfare reform, legal
immigrants are severely restricted from accessing public benefits, and
undocumented immigrants are even further precluded from anything other than
emergency services. Anti-immigrant groups skew these figures by including
programs used by U.S. citizen children of immigrants in their definition of
immigrant welfare use, among other tactics. Source: American Immigration
Lawyers Association, Urban Institute
3. Immigrants send all their money back to their home countries: In addition to
the consumer spending of immigrant households, immigrants and their
businesses contribute $162 billion in tax revenue to U.S. federal, state, and local
governments. While it is true that immigrants remit billions of dollars a year to their
home countries, this is one of the most targeted and effective forms of direct
foreign investment. Source: Cato Institute, Inter-American Development Bank
4. Immigrants take jobs and opportunity away from Americans: The largest
wave of immigration to the U.S. since the early 1900s coincided with our lowest
national unemployment rate and fastest economic growth. Immigrant
entrepreneurs create jobs for U.S. and foreign workers, and foreign-born students
allow many U.S. graduate programs to keep their doors open. While there has
been no comprehensive study done of immigrant-owned businesses, we have
countless examples: in Silicon Valley, companies begun by Chinese and Indian
immigrants generated more than $19.5 billion in sales and nearly 73,000 jobs in
2000. Source: Brookings Institution
5. Immigrants are a drain on the U.S. economy: During the 1990s, half of all new
workers were foreign-born, filling gaps left by native-born workers in both the high-
and low-skill ends of the spectrum. Immigrants fill jobs in key sectors, start their
own businesses, and contribute to a thriving economy. The net benefit of
immigration to the U.S. is nearly $10 billion annually. As Alan Greenspan points
out, 70% of immigrants arrive in prime working age. That means we haven't spent
a penny on their education, yet they are transplanted into our workforce and will
contribute $500 billion toward our social security system over the next 20 years.
Source: National Academy of Sciences, Center for Labor Market Studies at
Northeastern University, Federal Reserve
6. Immigrants don't want to learn English or become Americans: Within ten
years of arrival, more than 75% of immigrants speak English well; moreover,
demand for English classes at the adult level far exceeds supply. Greater than
33% of immigrants are naturalized citizens; given increased immigration in the
1990s, this figure will rise as more legal permanent residents become eligible for
naturalization in the coming years. The number of immigrants naturalizing spiked
sharply after two events: enactment of immigration and welfare reform laws in
1996, and the terrorist attacks in 2001. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Services)
7. Today's immigrants are different than those of 100 years ago: The percentage
of the U.S. population that is foreign-born now stands at 11.5%; in the early 20th
century it was approximately 15%. Similar to accusations about today's
immigrants, those of 100 years ago initially often settled in mono-ethnic
neighborhoods, spoke their native languages, and built up newspapers and
businesses that catered to their fellow émigrés. They also experienced the
same types of discrimination that today's immigrants face, and integrated within
American culture at a similar rate. If we view history objectively, we remember that
every new wave of immigrants has been met with suspicion and doubt and yet,
ultimately, every past wave of immigrants has been vindicated and saluted.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
8. Most immigrants cross the border illegally: Around 75% have legal permanent
(immigrant) visas; of the 25% that are undocumented, 40% overstayed temporary
(nonimmigrant) visas. Source: INS Statistical Yearbook
9. Weak U.S. border enforcement has lead to high undocumented immigration:
From 1986 to 1998, the Border Patrol's budget increased sixfold and the number
of agents stationed on our southwest border doubled to 8,500. The Border Patrol
also toughened its enforcement strategy, heavily fortifying typical urban entry points
and pushing migrants into dangerous desert areas, in hopes of deterring
crossings. Instead, the undocumented immigrant population doubled in that time
frame, to 8 million— despite the legalization of nearly 3 million immigrants after
the enactment of the Immigration Reform and Control Act in 1986. Insufficient legal
avenues for immigrants to enter the U.S., compared with the number of jobs
available to them, have created this current conundrum. Source: Cato Institute
10. The war on terrorism can be won through immigration restrictions: No
security expert since September 11th, 2001 has said that restrictive immigration
measures would have prevented the terrorist attacks—instead, they key is good
use of good intelligence. Most of the 9/11 hijackers were here on legal visas. Since
9/11, the myriad of measures targeting immigrants in the name of national security
have netted no terrorism prosecutions. In fact, several of these measures could
have the opposite effect and actually make us less safe, as targeted communities
of immigrants are afraid to come forward with information. Source: Newspaper
articles, various security experts, and think tanks
Immigration Reform
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We are all God's
children. Our
immigrant brothers
and sisters
deserve respect
and acceptance.
children. Our
immigrant brothers
and sisters
deserve respect
and acceptance.
