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Community Corner

Tomorrow: Screening the Dream

For many in the Lehigh Valley, immigration reform popped up only a few weeks ago, when the debate lit up in the halls of Congress surrounding the bipartisan plan for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

For Bethlehem immigration lawyer, Jose Campos, immigration and immigrant life in the United States have been important topics since infancy. Campos and his family escaped to the United States fleeing the Nicaragua civil war of 1979.

As the chair of the Immigration Committee for the Lehigh Valley chapter of Organizing for Action (OFA), Campos has organized an event to screen the short film, The Dream is Now, and lead a discussion about our current immigration system. The event is tonight, at Zoellner Arts Center on Packer Avenue in Bethlehem from 6:30 to 7:30 PM.

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Ahead of a Senate vote on Friday, tonight’s event seeks to answer the following question: why we, who don’t live in border state, should care about immigration reform?

Campos believes that reasons abound. The bipartisan “Gang of 8” bill is projected to save $700 billion in federal funds over 10 years. Nationwide, 3.2 million jobs could be added by comprehensive reform. Supporters say that easier pathways to immigration can boost American innovation — 1 in 4 tech companies since 2006 have had one or more foreign-born founders. (Source?)

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The film, titled “The Dream is Now,” focuses on the limited pathways to success and prosperity faced by four high-achieving immigrant children.

Following the discussion, participants will be asked to contact Senators Toomey and Casey to support the bipartisan proposal.

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