Our lobbyists have seen a light on recapturing up to 218,000 visa numbers unused since 1990. They will try to attach an amendment to 2008 appropriation bill pending until mid-Dec. Once we get the recap, all EB categories will be “Current” or close. This is a just-started campaign and we need YOUR help to MAKE IT BIG.
Congressmen are back to their districts this week (11/26~11/30). Please make an appointment with YOUR Congressman ASAP, especially when you are in one of the key districts listed below (contacting a congressman from outside the district may severely damage our creditability). Contact our lobbyist Paul at pauldonnelly@mindspring.com if you need help on appointment.
It would be the BEST if you can bring one or more CITIZENS with you to the meeting. Asking them to make phone calls on behalf of you is also desirable.
Before the meeting, ask for the immigration staff and REMEMBER THEIR NAME and tell Paul after the meeting. Please ccopy all of your communications to LIA account: recapture@legalimmigrant.org.
Please deliver the following message during the meeting:
Tell/ask them:
Your own suffering story due to the backlog
You are not asking for green card quota increase (which is hard, of course), you are asking to recapture UNUSED visa numbers in the past years.
This is about LEGAL immigration. It is critically important to have green cards for the LEGAL workers America needs.
Zoe Lofgren (chair of immigration subcommittee) is supportive to our cause and trying to work it out.
Legal Immigrant Association, along with Immigration Voice, is actively lobbying on the issue.
our lobbyists will follow up with the legislative staff in DC.
Other general communication guidelines:
Try to avoid to specific terms like 485, I40, PD, etc. Use PLAIN language.
When being asked about H1B, tell them green card and H1B are different animals. H1B is not your concern (students who do care H1B, please contact Paul for specific instructions).
When being asked about illegal issues, tell them to fix LEGAL problems FIRST.
List of key Congressman (District maps are available at www.house.gov)
* * * NOTE: Our lobbyists suggest that visiting members in Hispanic Caucus, listed at the bottom, will NOT help. If you are in those areas, please hold your steps unless Paul needs your action. Thanks!
Key Congressman on Visa Number Recapture:
Nancy Pelosi (House Speaker), CA, district 8 (San Francisco)
Zoe Lofgren, CA, district 16 (San Jose)
Steny Hoyer, MD, district 5
James E. Clyburn, SC, district 6
Rahm Emanuel, IL, district 5 (Chicago)
John Larson, CT, district 1
Chris Van Hollen, MD, district 8
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Chair: Joe Baca (CA-43) (D)
1st Vice Chair Raul Grijalva (AZ-07) (D)
2nd Vice Chair Charles A. Gonzalez (TX-20) (D)
Whip Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) (D)
Xavier Becerra (CA-31) (D)
Dennis Cardoza (CA-18) (D)
Jim Costa (CA-20) (D)
Henry Cuellar (TX-28) (D)
Charles A. Gonzalez (TX-20) (D)
Gene Green (TX-29) (D)
Luis V. Gutierrez (IL-04) (D)
Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) (D)
Senator Bob Menendez (NJ-D)
Grace Napolitano (CA-38)
Solomon Ortiz (TX-27) (D)
Ed Pastor (AZ-04) (D)
Silvestre Reyes (TX-16) (D)
Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23) (D)
John Salazar (CO-03) (D)
José Serrano (NY-16) (D)
Albio Sires (NJ-13) (D)
Hilda Solis (CA-32) (D)
Nydia Velázquez (NY-12) (D)
Also:
Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) (D) (Resigned her membership on January 31, 2007)
Linda T. Sánchez (CA-39) (D) (Suspended her membership on April 12, 2007)