This week people of faith, immigrant activists, and sympathizers participated in events around the nation spurred by the urgency of the moment as the brokenness of the current system continues to affect our neighbors.

Going Local: Local leaders in Colorado, Oregon, New York (including Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Carmel, and Wayne County) and Florida visited their state representatives demanding immigration reform.

Inspired by alarming unemployment rates, unfair deportation hearings, and the continuing separation of families caused by immigration raids, immigrant activists around the nation are mobilizing to urge their congressional representatives to reform the immigration system.

The Importance of the Latino Vote: A new report issued by America’s Voice has stated that Latinos will play a key part in the outcome of 40 mid-term elections (29 house seats, 8 senatorial races, and 3 gubernatorial elections). Undoubtedly, the lack of comprehensive immigration reform has left many frustrated with their current representatives. What effect this will have on how ballots will be cast is uncertain.

Fixing a broken system: A new Human Trafficking Study estimates 1,000 US born minors annually fall victims of the sex trade along with approximately 800 immigrants who are trafficked as sex or labor slaves. The report urges Ohio to enact “stand-alone” human-trafficking law to address the situation.

Family separation continues: The New York Times reports that currently 3.2 million non US citizens are married to US citizens; 40% of these marriages took place after 2001, when spouse naturalization became harder. The story of the Encalada family highlights the difficulty of navigating the current immigration system, as spouses who entered the US without a visa must return to their nation of origin, apply for a visa in the US consulate, prove the marriage to be genuine, and then wait 3 to 10 years. Current legislation proposed by Jose Serrano (D-NY) would allow judges to take more compassionate measures when deciding and take family status into consideration. At the moment LGBTQ families cannot make similar spousal claims and also fear family separation. The Uniting Family Act would “end discrimination against lesbian and gay immigrant families.”

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