Creating dialogue between the
Hispanic and LGBT community
which have a common goal: full equality.
Hispanic and LGBT community
which have a common goal: full equality.
What could a pathway to
citizenship look like?
Legalization: A bill that
creates a legalization
program for qualified
undocumented immigrants
(and their spouses and
children).
Those who qualify would
receive a conditional
nonimmigrant visa which is
valid for six years. This visa
allows legalized
immigrants with work and
travel authorization and
protection from removal.
To qualify, an applicant
must:
• Establish they have been
in the U.S. illegally before
the day the bill is introduced
• Attest to having made
contributions to the U.S.
through employment,
education, military service,
or other volunteer or
community service (with
exemptions for minors,
persons with disabilities,
the elderly, or other
unusual circumstances).
• Pay an application fee
and a $500 fine.
• Not have any convictions
for a felony or for three or
more misdemeanors.
• Certain immigrants who
are in removal
proceedings, facing
removal, or ordered to
depart voluntarily would be
able to apply for
legalization.
• All bars related to
undocumented status will
be waived (but security and
criminal bars cannot be
waived).
Adjustment of Status to
Lawful Permanent
Resident (LPR):
• Qualified conditional
nonimmigrants and their
spouses and children will
be able to apply for lawful
permanent resident status
(green card) and eventual
citizenship.
• Assures that no green
cards may be issued under
this program earlier than
six years after the date of
enactment unless existing
immigrant backlogs have
been cleared before that
time.
• Provides that immigrants
who adjust from a
conditional nonimmigrant
visa (including
dependents) to lawful
permanent resident status
shall not be counted
against the worldwide
numerical visa caps.
Development, Relief and
Education for Alien Minors
(DREAM) Act:
• Undocumented
individuals who were
brought to the U.S. before
the age of 16 will apply for
legal status through the
same program outlined
above.
• Eligible persons will not
have to pay fines.
• Such persons will be
eligible for accelerated
LPR status upon
graduation from high
school, and completion of
two years of college,
military service, or
employment. Persons
granted LPR status under
this provision will be
eligible for naturalization
three years after the date
LPR status is granted.
• Individual states will be
permitted to determine
whether undocumented
students can benefit from
in-state tuition rates.
The Uniting American
Families Act (UAFA):
The Uniting American
Families Act (UAFA) is a
U.S. bill to amend the
Immigration and Nationality
Act to eliminate
discrimination in the
immigration laws by
permitting permanent
partners of United States
citizens and lawful
permanent residents to
obtain lawful permanent
resident status in the same
manner as spouses of
citizens and lawful
permanent residents and
to penalize immigration
fraud in connection with
permanent partnerships.
The Reuniting Families Act:
The Reuniting Families Act
contains the full text of the
UAFA and further expands
to provide rights to the
children or stepchildren of
the foreign-born partner.
citizenship look like?
Legalization: A bill that
creates a legalization
program for qualified
undocumented immigrants
(and their spouses and
children).
Those who qualify would
receive a conditional
nonimmigrant visa which is
valid for six years. This visa
allows legalized
immigrants with work and
travel authorization and
protection from removal.
To qualify, an applicant
must:
• Establish they have been
in the U.S. illegally before
the day the bill is introduced
• Attest to having made
contributions to the U.S.
through employment,
education, military service,
or other volunteer or
community service (with
exemptions for minors,
persons with disabilities,
the elderly, or other
unusual circumstances).
• Pay an application fee
and a $500 fine.
• Not have any convictions
for a felony or for three or
more misdemeanors.
• Certain immigrants who
are in removal
proceedings, facing
removal, or ordered to
depart voluntarily would be
able to apply for
legalization.
• All bars related to
undocumented status will
be waived (but security and
criminal bars cannot be
waived).
Adjustment of Status to
Lawful Permanent
Resident (LPR):
• Qualified conditional
nonimmigrants and their
spouses and children will
be able to apply for lawful
permanent resident status
(green card) and eventual
citizenship.
• Assures that no green
cards may be issued under
this program earlier than
six years after the date of
enactment unless existing
immigrant backlogs have
been cleared before that
time.
