President Obama has pledged to work for immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, and the results of the last elections have convinced most Republicans that some reform is needed. Even so, the outcome is far from assured.
The administration has implemented some of the proposals of the Dream Act and has recently announced a policy change that will allow undocumented immigrants who are married to citizens to avoid having to return to their home countries to apply for visas as spouses of citizens.
Locally, to provide more information in the Fox Valley about immigrants’ experiences, ESTHER has been tapped to finish developing and test a Latino Simulation (similar in concept to a poverty simulation). The potential value of such a resource grew out of investigations by ThedaCare's Community Health Action Team (CHAT), which held an Immigration Plunge during the fall of 2011. CHAT then developed the concept of the simulation and sponsored its initial development. Nan Gutierrez has been named project leader and will be working with ESTHER’s Immigration Task Force to complete the project in the next few months.
Watch our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/esther.foxvalley) and this website for updates on immigration reform.
Our Latino simulation, Walk in Our Shoes: Understanding the Latino Experience, is now ready for prime time! The three-hour simulation gives participants an opportunity to learn first-hand about the problems and obstacles faced by Latino immigrants in our community—problems like getting jobs, entering school or obtaining health care. Participants in the trial run of the simulation in July found it a very moving and educational experience. Now you can schedule the simulation for your organization. To do so, contact Penny Robinson at 
ESTHER’s immigration task force has been calling for several years for immigration policy that is consistent with our faith values, keeps families together, provides a pathway to citizenship for immigrants already here, and expands legal avenues for workers to enter the U.S. Now that an immigration reform bill has been introduced in the Senate, it’s time to get behind the effort to pass it and then to implement it in a humane way. Humane immigration reform has many enemies, and this is no time for us to be complacent.
Acting in early May, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of Wisconsin (CJCC) passed a resolution supporting the expansion of Treatment Alternatives and Diversion (TAD) programs as good policy and a good investment. It was the first policy recommendation the 20-member council has made since Gov. Walker created it in 2012. Expansion of TAD programs is a key goal of the 11X15 Campaign being promoted by ESTHER and other WISDOM affiliates.
More than 900 People of Faith United for Justice from all around Wisconsin – including 80 from the ESTHER – traveled to Madison on March 14 to bear witness to the importance of social justice and to ask our legislators to support 1) funding for treatment instead of prison (11x15); 2) public transit; and 3) accepting federal funds to expand Medicare.
As president of ESTHER beginning in January, I am excited about our work ahead, because I have seen the successes of faith-based community organizing. I once felt almost powerless to change any of the problems of our communities, but Gamaliel’s leadership training and several years of ESTHER experience have taught me how to develop relationships and work with others to bring about change. ESTHER will continue to grow and advance our three main issues:
Results released on November 29 of a year-long Health Impact Assessment conducted by Human Impact Partners and WISDOM, with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, show that increasing funding for Treatment Alternative Diversion (TAD) programs in Wisconsin to $75 million annually will create savings for the state by reducing the number of prisoners, and will make our communities safer at the same time by reducing the number of crimes committed.
