Tell Congress: Support HR 1176 The Child Citizen Protection Act
March 12, 2007
Deportation destroys families and leaves U.S. citizen children without parents.
Over 1 in 10 families are mixed status: at least 1 parent is a non-citizen, and 1 child a citizen.
Despite the talk of immigration reform in Congress, so far only one bill specifically seeks to defend the right of children to have their best interests heard before deporting their parent: HR 1176 The Child Citizen Protection act (CCPA). Introduced by Congressman Jose Serrano (D-NY), along with Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Gary Ackerman (D-NY), and Ed Towns (D-NY), the bill is simple: it allows an immigration judge to consider the best interest of U.S. citizen children before deporting a parent.
Take Action
Call your Congressperson, ask for their legislative aide on immigration issues and ask them to:
- cosponsor and fully support the Child Citizen Protection Act (HR1176) so that the immigration system can value families & children.
- encourage friends in the Senate to introduce a Senate version of the bill.
If they want more information about the bill they may contact George Sullivan at Congressman Serrano's office at (202) 225-4361.
Congressional Phone Numbers
Below are some select numbers of Congressional Offices to call. To find out who is your Congressperson, visit www.house.gov or call the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
- Joe Donnelly (IN-2nd,D)
- (202)225-3915 tel
- (202)225-6798 fax
- Luis Gutierrez (Il-4th,D)
- (202) 225-8203 tel
- (202) 225-7810 fax
- Zoe Lofgren (CA-16th,D)
- (202) 225-3072 tel
- (202) 225-3336 fax
- Nancy Pelosi (CA-8th,D)
- (202) 225-4965 tel
- John Conyers (MI-14th,D)
- (202) 225-5126 tel
- (202) 225-0072 fax
- Jeff Flake (AZ-6th,R)
- (202) 225-2635 tel
- (202) 226-4386 fax
- Jan Schakowsky (11-9th, D)
- (202) 225-2111 tel
- (202) 226-6890 fax
- Joseph Crowley (NY-7th,D)
- (202) 225-3965 tel
- Dennis Kucinich (OH-10th,D)
- (202) 225-5871 tel
- (202)225-5745 fax
- Barbara Lee (CA-9th,D)
- (202) 225-2661 tel
- (202) 225-9817 fax
- Jim McDermott (WA-7th,D)
- (202) 225-3106 tel
- (202) 225-6197 fax
- Hilda Solis (CA-32nd,D)
- (202) 225-5464 tel
- (202) 225-5467 fax
- Lamar Smith (TX-21st,D)
- (202) 225-4236 tel
- Yvette Clark (NY-11th,D)
- (202) 225-6231 tel
- (202) 226-0112 fax
Remember, the Child Citizen Protection Act (HR1176) is not currently part of Comprehensive Immigration Reform. So even if there is a new law, unless it specifically addresses the rights of US citizen children whose parents are in deportation proceedings, it will not automatically have the same protections as the Child Citizen Protection Act.
Resources
Fact Sheet:
http://familiesforfreedom.org/downloads/CCPAfactsheet.doc
Sign on Letter:
http://familiesforfreedom.org/downloads/CCPAsignon.doc
For the text of the bill, search http://thomas.loc.gov under HR 1176.
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Fr. Christopher W. Cox, C.S.C., is associated with St. Adalbert Parish-St. Casimar Parish, South Bend, IN.St. Joe Valley Greens, South Bend, IN