Alex’s Law: H.R. 1209

A MISSOURI FAMILY’S FIGHT TO STAY TOGETHER MOVES INTO THE HANDS OF CONGRESS

What is H.R. 1209?

On February 22, 2021, Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-1) introduced H.R. 1209, a private immigration bill that would permanently stop Alex’s deportation and grant him permanent residency, so he can be reunited with his family in Missouri where he belongs. This bill would put Alex on a pathway to citizenship.

What is a Private Bill?

Since the beginning of American democracy, Congresspeople have relied on the tool of a private bill when public laws don’t honor the dignity of their constituents, or when public laws have caused damage. Generally, a private bill is a law written to provide much-needed relief for a specific person or group of people when public laws fail to do so. Additionally, private bills have served as an early-warning system that demonstrate to Congress a need to reform public laws.

Private bills can remedy hardships and injustices in a variety of issues, including immigration. In total, Congress has enacted over 7,000 private immigration laws since 1789, which represents about 10% of the number of private immigration bills that were introduced. In recent years, however, the number of bills both introduced and enacted has declined significantly. Historically, as public immigration laws become more exclusionary and more restrictive, Congress has relied upon private bills to protect the American people and shift public legislation in the longer term. Many of the core principles of public immigration law in the US (for example, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952) were the result of pressure from and patterns of injustice demonstrated by private immigration bills.

Alex’s Law

With support from his attorney at the MICA Project, Alex Garcia has done everything possible under existing laws to “do things the right way.” But, as it is for thousands of immigrants living in the United States, the outdated laws don’t honor their humanity, their contributions to our communities, and to our country. Without action from the Immigration Courts (who are choosing not to use existing laws that enable them to reunite this family), there is not a way for Alex to stay in the U.S. and raise his children.

However, new laws can be written. For Alex, we are hopeful that this private bill will facilitate a common sense waiver for immigration penalties imposed over 15 years ago - the same penalties that fail to account for the 6 U.S. citizens that depend on him for emotional and financial support. These same egregious consequences fail to recognize the co-responsibility for U.S. intervention in his native Honduras, which not only contributed to the conditions that influenced his decision to migrate nearly 20 years ago but also maintain the violence, poverty and corruption that would stand in the way of this American family’s ability to survive if Alex was deported.

Private bills are an important tool in our democracy. This is a creative effort the Defense Team has decided to pursue, given that all other remedies within the law have been exhausted. IFCLA, the MICA Project and Christ Church are committed to supporting the Garcia family through every step of this process until Alex is granted legal permanent residency and can return to raising his family in Missouri.

In the Hands of Congress   

After Rep. Bush introduced the bill, it was automatically assigned to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship in the House Committee on the Judiciary. Alex’s team is currently working with Rep. Bush to get this bill moving! One of the first steps is for Rep. Bush to send a letter to Rep. Zoe Lofgren, the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee, requesting that it be considered. Then, it will begin a series of hearings, reports and Congressional work. If it gets voted out of the Committee, then it will be placed on a special calendar, and will eventually be called for a vote before the entire House of Representatives. If it passes the House, the final bill will get presented to the Senate, where it will follow a similar path. When both sides of Congress agree on the text of the bill and vote to pass it, it will get presented to the President. Then, the President has 10 days to either sign it, veto it, or allow it to pass without signing. If it is enacted (with or without the President’s signature), then the Department of Homeland Security will be instructed to take the necessary actions to grant Alex Garcia legal permanent residency and reunite this family.

While this process seems long and marked by many obstacles, it also offers opportunities for temporary relief and work authorization. The private bill is also a tool for furthering conversations in other strategy lanes, too. Congresswoman Cori Bush and her team are very supportive and doing lots of hard work to reunite this family permanently - and work so that all families can live freely.

It Takes a Village

This family needs your support.

The road to enacting a private bill is long, uphill, and wrought with obstacles. At every step of the way, the family faces incredible challenges and opportunities for this dream to be shattered and their family forced into separation without relief once again. Christ Church will continue to support this family until Alex is granted permanent permission to stay, which could come in various forms at multiple steps of this process.

Alex and Carly need your help to demonstrate all of the community support their family enjoys. The family is requesting: all supporters nationwide to sign-on to a new digital petition; family and friends with personal relationships with Alex, Carly, or their children to write personal letters of support; and, clergy and faith leaders to sign-on to a faith-based letter of support. Please explore this site for additional action items.

Sign the new petition

Below is a link to a petition requesting Congress to pass a Private Immigration Bill that will stop the deportation of Rene "Alex" Garcia and provide the pathway to unity this family needs. ALL are welcome and encouraged to sign!

Write a personal statement

If you have a personal relationship with Alex, Carly, or their children, please consider writing a personal letter of support that would get filed with the supporting evidence when the Private Bill is introduced. Letters should follow the guidelines below and be submitted to Alex’s attorney.