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| Rep. Raul Grijalva |
By Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Az
TUCSON, AZ -- The conversation we're all having about immigration reform isn't new. Congress has been talking -- and talking plenty -- about how to fix our broken immigration system for a long time. I've been proud to represent you in that conversation since I got to Congress, and now that we're on track for a real bill I'm proud to speak up for your concerns in Washington. But that's not all I'm doing.
On
Jan. 28, I spoke at a great rally in Phoenix with some of our strongest
allies in this fight. Groups such as Mi Familia Vota and Promise
Arizona have spent years on the ground making immigration reform
possible, and at this crucial moment, they're fighting to make the final
product something we can be proud of, not just something we can barely
live with. I'm happy to lead that fight on your behalf and I hope you'll
join me in keeping up the pressure. Now is the time to make your voice
heard.
I'm
getting ready to introduce a whole package of border and immigration
bills during the first week of February. We can't just have our say in
the press, although that is an important part of our strategy. We need
to be on record in Congress to remind everyone that immigration reform
can't just be a code word for a triple-layer fence and Arpaio-style
family raids. We have to improve our ports of entry to speed
cross-border commerce and create jobs all across the country. We have to
protect public land in our border areas because if Republicans get
their way our wildlife preserves and national parks will be a thing of
the past. We can't let that happen.
Your
needs, your values and your families are what are most important in
this fight. Immigration reform isn't about me -- it's about you, and
it's about what kind of country we want to build. Our future can be
about a more realistic, more tolerant and more inclusive society, or it
can be about what a few loud conservative activists think "Real America"
looks like. If you agree with me about which one you prefer, make your
voice heard. I say it a lot, and it's always true: democracy doesn't
work without you.
Please
spread the word. People don't know how important this is unless they
hear from friends and people they trust. Thanks so much for all you do.
