2021 Valentine's National Days of Action
Join us in virtual meetings with our U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators and their staff as we seek to advance U.S. citizen rights.
We will be requesting meetings for February 10th and 11th, but the exact day of a meeting may vary somewhat depending on the office.
Typically we travel to Washington DC for this event. Due to the coronavirus, the offices of our U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators have told us that meetings are now being held virtually.
Pass the American Families United Act
To the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, and the President of the United States:
It is our right as Americans to marry for love without being forced to choose between marriage and our country.
That’s why the only numerically unlimited category includes the spouses of US citizens.
That’s why, through most of our history, a spouse’s inadmissibility was balanced against the right of a US citizen to sponsor their husband or wife.
That’s why this balance, dismantled in 1996, should be restored.
Today, nearly two million US citizens have been separated, or may be separated, from their husbands or wives. We want these families to be made whole. They are our friends, our neighbors, our families, and your constituents.
The bi-partisan American Families United Act would restore a common-sense balancing test to preserve the unity of American families in the United States.
Please support American Families United Act through each stage of the legislative process, until it is passed into law.
Stimulus Payment for Anastasia Campos
Anastasia is an American citizen who was born and raised in California. She was was denied the stimulus payment simply because she filed her taxes with her husband, who is an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) holder.
She formed and administers a facebook group, Mixed Status Families United, that has has attracted over 15,000 members in a few months, and she helped organize and identify plaintiffs for a class action lawsuit that has raised the profile of the issue.
Please support Anastasia’s right to equal treatment under the law by urging her Senators and Representative to support legislation to fix this problem for citizens like her.
Video:
Press:
https://www.telemundo33.com/local/familias-se-quedan-sin-cheque-de-estimulo-economico/1971312/
Press Conference with Speaker Pelosi and Senator Schumer:
https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/5120-4
To Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Kamala Harris, Representative Tom McClintock:
Anastasia Campos is a constituent of yours, born and raised in California.
Anastasia filed her taxes with her husband, who is an ITIN holder. Because of that, a clause in the CARES Act prevented her from receiving a stimulus check. This is wrong.
We, the undersigned, support Anastasia, and we urge you to support the passage of H.R. 6800, the HEROES Act, with all possible haste.
Stimulus Payment for Scott Kane
Scott Kane is an American citizen working on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a supervisor at a residential center for people with intellectual disabilities, and is proud to be part of the team that has kept their residents, many of them elderly and at high risk, safe.
Scott's wife Virgina is in the Phillipines, where she is from, and they have yet to start the immigration process, due in part to the pandemic.
Virginia does not yet have a Social Security Number. Because of that, a clause in the CARES Act denied Scott his $1,200 stimulus payment. In a cruel twist, Virginia was also excluded from Phillipine COVID-19 financial support because she is married to an American.
Please support Scott's right to equal treatment under the law by urging his Senators and Representative to support legislation to fix this problem for citizens like him.
To Senator Bob Casey, Senator Pat Toomey, Representative GT Thompson:
Scott Kane is a US citizen and your constituent. His wife Virginia is in the Phillipines and does not have a Social Security Number yet. Because of that Scott did not qualify for the recent stimulus payment. Also, Virginia did not qualify for Philippine benefits because she is married to an American. Scott is an essential worker, caring for people with intellectual disabilities at a state facility. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused great hardship for Scott. Because quarantines have resulted in job loss for family members, he has been supporting three households on his one paycheck. The stimulus check would have been a godsend for him.
It is not right that American citizens are being deprived of a benefit because of who they married.
We, the undersigned, support Scott, and we urge you to support the passage of H.R. 6800, the HEROES Act, with all possible haste.
Stimulus Payment for Melina Rodriguez
Melina Rodriguez is an American citizen whose family's history in Kentucky predates the American Revolution.
Despite her family's history service for the country over several generations, she was denied the stimulus payment simply because she filed her taxes with her husband, who is an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) holder.
Please support Melina's right to equal treatment under the law by urging her Senators and Representative to support legislation to fix this problem for citizens like her.
Press:
To Senator Mitch McConnell, Senator Rand Paul, Representative Andy Barr:
Melina Rodriguez is a constituent of yours whose family has a long history of service to the United States. They have had roots in this country since 1766, and in Pike County Kentucky since 1785. Her maternal grandfather served during WW II on the USS Yorktown. Both her maternal and paternal grand uncles fought in WW II. One of them, James Meade, gave his life in service to this country on Luzon Island, Philippines. An uncle served in the Air Force 1977-1987.
Melina filed her taxes with her husband, who is an ITIN holder. Because of that, a clause in the CARES Act prevented her from receiving a stimulus check. After the service and sacrifices of her family, this is an injustice.
We, the undersigned, support Melina, and we urge you to support the passage of H.R. 6800, the HEROES Act, with all possible haste.
Stimulus Payment for Ashlee Ramirez
Ashlee Ramirez is an American citizen working as an ER nurse on the front lines of Cornavirus pandemic.
Despite this, she was denied her Coronavirus relief stimulus payment simply because her husband was waiting for his Social Security number (he has since received it) when they filed their taxes.
Please support Ashlee as she supports America by urging her Senators and Representative to support legislation to fix this problem for citizens like her.
Press:
To Senator Chris Van Hollen, Senator Ben Cardin, Representative Kweisi Mfume:
Ashlee Ramirez is a constituent of yours, an American citizen and a Balitmore ER nurse on the front lines of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Ashlee filed her taxes with her husband, who was an ITIN holder at the time. Because of this, a clause in the CARES Act prevented her from receiving a stimulus check. This is wrong.
