Immigration Reform and Pathways to Citizenship

OCO leaders have worked on immigration reform on a national and local level for years. Here in Oakland, targetted traffic stops and car impounding has had deep repurcussions in the immigrant community.  People without legal identification have been turned over to Alameda County for fingerprinting, and then deported, even though Oakland is a santuary city.  OCO leaders have met with Mayor Dellums and California Highway Patrol to discuss the impact on the community, and seek solutions.  One option OCO leaders are supporting is an Oakland identification card. OCO leaders also hold citizenship drives and "Know Your Rights" workshops.

On the national level, OCO student leaders from Arise High School have met with Senator Barbara Boxer's aide and asked for her to co-sponsor the Dream Act with Sen. Durbin. Student leaders also met with Mayor Ron Dellums to gain his support. These same students then traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with Sen. Feinstein's office and Sen. Boxer's office, making sure that our elected officials know that OCO support for the Dream Act is strong and clear. 

OCO leaders will work with PICO to make it even hotter for our Congress on immigration this summer! In August, Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez will be submitting a comprehensive immigration reform bill.  In support of the reform, PICO National will hold 20 actions in 20 days to lift up the Gutierrez bill and demand progress. OCO congregations St. Elizabeth, St. Jarlath, St. Anthony, and St. Louis Bertrand are gearing up to hold an action together, reminding us that immigration reform belongs to all of us.