Click here to read TIRRC's 2012 Legislative Overview summarizing all the bills that were debated this session.

We talked to our legislators and they listened! Over 100 people participated in TIRRC’s Sixth Annual New American Day on the Hill event that gave immigrant and refugees from across the state an opportunity to speak face to face with their state legislators. Participants forged new relationships with their representatives and discussed proposed legislation that will affect their families and communities. These New Americans left the legislature feeling empowered by the civic process and confident that Tennessee is becoming a more welcoming and inviting state for all who wish to call it home.

Check out photo's of the day's event in our photo gallery!

PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Contact: Eben Cathey, 615.775.1069, eben@tnimmigrant.org

Immigrant Leaders Take to the Hill to Speak with Lawmakers

Nashville - On Wednesday, March 21^st, over 100 of Tennessee’s New Americans visited the State Capitol to meet with lawmakers and discuss policies to make Tennessee a more welcoming, inclusive state.  Members of this General Assembly have introduced over 30 bills this session that would negatively impact immigrant communities, some of which mirror the costly and unconstitutional laws passed in Arizona and Alabama. Immigrant leaders in Tennessee understand the importance of directly engaging their legislators and discussing the potential impact of these proposals on their families and communities. During this sixth annual New American Day on the Hill, immigrants and refugees clearly demonstrated that New Americans are proud to be here, informed on the issues, and eager to participate.

“This day represents an opportunity and a responsibility for New Americans,” says Brenda Zapata, a high school student from Memphis. “New American Day on the Hill is an opportunity to express our concerns directly to our elected officials. As representatives of immigrant communities from across the state, it is our responsibility to let lawmakers know that we disapprove of legislation that makes it harder for immigrants to fully integrate into society.”

Immigrants and refugees are not only engaging in the legislative process, they are also applying for US citizenship and registering to vote at a record pace. As the state with the 3^rd fastest growing foreign-born population in the nation, Tennessee is home to over 265,000 immigrants. After proficiency in English and five years of permanent residence, many immigrants are able to start down the complicated path to citizenship. In Tennessee, 75,000 immigrants are now or soon becoming eligible for US citizenship, and 95,000 others are already citizens and eligible to vote. TIRRC’s immigrant integration initiative ensures that community members understand how to navigate the process and become active, informed, and voting citizens.

“I’m so proud to have become an American citizen,” says Leticia Alvarez, who was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States in 1996. “America is my home and I am honored to be able to cast my ballot on Election Day. Civic engagement is important to me because fully participating in the political process is an integral part of being an American.”

On March 24^th, as a founding member of the National Partnership for New Americans, TIRRC will also host the local launch of a national citizenship campaign. This ambitious campaign, Become a Citizen Now!, will train over 1,000 Citizenship Coaches who can build national capacity over the next year to meet the Partnership’s collective goal of naturalizing 3,650 citizens, assist almost 13,000 legal permanent residents, and outreach to almost 73,000 people. Although there are over 8 million lawful permanent residents across the country eligible to become citizens, less than 1 million of them naturalize every year.

For community leaders like Leticia and Brenda, New American Day on the Hill and the Become a Citizen Now! program are both important opportunities to address the barriers to full participation that many immigrants face, as well as begin to create an environment where all Tennesseans, regardless of where they were born, are free to live, learn, work and worship in peace.

3/21/2012

On Wednesday, March 21st, over 100 immigrants and refugees will visit the State Legislature to meet with lawmakers and discuss policies to make Tennessee a more welcoming, inclusive state for everyone. This New American Day on the Hill, a program of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), serves as an opportunity for New Americans to build relationships with their elected officials and directly engage in the civic process. New American Day on the Hill sets the stage for a broader campaign with the National Partnership for New Americans that aims to naturalize thousands of permanent residents throughout the year and encourage participation of New Americans in the 2012 elections.

Where - The State Legislature's front lobby. An information table will be available.

When - Meetings with legislators run throughout the day starting at 12pm. Information and interviews will be available from 1pm - 3pm at the information table.

Who - New Americans and TIRRC staff.

Why - As the state with the 3rd fastest growing foreign-born population in the nation, Tennessee is home to over 250,000 immigrants, more than a third of whom are eligible to vote. This New American Day on the Hill will provide immigrants and refugees a voice in the legislative process and demonstrate that New Americans are proud to be here, informed on the issues, and eager to participate.

TIRRC Members March with Pro-Immigrant Advocates in Alabama

Civil rights, labor, and immigrant leaders from across the country joined together in Alabama to commemorate the historic march from Selma to Montgomery and call for the repeal of Alabama's harsh anti-immigration law (HB 56). Since going into effect last October, the legislation has caused irreparable damage to the state's reputation, driving away immigrant business owners and international investers, and devastating Alabama's economy. According to a recent report, the state stands to lose between 70,000 and 140,000 jobs, and up to $10.8 billion in economic output due to the enactment of HB56. The law has also been mired in costly legal challenges and, just yesterday, the 11th Circuit Court enjoined two remaining provisions dealing with the right of people to enter into contracts and engage in business transactions.