On June 23, the First Focus Campaign for Children submitted this letter to Congressman Hakeem Jeffries in support of The Vulnerable Immigrant Voice Act of 2014 (HR 4936), a bill to ensure that unaccompanied migrant children are appointed legal representation during their immigration hearings.

Washington – The First Focus Campaign for Children, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization, today endorsed the Vulnerable Immigrant Voice Act of 2014, legislation sponsored by Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to ensure that child migrants are appointed legal counsel in removal proceedings.

“Children fleeing brutal violence come to America seeking protection and opportunity – instead, they find detention and a legal labyrinth that would overwhelm most adults,” said Campaign for Children president Bruce Lesley.

Escalating violence and instability in Central America has prompted an increased flow into the United States of children seeking safe haven. Children and families are often forced to make the difficult decision of embarking on the dangerous journey to avoid near certain death in their home countries. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reports that, since October 1, 2013, more than 47,000 migrant children have entered the U.S. alone.

But upon arrival in the United States, those children – some as young as two years old – face detention and the same complex deportation processes applied to adults. Congressman Jeffries’ proposal would ensure that all child migrants facing immigration enforcement actions would be represented by attorneys.

“Child refugees need defense, not additional trauma,” said Lesley. “And Congressman Jeffries’ bill delivers.”

This legislation comes on the heels of an announcement by the White House that the Obama Administration plans to augment resources for immigration enforcement, with the intent of accelerating deportations of immigrants from Central America, including families and child refugees.

“An express ticket back to extreme danger is the wrong solution for these vulnerable children,” said Lesley.

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Washington – Legislation introduced today by Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) would restore health care access for children. Specifically, the Health Equity & Access under the Law for Immigrant Women & Families Act of 2014 would ensure that lawfully present immigrant children eligible for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid can get the care they need, without an arbitrary five year waiting period. The bill would also make “DREAMers” participating in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative, if they otherwise qualify, eligible for CHIP or Medicaid or to purchase insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s new health care marketplaces. The First Focus Campaign for Children joined more than 150 national and state organizations in endorsing this important legislation. The advocacy group released the following statement today by First Focus Campaign for Children president Bruce Lesley:

“Children with cancer, asthma, diabetes, or who just need glasses should never have to wait five years, regardless of immigration status. Five years can be a lifetime for a child, and children simply can't wait for years to get the health care they need. In addition, the bill eliminates the nonsensical policy of asking pregnant women to wait five years to get maternal and prenatal care that reduces infant mortality. Children of immigrants are one-fourth of the children in America, so continuing to deny immigrant children and parents the health care they need is as short-sighted as it is cold-hearted. It’s time for Congress to pass the HEAL Immigrant Women & Families Act.”

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The First Focus Campaign for Children is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization. The Campaign for Children advocates directly for legislative change in Congress to ensure children and families are the priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit www.ffcampaignforchildren.org.

Washington — Today, the First Focus Campaign for Children, a national bipartisan children’s advocacy group, recognized Representative Karen Bass for her leadership on issues important to children during 2013.

“Lots of politicians talk about kids’ issues, but few back it up,” said Bruce Lesley, president of the Campaign for Children. “Representative Bass delivered for kids.”

In selecting Champions and Defenders, the First Focus Campaign for Children noted leaders who introduced, co-sponsored, and voted for legislation to meet children’s needs. In addition, the organization considered Members who demonstrated extraordinary initiative by spearheading activities such as sponsoring hearings or garnering the support of their colleagues to improve the health and well-being of children. In recognizing Rep. Bass as a Champion for Children, the advocacy group cited her leadership on child abuse and neglect prevention and response.

The advocacy organization recognized as “Champions for Children” 50 Members of Congress for their extraordinary efforts to protect and improve the future of America’s next generation. An additional 50 Members were recognized as “Defenders of Children” for their support of policies that advance the well-being of children. The 2013 Champions and Defenders are:

2013 Champions for Children

Champions for Children made extraordinary efforts to protect and improve the future of America's next generation.

