Raise Your Voice
We are powerful when we act together, and our work is just beginning.
Help us end the labor shortage impacting our agriculture, hospitality, and construction industries, provide a legal path to employment for immigrants who wish to work in the US seasonally, and end illegal employment and exploitation of these undocumented workers.
The only way that real change will take place is when millions of people get involved in the movement. Get involved today!
We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. Here’s what’s next and how you can take action and become an Illegal The Project Ambassador!
HOW CAN I ADVANCE THIS CAUSE IN MY AREA?
There are many ways to promote interest in your community!
Start in your community
It is fairly simple to advance this cause in your area.
Present the Illegal The Project concept. Show people the website. Once you find a lead person or organization, they or you can simply send out a public service announcement tailored to your town. This will bring forward interested people from your area. The main office for Illegal The Project will then provide the names of the responding individuals to the local lead persons or organizations.
Direct your campaign to your national congressional leaders, using our talking-point bullets and "design your own letter" bullets. You can also begin face to face delegate meetings with Congressional Leaders. Hopefully, there will soon be a legislative bill to support and rally around.
It is okay if you haven't identified an organization. Two people can do this. Remember, you are already part of a national movement. If you have not done so already, start holding meetings with others in your area. Invite obstructionists and "naysayers" to leave. They are welcome to initiate their own movement.
This campaign is designed for the single purpose of addressing the labor crisis in the U.S. and providing a legal path to employment for guest workers while holding employers accountable for hiring workers illegally, thus perpetuating a system of exploitation.
This is a volunteer initiative. Thank you!
Design your own letter
Once you have fully familiarized yourself with the mechanics of the formula, you will be able to launch a letter-writing campaign with just a handful of people.
Not sure what to say to your senators or representative?
Here's a sample letter to give you a few ideas. You can use our letter and put in your own representative's name and district, or design your own letter, using some of the suggestions below.
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Identify your district, county or city.
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Identify the issue as the US Illegal Employment Crisis, for example, " I would like for you to support the idea of ending the labor/illegal employment crisis in the U.S. and providing a legal path to employment for guest workers."
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Include the following talking points:
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We currently have an illegal employment system that lures undocumented immigrants with the prospects of illegal employment. A system that taxes undocumented immigrants without rights, votes or representation, demonizes and criminalizes them, and then exploits them as political pawns.
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Point out to congressional representatives that it is time to address the labor crisis in our country and provide a legal path to employment for guest workers. Doing so will allow our industries to thrive and drastically reduce undocumented immigration by providing immigrants who wish to work in the U.S. seasonally a legal path to do so.
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In tandem with expanded guest worker programs, there must be legislation requiring tough enforcement of a revamped E-Verify system that is accurate and dependable. The law must require employers to verify the legal status of each employee and carry stiff penalties and consequences for employers that violate the law.
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Functional guest worker programs and E-verify implementation would create an environment where employers and workers have only one choice – a legal one.
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If we are going to end undocumented employment, then we need to provide our guest workers with a manageable path to legal jobs so that they can come here, provide a tremendous service to our country and then return home with their hard-earned money to support their families and promote economic stability in their community.
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Sample Letter
“Our country is participating in an illegal employment system fueled by a lack of blue-collar, domestic workers and functional guest worker programs. We need legislation that provides a humane and legal path to employment for guest workers. This legislation should include an annual assessment of the labor needs of various industries and authorize the needed guest worker visas to meet those needs. We need to remove the mountains of red tape encircling our current guest worker programs in order to make it feasible for guest workers and employers to participate.
In tandem with expanded guest worker programs, there must be legislation requiring tough enforcement of a revamped E-Verify system that is accurate and dependable. The law must require employers to verify the legal status of each employee and carry stiff penalties and consequences for employers that violate the law. Functional guest worker programs and E-verify implementation would create an environment where employers and workers have only one choice – a legal one. If we are going to end undocumented employment, then we need to provide our guest workers with a manageable path to legal jobs so that they can come here, provide a tremendous service to our country and then return home with their hard-earned money to support their families and promote economic stability in their community.”