• Provides that immigrants
who adjust from a
conditional nonimmigrant
visa (including
dependents) to lawful
permanent resident status
shall not be counted
against the worldwide
numerical visa caps.
Development, Relief and
Education for Alien Minors
(DREAM) Act:
• Undocumented
individuals who were
brought to the U.S. before
the age of 16 will apply for
legal status through the
same program outlined
above.
• Eligible persons will not
have to pay fines.
• Such persons will be
eligible for accelerated
LPR status upon
graduation from high
school, and completion of
two years of college,
military service, or
employment. Persons
granted LPR status under
this provision will be
eligible for naturalization
three years after the date
LPR status is granted.
• Individual states will be
permitted to determine
whether undocumented
students can benefit from
in-state tuition rates.
The Uniting American
Families Act (UAFA):
The Uniting American
Families Act (UAFA) is a
U.S. bill to amend the
Immigration and Nationality
Act to eliminate
discrimination in the
immigration laws by
permitting permanent
partners of United States
citizens and lawful
permanent residents to
obtain lawful permanent
resident status in the same
manner as spouses of
citizens and lawful
permanent residents and
to penalize immigration
fraud in connection with
permanent partnerships.
The Reuniting Families Act:
The Reuniting Families Act
contains the full text of the
UAFA and further expands
to provide rights to the
children or stepchildren of
the foreign-born partner.
| "El pueblo unido jamás será vencido" Chanting Latinos during the April 9, 2006, MegaMarcha |
Immigrant Fact:
Immigrants boost
Texas Economy
Back in Dec. 2006, then Texas
Comptroller Carole Keeton
Strayhorn issued Texas' first
report about the impact of
immigrants on the state's
economy. The report concluded:
"The absence of the estimated
1.4 million undocumented
immigrants in Texas in fiscal
2005 would have been a loss to
our gross state product of $17.7
billion. Undocumented
immigrants produced $1.58
billion in state revenues, which
exceeded the $1.16 billion in
state services they received.
For more information on this
report:
http://www.window.state.tx.us/spe
cialrpt/undocumented/
Immigrants boost
Texas Economy
Back in Dec. 2006, then Texas
Comptroller Carole Keeton
Strayhorn issued Texas' first
report about the impact of
immigrants on the state's
economy. The report concluded:
"The absence of the estimated
1.4 million undocumented
immigrants in Texas in fiscal
2005 would have been a loss to
our gross state product of $17.7
billion. Undocumented
immigrants produced $1.58
billion in state revenues, which
exceeded the $1.16 billion in
state services they received.
For more information on this
report:
http://www.window.state.tx.us/spe
cialrpt/undocumented/
Resources for Immigrants:
For LGBT Immigrants in need of legal representation:
Immigration Equality is a national organization that works to end discrimination in
U.S. immigration law, to reduce the negative impact of that law on the lives of
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive people, and to help obtain
asylum for those persecuted in their home country based on their sexual
orientation, transgender identity or HIV-status. Through education, outreach,
advocacy, and the maintenance of a nationwide network of resources, we provide
information and support to advocates, attorneys, politicians and those who are
threatened by persecution or the discriminatory impact of the law.
Immigration Equality, Inc.,
40 Exchange Place, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10005
212.714.2904 • www.immigrationequality.org
For Immigrants who have suffered human rights abuses:
Human Rights Initiative's mission is to promote international human rights
through local service to refugees and immigrants who have suffered human
rights abuses.
Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, Inc.,
2501 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 850, Dallas, Texas 75219
214.855.0520 • www.hrionline.org
For LGBT Immigrants in need of legal representation:
Immigration Equality is a national organization that works to end discrimination in
U.S. immigration law, to reduce the negative impact of that law on the lives of
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive people, and to help obtain
asylum for those persecuted in their home country based on their sexual
orientation, transgender identity or HIV-status. Through education, outreach,
advocacy, and the maintenance of a nationwide network of resources, we provide
information and support to advocates, attorneys, politicians and those who are
threatened by persecution or the discriminatory impact of the law.
Immigration Equality, Inc.,
40 Exchange Place, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10005
212.714.2904 • www.immigrationequality.org
For Immigrants who have suffered human rights abuses:
Human Rights Initiative's mission is to promote international human rights
through local service to refugees and immigrants who have suffered human
rights abuses.
Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, Inc.,
2501 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 850, Dallas, Texas 75219
214.855.0520 • www.hrionline.org
| www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org |