Oregon Public Broadcasting

Political organizers from Oregon’s Latino Community are going to Washington D.C. this week, renewing conversations about immigration reform. April Baer reports.

Marlen Torres didn’t even know she was in the country illegally until she was about 17.

Marlen Torres:   “I realized I was undocumented when I started applying for scholarships.”

Torres’ mother had brought her to the United States when she was just five years old. She says when she figured out her family’s story, her dreams were shattered.

But she didn’t give up on her life in the U.S.  She kept working, paying taxes.

Marlen Torres  “I had a long journey, from being undocumented to becoming a citizen, but I was able to get my permit. Now I’m a citizen, I was able to vote.”

Torres is one of thousands of people in Oregon encouraging the federal government to offer a chance to others like her.

Next Monday, President Obama will meet with Congressional leaders to talk about changing immigration laws. And organizers here, like Torres’ boss, Ramon Ramirez, with the farm labor union PCUN, say they want to help.

Ramon Ramirez: “We’re pretty confident that all the members of the Congressional delegation will vote in favor of comprehensive immigration reform. We do feel like there’s some members of Congress who dislike certain aspects of it. But I think at the end of the day, we can pull everybody.”

Ramirez says he understands that some Reps, like Democrat Peter Defazio, have  reservations, about letting more guest workers into the country, or creating a path to citizenship for people. But the immigrant rights community believes the public will support what they’re working toward.

Immigration reform means different things to different Oregonians.

State Representative Kim Thatcher, a Republican from Keizer has sponsored several bills that would tighten rules for undocumented immigrants: requiring employers to check status, limiting state benefits.

Thatcher says if the federal government wants to help, it could start by speeding up the entry process for good, qualified candidates who want to work.

Kim Thatcher  “They need to give realistic numbers of -- allow realistic numbers to apply for citizenship. There’s such a glut right now.”

Thatcher says constituents call her regularly about immigration concerns. She doesn’t think those callers be satisfied by what CAUSA’s campaigning for.

In some parts of the country, mainstream politicians are backing similar immigration reforms.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is on board. But so far, most major Oregon politicians seem unwilling to touch the issue. They may be waiting to see just how much political power the immigrant rights groups can muster.