First, I hope you’re able to celebrate this day honoring Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., who said in his letter from a Birmingham jail: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny … Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.”
With that in mind, in this Monday’s Top Picks, I’d like to focus on the broad coalition of advocates for immigration reform. Faith leaders, economists, labor organizers, and big business have all thrown their weight behind reform, adding to the movement’s momentum. I’d especially suggest checking out Pili Tobar’s commentary on the diverse movement for immigration reform, and Ivone Guillen’s post on the new evangelical push for comprehensive immigration reform (CIR).
- “All Signs Point in the Same Direction: Immigration Reform in 2013,” according to Pili Tobar of America’s Voice, who finds that CIR’s diverse supporters include President Obama and Senator Rubio, as well as organized labor and evangelicals.
- In his commentary on “Why Undocumented Immigrants are Turning to Underground, Cash-Only Clinics to Get Health Care,” Sy Mukherjee of Think Progress argues that these clinics are needed in undocumented communities, but that a lack of insurance coverage still leaves quality, affordable health care out of reach for many immigrants.
- Ivone Guillen of Sojourners analyzes the new “I Was a Stranger” campaign launched last week by prominent evangelicals, supporting their newest grassroots push to use a scriptural message of welcome to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform.
- In his post “Illinois Driver’s Licenses: A Small Step in the Right Direction,” Michael Mandel of the American Immigration Lawyers Association praises the recent Illinois measure allowing undocumented people access to driver’s licenses.
- “Immigrants Add Billions to the Arkansas Economy,” by Walter Ewing of Immigration Impact, spotlights how Arkansas offers yet another example of immigration’s wide economic benefits.
Please email me if you have comments or questions about this week’s Top Picks. Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog, and I look forward to bringing you the best online commentary on immigration and refugee issues every Monday.