CCI members keep the heat on Latham to act on immigration reform

Over a dozen Iowa CCI members attended Rep. Tom Latham’s town hall in Ankeny on August 9, to keep the heat on the Congressman to take action on the pathway to citizenship for 11 million hopeful Americans.

CCI members have been working hard on this campaign since February. We want Rep. Latham to support a path to citizenship for all 11 million, and demand he do everything in his power to move fair comprehensive immigration reform in the House of Representatives.

Members from Latham’s district asked if he supported a pathway to citizenship and spoke in support of fair immigration reform.

Immigrants are essential to economic growth in Iowa, and they are part of our communities, said CCI member Gini Wolf, from Ankeny. In regard to moving the bill on immigration reform, “we have to look at what’s possible,” said Rep. Latham during the town hall. “We can’t deport 11 million people,” Latham said, “I don’t want a war zone along the border.” But he also said that “the overwhelming majority of Americans support border security”.

Latham said he “felt for people”, as he used to represent a district that included Postville and Marshalltown. These two Iowa towns have felt the awful consequences of harsh immigration enforcement.  Recent polls show that a majority of Iowans support an earned path to citizenship.

Alexa Rodriguez, a 13-year-old member from Des Moines, spoke to Rep. Latham directly to share her family’s story. “Me and my brothers and sisters were born here in the United States, but my parents were not. They are undocumented. Can you imagine what will happen to our family if we are torn apart?” she said.

CCI members will keep engaging and mobilizing immigrants and allies across Iowa to keep the pressure on members of congress and push for fair immigration reform that keeps families together, has a path to citizenship, protects labor and civil rights, and focuses on communities, not harsh enforcement.You can take part of this powerful campaign:

Let us know how your call went by e-mailing us at iowacci@iowacci.org or calling us at (515)282-0484.