The Barometer Online

Issue date: 11/2/09 Section: News

Media Credit: immigration Tori middelstadt | THE DAILY BAROMETER Bethany Loberg, an organizer for CAUSA, presents information on immigrant rights Sunday afternoon at a forum at the Corvallis Public Library.

By Yadira Gutierrez

The Daily Barometer

A forum was held Sunday at the Corvallis Public Library to address immigration reform, which gave community members and OSU students a chance to voice their opinion and become knowledgeable on the subject.

The informational forum was put on by the non-profit organization CAUSA, which, when translated from Spanish, means "cause." With its main office located in Salem and other branches in Woodburn and Eugene, CAUSA was created in 1995 by PECUN, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, which is a farm workers union.

CAUSA is a statewide organization that works to defend immigrant rights. It has been organizing town hall-style meeting such as the one held Nov. 1, which was the last of five meetings held.

During the forum, CAUSA presented what it would like the immigration reform bill to include. Two main points were to promote economic opportunity and long-term solutions.

In terms of economic opportunity, "fair wages for all U.S. workers, immigrants and non-immigrants," said Bethany Loberg, an organizer for CAUSA. "The organization views immigration reform as an issue much deeper than just legalizing the approximate 12 million illegal immigrants who now reside in the country."

Currently, there isn't a written immigration reform bill. During the presentation, CAUSA stated that the last major immigration reform was in 1986.

Afterwards, attendees were able to voice opinions on the matter through an open question segment. One audience member asked the speakers to explain why immigration reform would be important to the country. For Andrea Miller, an organizer for CAUSA, it had to do with supporting those who support illegal immigrants.

"These people are picking spinach and strawberries and have bad living conditions. This is how we treat the people who feed us," Miller said.

For Romero Lopez, a fourth year student in ethnic studies, it was an issue close to home. He had attended the previous forum and decided to come to the last one as well. He heard about the immigration reform forums from Miguel Woods, a graduate teaching assistant and graduate student in Spanish.

Lopez emigrated to America at the age of five. Like many immigrants, life was not easy for [him] and his family. His family worked in the fields in Oregon and California picking grapes and strawberries.

"My dad worked very long hours, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.," Lopez said.

Lopez thought it was a good forum where you could listen to beliefs and thoughts on the subject.

According to Lopez, there is a need to focus on what is causing individuals and families to leave their countries and come to the U.S.

"It's an issue that is not really discussed," Lopez said. "I have friends who can't go to a university because they are illegal. It's definitely a very important issue," Lopez said.

CAUSA is working towards comprehensive immigration reform by pursuing leader assemblies with senators and congressmen to get their message heard, town hall meetings like the one held yesterday, and grassroots efforts such as making phone calls and sending e-mails and faxes.


Yadira Gutierrez, staff writer

737-2231, news@dailybarometer.com

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