This week, several immigration-related events made national headlines as crisis in Haiti continues, Obama addressed the nation, and faith-based advocacy for immigration reform took center stage. This is the first in a series of weekly installments on our blog.

Obama addresses immigration in State of the Union. President Obama announced plans for immigration reform in his first State of the Union address, “And we should continue the work of fixing our broken immigration system -– to secure our borders and enforce our laws, and ensure that everyone who plays by the rules can contribute to our economy and enrich our nation.”

Evangelicals Stand Up for Immigration Reform. Vigils calling for comprehensive immigration reform were held in six cities across the nation. These vigils follow the National Association of Evangelical’s 2009 Resolution advocating for just reform. Jeff Johnson, who hosted the Denver vigil, said “we are finally raising our voices to spread awareness of this urgent moral issue. We pray that our nation’s leaders will hear our call, and enact laws that follow the Biblical mandate to show compassion to immigrants.”

Advocates press to allow Haitians to enter the U.S. When asked if United States would ease immigration restrictions, allowing for more Haitians to immigrate Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton responded: "we are certainly looking at that and will have more to say later." The current Obama administration has already granted Temporary Protection Status and suspended deportation orders for Haitians already in the country. However, these actions have also stirred dissenting opinions from individuals fearing a greater influx of immigrants.

Marco Saavedra is Campaign Intern for Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. He studies Sociology at Kenyon College and is of Mexican heritage.