Senate

Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK)
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA)
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

House

Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA)
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA)
Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA)
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)
Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI)
Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)
Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Rep. Gene Green (D-TX)
Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)
Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY)
Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL)
Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY)
Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX)
Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Rep. George Miller (D-CA)
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI)
Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-TX)
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA)
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

2013 Defenders of Children

Defenders of Children supported efforts to advance policies to improve the well-being of America's children.

Senate

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH)
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

House

Del. Donna Christensen (D-VI)
Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY)
Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC)
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)
Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA)
Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY)
Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)
Rep. David Joyce (R-OH)
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
Rep. Peter King (R-NY)
Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI)
Rep. Sandy Levin (D-MI)
Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ)
Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA)
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA)
Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ)
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI)
Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO)
Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA)
Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY)
Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-CA)
Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA)
Rep. José Serrano (D-NY)
Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH)
Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY)
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)
Rep. David Valadao (R-CA)
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL)

This is the Campaign for Children’s fourth annual class of Champions for Children. For more information about past honorees, visit www.ffcampaignforchildren.org.

Here are the facts about the Ayotte proposal to deny DREAMers the refundable Child Tax Credit:

• It would harm 1 million children who grew up in the United States and consider America home
• It would harm the youngest DREAMers, the very population both parties have sought to protect
• It would take an average of $1,800 out of the pockets of low-income families that pay their taxes
• It would drive more children into poverty at a time when child poverty is already at the highest level
• in decades

The facts are clear. A vote for this proposal is a vote to harm children.

Washington – An amendment authored by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) would deny children who lack a Social Security number access to the refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC). The amendment targets children known as “DREAMers," who could one day be eligible for the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. The Ayotte amendment is expected to come to a vote during Senate floor consideration of legislation to restore military pension benefits. In response, the First Focus Campaign for Children released the following statement from First Focus Campaign for Children president Bruce Lesley:

“It’s wrong to target any child, especially when child poverty is already at the highest level in a generation. The Ayotte amendment targets the very DREAMers that both parties have sought to protect and threatens to drive them into poverty. We urge senators to reject this proposal which is a direct attack on children.”

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The First Focus Campaign for Children is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization. The Campaign for Children advocates directly for legislative change in Congress to ensure children and families are the priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit www.ffcampaignforchildren.org.

Washington – United States Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Congressman Jared Polis (D-Colo.) introduced legislation today to support states invested in higher education access for all students, including undocumented students. The Investing IN States To Achieve Tuition Equity (IN-STATE) for Dreamers Act would eliminate a bureaucratic obstacle for states that make in-state tuition rates available to qualifying students regardless of immigration status, and it would provide $750 million in increased funding for states that exercise their option to make college education more accessible.

In December, First Focus released an analysis on the higher education barriers facing immigrant students. The report, Access to Education: Challenges and Opportunities for Immigrant Students, highlights the potential gains from improved in-state tuition access and the elimination of federal obstacles for immigrant students.

In response to the Murray-Polis announcement, the First Focus Campaign for Children released the following statement by president Bruce Lesley:

“America wins when every young person has an opportunity to reach his or her full potential and contribute to our nation’s success. Senator Murray and Congressman Polis understand that eliminating the barriers to children’s success is the best way to build a strong and vibrant future for America.”

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The First Focus Campaign for Children is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization. The Campaign for Children advocates directly for legislative change in Congress to ensure children and families are the priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit www.ffcampaignforchildren.org.

La Opinion

Latino and civil rights groups have united against the proposal. According to the National Immigration Law Center ( NILC ) five million citizens will be affected by the measure including two million Hispanics.

"This tax credit covers basic needs like food and rent. We should not consider proposals that will push more children into poverty, "said Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus.

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Voxxi

Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus Campaign for Children, was one of those opponents who signed the letter. He told reporters on Monday that denying the Child Tax Credit to any child is “bad policy and runs contrary to our American values.”

“Congress should be focusing on policies that invest in kids and support working families, not policies that threaten to drive even more children into poverty,” he said.

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A recent proposal by Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) would deny the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit, known as the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), to children who lack a Social Security number, the majority of whom live in low-income immigrant families. This change could harm little DREAMers who are growing up in the U.S., being educated in American schools, and comprise a critical segment of the future
U.S. workforce.