More than 600 representatives from the United We Dream network, the largest young adult immigrant movement in the country, have signed on to a new platform calling for an “inclusive pathway to citizenship” that includes DREAMers, their parents, and their communities. The group is pledging to hold both parties accountable and pressure them to create a roadmap toward citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country.
The expansion of the platform comes at a time when immigrant rights group are urgently moving to define their stance on what a broader national reform package should look like.
In a recent conference call Cristina Jimenez, UWD’s managing director, indicated that “DREAMers are ready to begin framing the conversation” around the new political realties and push for a comprehensive package. Their strategies will be bold and new and will expand on participation to include youth, parents and other community members who are undocumented.
The group refuses to accept watered-down versions of bills such as the ACHIEVE Act which they consider a “step backwards” for enacting long-term solutions. DREAMers are ready to pressure for bipartisan support and will be looking to House leadership including Speaker of the House John Boehner who has publicly stated comprehensive immigration reform is “long overdue."
Ivone Guillen is the immigration fellow at Sojourners.
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