How You Can Help

There are many ways in which you can help Oregonians for Immigration Reform work to STOP illegal immigration, including:

  • Your time - many varied opportunities are available, often from home, just ask or see below. Attend an OFIR meeting to learn more!
  • Your expertise - are you a writer, lobbyist, artist, attorney, researcher, computer specialist of any kind?
  • Do you have connections or knowledge that may be beneficial for OFIR's cause?
  • Your resources - printing services, office or meeting room space, transportation services and more!

Ten actions you can take today to fight illegal immigration

To win the battle against illegal immigration, thousands of grassroots activists will need to engage in simple, repeated actions -- day after day, week after week, and year after year. If every OFIR member undertakes only a few actions a week, we can keep our issue before the public, add to our ranks, and create a groundswell against illegal immigration that politicians will be unable to ignore.

What, specifically, can you do?

(1) Write a letter to the editor of a daily or weekly newspaper. Letters to the editor are widely read -- which makes them one of the best ways to educate fellow citizens about the impact of illegal immigration.

(2) Write a guest commentary (commonly known as an "op-ed") for a daily or weekly newspaper.

(3) Call a radio talk show and speak briefly about how illegal immigration affects your community.

(4) Keep some OFIR brochures in your car. From time to time, tack a few of them onto the bulletin board of your local library, grocery store, veterans hall, or community center.

(5) Write a letter to, e-mail, or call your federal or state legislators or county and city officials in support of a bill or ordinance that would help thwart illegal immigration.

(6) Write a letter to, call, or visit a local restaurant and ask its manager if it screens its job applicants via E-Verify. If it doesn't, urge it to do so.

(7) Take action to help elect a strong candidate to federal, state, or local office. Write a letter to the editor outlining the candidate's strengths, put the candidate's sign in your front yard, or contribute money to the candidate's campaign.

(8) Read an article, research study, or book chapter about immigration.

(9) If you're not already registered to vote, do so.

(10) Write a check or make an online contribution to OFIR.

We hope this gives you ideas for simple actions to fight illegal immigration today -- and every day.

 

HELP FIGHT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: RUN FOR LOCAL OFFICE   by Rick LaMountain

If you're like me, there are probably many times that you've received your ballot in the mail, looked at your choice of candidates for a particular office, and lamented that there is no candidate who shares your position on immigration. Too often, voters who want to restrict immigration are reduced to supporting the lesser of two evils.
 
Consider doing something you may never have thought of before --running for office yourselves. Now, I'm not going to suggest that you consider running for a high-profile office like governor or the U.S. Congress, but to consider instead a candidacy for a local office. As has been proved across America, people elected to local offices -- such as county commissions, city councils, school boards, and community college boards -- can have an impact on public policy toward illegal immigration.
 
Sometimes that impact can be good. County commissions in Oregon and other states, for instance, have mandated the use of E-Verify to assure newly-hired county employees are citizens or legal residents.
 
And sometimes that impact can be bad. Examples: the Portland city council has allotted taxpayer funds to a day-labor center that caters to illegal aliens, and the Portland Community College board of directors allows illegal aliens to enroll as students at in-state tuition rates.
 
So local governments can have a substantive impact on public policy toward illegal immigration. But too often, local offices fly under voters' radar screens, overshadowed by the attention paid to the higher-profile state and national offices.
 
And this is one reason why local offices provide such an opportunity to the average citizen who may care deeply about the issues but not have the name recognition or financial wherewithal to run for a high-profile office. In smaller towns, lower-population counties, and small school districts, a candidate doesn't need a huge campaign war chest to compete successfully for an elected position. And often, very few people file as candidates for those positions, which can really increase one's chances of being elected.
 
As an example, a woman I work with has served six years on the Parkrose School Board, which sets policy for the Parkrose School District in East Portland. In the two times she's won election to the board, she's been unopposed. While this is somewhat unusual, many local offices do attract fewer candidates, which gives one a better chance at winning election.
 
For offices up for election in 2012, candidates will need to file with their county elections offices in March. Primary elections will be in May, and the general election in November. So please, visit the Website of your county elections office to see what offices are up for election in your city and county and if there are any that may interest you.
 
In 2012, there will be elections for the state legislature, county commissions, and city councils. In 2013, there will be elections for officers who run what are known as "special districts" -- elementary and secondary school districts, education service districts, community college districts, fire and rescue districts, soil and water conservation districts, and so on.
 
Now, some of these special-district offices have very narrow focuses and can hardly impact policy toward illegal immigration at all. But they can give a citizen experience as an elected official that he or she might parlay into a higher office down the road.
 
There may be some people who have run for office. I've done so myself. In 2005, I ran for the Portland Community College board of directors. Although I was unsuccessful, I did have a chance to raise the issue of immigration in my campaign. That issue would not have been raised, within the context of policy relating to PCC, had I not been in the race. A candidacy for office is a rewarding experience, and I recommend it to everyone here.
 
Political campaigns at all levels can help educate voters to our issue. America needs people of courage, like you, to stand and fight illegal immigration in the public arena. Please give your consideration to a candidacy for local office.
 
 

How do I report illegal aliens?

OFIR is frequently asked: “What can I do if I think an illegal alien (or aliens) are living or working in my area?”

OFIR's response is always the same. OFIR does not pursue illegal aliens. That is the job of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). OFIR recommends reporting any suspicious persons or activity to ICE and let them decide the best course of action.

Call 1-866-DHS-2ICE (347-2423).

Be as specific as possible with names, dates and addresses of home or workplace, and give any other specific information you can provide.

Source: U.S. Customs & Border Protection