Below you will find resources and guidelines for effective lobbying on migration; specifically, a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
Our advocacy right now is critical, as we carve a path toward decades-overdue legislation in a new Congress and administration. With unfathomable threats of mass deportation, now is the moment to reinvigorate calls for a pathway to citizenship for all, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients, and farmworkers. We must make our voices heard for undocumented communities!
How do I Prepare for a Lobby Visit?
- Watch this 30 minute training video from FCNL!
- Read over this leave-behind. This document has the basic information on our ask for Congress.
- Write your story! You can use this storytelling worksheet as a guide.
- Find an example story here.
- Find contact information for the staffer you’d like to meet with and send an email requesting a visit by telephone or video conference.
- Make sure you’re caught up on basic background information related to this issue (See background details below.)
- Structure your lobby visit with this roadmap.
- Watch an example lobby visit.
- If you’re unable to schedule a meeting (don’t be afraid to bump your email a few times!), you can call your legislator and leave a message.
What should I do after my lobby visit?
- Fill out the lobby report-back form.
- You can watch this video for more information about how to fill out the form.
- Send a follow-up email to the staffer with whom you met. Here is an example email.
Dreamers and DACA Recipients
Attribution
Susan Ruggles/Flickr
From FCNL on Undocumented Immigrants
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