To make matters worse, legislation introduced in the Senate, S. 4071, The American Citizen Coronavirus Relief Act, which claims to address this problem, would do nothing to help Ashlee. But H.R. 6800, the HEROES Act, which has already passed in the House of Representatives, would treat Ashlee like every other American.
We, the undersigned, support Ashlee, and we urge you to support the final passage of H.R. 6800, the HEROES Act, with all possible haste.
Stimulus Payment for Kali Pliego
Kali Pliego is an American citizen who was born and raised in Rochester, MN, and now lives in Minneapolis where she and her husband are raising a 3 year old son. Kali has a background in community development that she puts to use in her current professional role.
Despite her commitment to uplifting her community, she was denied the stimulus payment simply because she filed her taxes with her husband, who is an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) holder.
Please support Kali’s right to equal treatment under the law by urging her Senators and Representative to support legislation to fix this problem for citizens like her.
To Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Tina Smith, Representative Ilhan Omar:
Kali Pliego is a constituent of yours, born and raised in Minnesota.
Kali filed her taxes with her husband, who is an ITIN holder. Because of that, a clause in the CARES Act prevented her from receiving a stimulus check. This is wrong.
We, the undersigned, support Kali, and we urge you to support the passage of H.R. 6800, the HEROES Act, with all possible haste.
Stimulus Payment for Jerysse Uzoegwu
Jerysse Uzoegwu is an American citizen. Despite her family's service for the country over several generations, she was denied the stimulus payment simply because she sponsored her husband to become a legal immigrant and filed her taxes with him.
Jerysse is the lead plaintiff in a class action lawsuit that has put pressure on legislators to address the issue.
Please support Jerysse's right to equal treatment under the law by urging her Senators and Representative to support legislation to fix this problem for citizens like Jerysse.
Press:
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/apr/28/citizens-cant-get-stimulus-checks-if-their-spouse-/
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/may/01/top-democrats-vow-stimulus-eligibility-for-spouses/
To Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers:
Jerysse Uzoegwu is one of your constituents, an American citizen. Her family has sent three generations of soldiers to fight for our freedom in this country. Yet, now, during the global Coronavirus pandemic, this country has denied her a benefit intended to help American citizens. Jerysse is married to a visa holder who is in the process of obtaining a green card. On the advice of an immigration attorney, Jerysse filed a joint tax return with her husband, who used an individual taxpayer identification number. Because of that, a clause in the CARES Act prevented her from receiving a stimulus check. This is wrong.
We, the undersigned, support Jerysse, and we urge you to support the passage of H.R. 6800, the HEROES Act, with all possible haste.
Include US Citizen Rights in Immigration Reform
Tell the Senate: equal treatment for US citizen spouses in immigration reform
US Citizens are the most neglected constituency in our debate over immigration reform. Currently proposed legislation for other classes of immigrants includes waivers or exemptions that are not available to US citizens spouses. This petition asks for equal treatment for US citizen spouses. Please sign this petition to help!
View Jason Rochester's story here:
To the United States Senate,
The highest priority for legal immigration includes Americans' spouses and children. That isn’t an opinion. Here’s how it works: while there are exceptions, the rule that distinguishes legal immigrants from illegal immigration is that legal immigrants are invited – by Americans.
The only numerically unlimited category includes the spouses of US citizens. It is our right as Americans to marry for love without being forced to choose between marriage and our country.
A failed immigration law passed in 1996 destroyed the balance between the right of a US citizen to sponsor their wife or husband, and immigration offenses that do not rise to the level of crimes. Rather than enact effective steps to stop illegal immigration, Congress persists in pointless cruelty.
Every plan to legalize the undocumented population, including DREAMers, includes 'waivers of inadmissibility'. We want those same waivers to be available to US citizens who sponsor their spouses. Whether it is a narrow 'stepping stones' bill or comprehensive immigration reform, the rights of US citizens must be included.
We want whatever they get.
Signed,
CLOSED: Oppose Public Charge Rule. Support Immigrants, Citizens, and Children.
*** THESE COMMENTS WERE SUBMITTED TO DHS ON REGULATIONS.GOV ON DECEMBER 10,2018 ***
On October 10, 2018, the Department of Homeland Security proposed a rule change that would reinterpret existing law. For 22 years, the United States has had a clear-cut rule to prevent immigrants from receiving public assistance. But the rule change means bureaucrats will be making unguided judgements on who is too poor to be American.
The rule change means deportations, denials of green cards, and denials of citizenship to immigrants who were invited to live in America and have earned their place in American society. It means more separations of families, including those of US citizens.
Read more from these respected, non-partisan organizations:
The Center for Migration Studies -- Proposed Public Charge Rule Would Significantly Reduce Legal Admissions and Adjustment to Lawful Permanent Resident Status of Working Class Persons
The Migration Policy Institute -- Gauging the Impact of DHS' Proposed Public-Charge Rule on U.S. Immigration
The Urban Institute -- By targeting SNAP, the expanded "public charge" rule could worsen food insecurity
Please join us in opposing this proposed rule by December 9, 2018. We will submit signatures to DHS on December 10.
We the undersigned, submit the following comments in opposition to the proposed "Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds" rule change, DHS Docket No. USCIS-2010-0012:
This proposed rule means bureaucrats making unguided judgements on who is too poor to be American, all in the face of a rule that has worked for 22 years. This is not solving a problem. It is creating one.
Sincerely,