The English Language Unity Act of 2011 (H.R. 997), introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-IO), has been dormant on Capitol Hill since its introduction in March. This bill would recognize English as the official language of the United States and mandates that the United States only naturalize immigrants who speak English. The disheartening immigration rhetoric raised in the Republican presidential primary has combined with the political resolve of people trying to promote an English-only agenda while distracting voters from the key issues during this election year.

After the recent remarks from all four Republican contenders in support of this type of legislation, Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) stated, “I support efforts to make English the official language and may consider bringing up the issue in the House Judiciary Committee down the road.” This goes against the long-standing American values and tradition of accepting immigrants of all backgrounds.

The political reality is that a minority of lawmakers in Congress are politically maneuvering themselves to highlight the president’s opposition to such a law in an election year. President Obama’s opposition was made clear in his vote against an English-only amendment to a comprehensive immigration reform bill in 2007.

Much of this is simply rooted in racism as the Hispanic population in our country continues to rise. Data showthat second-generation Hispanic immigrants, by a vast 88 percent majority, speak English fluently.

We must find pride in being one of the most diverse nations in the world and should not try to diminish or limit that principle. For 235 years, our nation has experienced waves of diverse immigrants who have spoken a variety of languages. Whether they are European or Asian, German or Hispanic, our tradition of welcoming immigrants of all language backgrounds must be preserved in order to build a more perfect union.

On November 21, ten members of Congress travelled to Alabama to hear testimony relating to the practical consequences of H.B. 56. The congressional members, led by Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and supported by Alabama’s Representative Terri Sewell, gathered at Birmingham City Hall.

Thanks to NETWORK’s own activist member John Meehan, resident of Birmingham, Alabama, we have on-the-scene reporting. (Photo above shows John at the congressional hearing.)

According to John, testimonies were emotional and highlighted the harsh consequences of H.B. 56. Witnesses spoke of families being split apart and delays in access to governmental programs due to the proof of citizenship requirement. Witnesses included Mayor William Bell of Birmingham as well as the daughter of an undocumented couple. The young woman spoke eloquently of the fears and social infirmities caused by H.B. 56. John further reported that the congressional leaders listened intently and promised to carry their concerns to congressional floor.

Recently, a group of 39 Democratic lawmakers filed a brief in federal court asking the court to overturn Alabama’s law, the most restrictive in the country. The Democrats argue that the law infringes on the federal government’s authority in immigration matters and violates the rights of both citizens and noncitizens.

Every weeknight, my Sisters and I eat dinner as a community. Depending upon the happenings of the day and the energy levels of those present, dinner talk can range from the outrageously hilarious to an unparalleled banality.

One evening this week, the dinner talk resulted in a serendipitous, albeit sad insight for me. Somewhere between the peas and carrots and the sugar cookies, one of my animal-loving Sisters noted that on the prior day she had seen a small deer on our grounds. Her eyes lit up as she spoke fondly of the wonder of its beauty. Another Sister postulated that the deer come out of their wooded surroundings when they are hungry due to nature’s barrenness at this time of year. Then the acceptability of deer-hunting was raised. One Sister authoritatively responded that this was a positive activity because the population had “grown too large” and it “needed thinning out.” To my surprise, the animal lover chimed in, “yeah, they have no predators anymore. There are too many of them now.” Then I heard, “Soon there will be more of them than us,” as if that would be an unthinkable predicament.

The dinner talk droned on like white noise as I contemplated if it were ever acceptable to insert predatory behavior where there is none. Is it okay to thin out a growing population merely to ensure that there are more of us than they? Why couldn’t we make room for something so beautiful?

It occurred to me that Mary, when nine months pregnant, traveled with Joseph to Bethlehem because of a Roman requirement that all people register in their own towns. En route, Mary went into labor. Perceiving there would be less for them, those in the comfortable, safe shelter of the inn refused to make room. Consequently, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born in the filth and squalor of a barn because the mighty needed to put a growing nation in its place and the common man would not make room when he felt crowded. Despite an auspicious birth, Jesus was initially adored and met with awe. Yet, when He and His followers grew, they would kill them too.

My mind drifted toward Alabama, which for a few years was my home. Alabama has no immigration courts or DHS presence for detaining or deporting unauthorized immigrants. Until recently, the immigrants accepted the jobs that citizens will not work, lived harmoniously and became good neighbors. They were welcome, beautiful gifts and their population grew because they had few predators. Then the national economic crisis, punctuated by the BP Oil Spill, quickly increased the number of needy people and depleted resources. Suddenly, as with the deer, it became acceptable to thin out those who were different than the majority.  Once again, men in comfort and power would perceive a lack of room.

In response, they enacted Alabama Law HB56. As written, the law requires that farmers verify citizenship of their fruit pickers; schools ensure the citizenship of a child’s parent in order to register the child for school; and religious organization risk criminal penalties for charitable acts toward undocumented poor persons. The law kills noble dreams and righteous outcomes. Again, I wondered, when did it become acceptable to insert predatory behavior where there is none?  Is there a shortage of room or is it a shortage of compassion?

Whether it is deer, unauthorized immigrants or even God, man has invariably responded to threats to his comfort level by insertion of predatory behavior and destruction of the perceived competition in order to remain among the most powerful.