Invite People To The Website
Share the website address on social media websites like Facebook and Twitter. Thank them for their time and interest and ask them to support the bill and to carry it in the House or Senate respectively.
1. Call Your Members of Congress.
Dial (844) 899-8261 now to call your representative, and then dial (202) 226-8000 to call your senators (a switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you request).
Tell them how you feel about the current narrative toward immigrants in America and the civil rights abuses taking place at our border.
If you support our call to create a better guest-worker system that will help our industries hire the legal workforce they need and give immigrants a clear path to legal jobs, then say to them,
“Our country is participating in an illegal employment system fueled by a lack of blue-collar, domestic workers and functional guest worker programs. We need legislation that provides a humane and legal path to employment for guest workers. This legislation should include an annual assessment of the labor needs of various industries and authorize the needed guest worker visas to meet those needs. We need to remove the mountains of red tape encircling our current guest worker programs in order to make it feasible for guest workers and employers to participate.
In tandem with expanded guest worker programs, there must be legislation requiring tough enforcement of a revamped E-Verify system that is accurate and dependable. The law must require employers to verify the legal status of each employee and carry stiff penalties and consequences for employers that violate the law. Functional guest worker programs and E-verify implementation would create an environment where employers and workers have only one choice – a legal one. If we are going to end undocumented employment, then we need to provide our guest workers with a manageable path to legal jobs so that they can come here, provide a tremendous service to our country and then return home with their hard-earned money to support their families and promote economic stability in their community.”
2. Sign The Petition
Tell Congress To Create A Legal Pathway To Employment For Immigrant Workers
3. Email Your Board of Commissioners
Your community deserves the opportunity to voice their concerns on the topic of immigration. If you would like to provide input and learn about what our elected representatives are doing to address this issue in your county, please email your Board of Commissioners asking them to hold a public hearing on this topic.
Consider emailing them the following: “I would like to attend a public hearing around the topic of immigration. Specifically about our current labor shortage and the need for more guest worker programs".
If you live in Jackson County you can email:
Rick Dryer: DyerRR@jacksoncounty.org
Bob Strosser: StrossRJ@jacksoncounty.org
Colleen Roberts: RobertCL@jacksoncounty.org
4. Follow Us On Social Media And Share What You Agree With
This small task is super easy to do and will have a huge impact on helping us promote the film and share this movement with the eyes and hearts of the nation. When you see or read something that resonates with you, please share our Facebook and Twitter posts and engage in the conversation on social media.
By supporting this project you are playing a huge role in making something incredible that will change the narrative around immigration in America!
5. Tweet a Mighty Tweet!
Will you #GiveVoice to the voiceless of this country and speak out on #ImmigrationReform ? illegaltheproject.org #2020Election
6. Have Productive Conversations By Seeking Common Ground
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Try your hardest to keep your comments on the topic politically neutral, recognizing that both major political parties are responsible for the broken immigration system and that such a system has existed for decades under Republican and Democratic administrations.
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Engage in constructive, informative and respectful discussion on the topic and avoid social media confrontations. Try to understand opposing viewpoints and seek common ground in every situation while doing your best to educate in a kind and respectful way.
7. Use Our Illegal Facebook Cover Photo
One actionable thing you can do right now (in less than 1 minute) is to add the image below as your cover photo on Facebook (even if it’s just for one day). This small task is super easy to do and will have a huge impact on helping us promote the film and share this movement with the eyes and hearts of the nation.
To add this image as your Cover Photo:
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Click on the "Download Cover Photo" button below.
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Click the "Download" icon in the top right corner.
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Go to your Facebook profile.
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At the top where your Cover Photo is shown click on the Camera Icon on the top left (if you’re on your phone this is located on the bottom right of the Cover Photo).
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Select “Upload Photo” and choose the image you just saved.
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Click “Done" and save your changes.
