Thread by @CosechaMovement

Quiz: which 2020 candidate said this?

"We need immigration reform that will secure our borders & punish employers who exploit imm labor; reform that finally brings the 12mil ppl who are here illegally out of the shadows by requiring them to take steps to become legal citizens...

...We must assert our values and reconcile our principles as a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. That is a priority I will pursue from my very first day."

@ewarren? @JoeBiden? @PeteButtigieg? 🤔

@ewarren @JoeBiden @PeteButtigieg Trick question! That's Obama, in 2008, about a month after he promised to have an immigration reform bill introduced with his strong support by the end of his first term (about 10 years ago).

That didn't happen. And in that year he deported almost 400,000 immigrants.

@ewarren @JoeBiden @PeteButtigieg So, maybe you're wondering: Why does it matter that Democratic candidates sound kinda similar to Obama more than a decade ago when it comes to immigration reform for undocumented immigrants?

What does anything Obama said matter when Trump is in the White House & on the ballot?

@ewarren @JoeBiden @PeteButtigieg Under Trump, millions have seen the violence of ICE, border patrol, raids, and family separation.

But what Obama said a decade ago is important, because this crisis just...isn't new. It's the result of a decades-long, bipartisan attack on undocumented immigrants.

@ewarren @JoeBiden @PeteButtigieg For starters, any effort to actually resolve the crisis needs to recognize the longevity of the problem. How's this for a #10YearChallenge?

2019: No path to citizenship.
2009: No path to citizenship.
1999: No path to citizenship.
1989: No path to citizenship.

@ewarren @JoeBiden @PeteButtigieg There are millions of undocumented immigrants that have been living and working in this country for *decades* who have no way to adjust their status or "get in line".

Our communities have lived with the daily fear of being deported & separated from our families. For decades.

@ewarren @JoeBiden @PeteButtigieg Many people have asked why we're targeting Dem candidates, especially when they all say they support a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million. Isn't that good?

Yeah. Sure. But the same promises that Obama made (and broke) a decade ago aren't good *enough*...not even close.

@ewarren @JoeBiden @PeteButtigieg Do you think Republicans are sticking with party line on immigration from a decade ago?

Rhetorical question because, obviously, no. But remember that in 2008 Obama's Republican opponent was McCain, who at that time had twice championed CIR...

msnbc.com/kasie-dc/watch…

@ewarren @JoeBiden @PeteButtigieg After Obama's failure on immigration (3 million deported, no reform), how can any Democrat think that that his approach is enough?

After Trump has codified openly racist, anti-immigrant rhetoric & policies as the Republican platform, how can we think the old approach is enough?

@ewarren @JoeBiden @PeteButtigieg Part of the work of the immigrant rights movement rn is (re)telling the erased story of the last decade of crisis for undocumented immigrants.

Telling the truth about where Dems failed & broke promises before, and holding all politicians to a new standard for immigrant dignity.

@ewarren @JoeBiden @PeteButtigieg The other main work (for us) is training immigrant leaders to harness the protest & labor power in their communities. (The other big learning of the decade is that w/o real people power, electing/holding Dems "accountable" is not a viable way to win. But that's another thread.)

@ewarren @JoeBiden @PeteButtigieg If you want to see undocumented leaders telling the truth about Dems AND doing bad-ass organizing to rebuild power in our own communities, become a monthly sustainer of Cosecha & power this work throughout 2020. (Do it today or tomorrow and get free swag!) secure.actblue.com/donate/cosecha…