However, the only thing man is called to kill is violence and oppression. As Rabbi Heschel once said, “We teach children how to measure and how to weigh. We fail to teach them how to revere, how to sense wonder and awe.”  If we learn to sense the awe in our neighbors, we will see God in each other. And then we will conform our behavior to meet that reality.

A delegation from the House of Representatives is in Birmingham, Alabama today. Their visit will include an ad hoc field hearing to examine the impact of Alabama’s harsh new “papers please” immigration law, HB56. The day is expected to culminate in an event at Birmingham’s historic 16th Street Baptist Church where a statewide campaign to repeal the law is being launched.

Ironically or intentionally chosen, the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama was bombed on Sunday, September 15, 1963. The explosion at the African-American church, which killed four girls, marked a turning point in the U.S. 1960s civil rights movement and contributed to support for passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

All people in the vicinity need to show support for the repeal of the HB56 law, an ugly wound of bigotry and oppression in the South. Today, Alabamians are speaking out against hate and shame. All U.S. citizens need to call for repeal of this law. If allowed to stand, it can have a cascade-effect by providing a basis for future anti-immigration laws in the South. All Americans need to call your elected officials, write letters to your local newspapers and pray to our loving God, beseeching the repeal of this law. Congress needs to stimulate the economy, build revenue, share burden among the capable and facilitate a positive response to a dwindling American economy. Oppressing the vulnerable is not an appropriate response to losses that they have not caused.

ALABAMA CONGRESSIONAL VISIT – NOV. 21, 2011

Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (IL – D) is leading the delegation, which is expected to include:

• Rep. Joe Baca of California; Secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus
• Yvette D. Clarke of New York
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Charlie Gonzalez of Texas
• Rep. Al Green of Texas
• Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Raul Grijalva of Arizona
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force Chair Luis V. Gutierrez of Illinois
• Immigration Subcommittee Ranking Democrat Zoe Lofgren of California
• Rep. Grace Napolitano of California
• Rep. Terri A. Sewell of Alabama
• Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas.

Preliminary Schedule for November 21, 2011.

All events are in Birmingham and all times local (CT).

2:00 p.m. Press Conference for Members of the Congressional Delegation

Location: Birmingham City Council Chambers – Birmingham City Hall, 710 20th Street North

3:00-5:00 p.m. Ad Hoc Hearing: The impact of HB56 on families, businesses, agriculture, law enforcement and civil society.

Location: Birmingham City Council Chambers

ALABAMA CITIZENS: SHOW UP!!!!

7:00 p.m. Members of the Congressional Delegation will participate in the launch of the “One Family One Alabama Campaign to Repeal HB56”

Hosted by the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ACIJ)

Location: Historic 16th Street Baptist Church (1530 Sixth Ave. North)

On Tuesday, June 23, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) held the first ever congressional hearing on the DREAM Act. He addressed immigration as “one of the most compelling human rights issues of our time.”

I watched from my computer as he introduced several DREAM students sitting in the room, all of whom were honor roll students with superior academics and had achieved more than one degree, and many who were highly skilled in the sciences. All of these students had worked hard and stayed out of trouble – but because they were once innocent children who followed their parents into the United States, they are now left without options to be successful and contributing members of our society.

All of the students Senator Durbin introduced had received job offers from prestigious businesses and organizations but were forced to decline them because of their status. How unfair is that? However, they do not give up.

Judiciary committee member Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) cited a UCLA study that concluded the DREAM Act would contribute $1.4 trillion to the U.S. economy over a 40-year period. The first witness at the hearing, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, stated that the DREAM Act would fill critical shortages of workers. Second witness Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano stated that passing the DREAM Act supports ICE’s enforcement efforts. And finally, Under-Secretary of Defense Clifford Stanley stressed the importance of DREAM students serving their country, making sure to have the best of the best. These committed students continue to fight for their rights and for support for this common sense bill that makes sense to everyone except certain members of Congress who continue to push for enforcement-only legislation.

As the Senate momentum for DREAM builds this summer, members of the House will be voting on the Defense Appropriations bill, which includes an amendment to mandate and fund an enforcement program known as E-Verify. The verification system allows employers to check the legal status of their employees. The program is currently voluntary and used by over 250,000 employers. However, there is still a significant error rate in the screening of potential employees. A report by the Government Accountability Office found that if the program were to be mandatory it is estimated that over 3 million employees lawfully in the United States would be at risk of losing their jobs because of incorrect identification. The report also says there is no meaningful and transparent way for workers to correct inaccuracies; and 54 percent of undocumented workers are not even detected by the system.

We must not allow this harmful program to pass. NETWORK urges Congress to oppose expansion of the E-verify program and focus on positive steps toward reforming our immigration system, which includes supporting the DREAM Act.

Before we left for vacation, the Senate failed to pass the DREAM act, devastating many people just before the holidays. To highlight this misery I submitted a piece to Sojourner’s blog, God’s Politics entitled A Christmas DREAM for Students Around the Country. I commented on the lack of Christmas spirit in the hearts of the Senators who voted against a piece of legislation that should have easily been passed.

Now, it’s a brand new year, a fresh start, the beginning. Congress reconvenes on Wednesday, January 5 with bright ideas and good energy. I urge our congressional members to support legislation that reforms our immigration system effectively and “reunites families, not tear them apart.”