November 11th is Veteran's Day; a time to recognize the service and sacrifices of U.S. veterans. While Memorial Day serves to honor military members who died in service to their country, today we honor the bravery and sacrifice of all American veterans.

Immigrants contribute something special to our military. I've had the pleasure of speaking with immigrant service members, and they told me that it an honor to serve their adopted nation and its people. They talk about this country with deep respect, and you can hear the gratitude and appreciation in their voices when they discuss having the opportunity to serve.

The uniform is the great equalizer. Immigrants' native tongues, upbringings and past experiences may be different from that of U.S. citizens, but once that uniform is on, those differences disappear. America's immigrants stand shoulder-to-shoulder with native-born citizens for a shared purpose: to protect our great country.

While Veterans Day is our opportunity to thank our brave men and women for their service to our country, we would be remiss if we didn't spend a moment remembering the 13 people killed on November 5th in Fort Hood, Texas. Two of these soldiers came to the United States as children. These immigrants chose to serve their adopted country, and in doing so, paid the ultimate price.

President Obama closed his Fort Hood memorial speech with the following remarks--perfect words for Veterans Day.

"So we say goodbye to those who now belong to eternity.  We press ahead in pursuit of the peace that guided their service. May God bless the memory of those that we have lost."

Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

"I did not knowingly hire any illegal aliens."

- Sholom Rubashkin, former chief executive officer and vice president at Agriprocessors, responding to assistant U.S. attorney C.J. Williams during Thursday's trial in Sioux Falls. The former manager of the Postville, Iowa slaughterhouse and son of company founder Aaron Rubashkin testified that he never knowingly violated federal immigration laws.

House Representative Zack Space wants foreign countries to foot the medical bills incurred by undocumented immigrants in the United States.

Yesterday, Space introduced the Preventing All Your Bucks from Aiding non-Citizens is Key (PAYBACK) Act. Under the new bill, 110% of the costs of treating undocumented immigrants would be withheld from any foreign assistance provided to another country. If the United States does not offer any foreign assistance, the country would be billed for 110% of the medical costs. If we happen to be in debt to the foreign country, the amount of the debt would be reduced by 110% of the costs of caring for the foreign country's citizen.

"I am absolutely opposed to taxpayer dollars being used to support benefits and services for illegal immigrants," Space said. "It is fundamentally unfair and outrageous to foot the bill for immigrants unlawfully in the United States. The bill I intend to introduce will allow taxpayers to be reimbursed for the cost of care and services provided to illegal immigrants in our hospitals."

All funds collected under the PAYBACK Act would be transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for the purpose of strengthening border security.

What do you think of Space's proposed legislation?

Photo: Barry Williams/Getty Images

Finally, more than a year after Congress voted to repeal the HIV travel and immigration ban, the policy barring HIV-positive immigrants from entering the U.S. is finally coming to an end. The regulations were published Monday in the Federal Register, which will be followed by the standard 60-day waiting period prior to the new rule taking effect.

President Obama announced the elimination of the ban during last week's signing of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. Following are the President's comments regarding the HIV travel ban. From the White House blog:

"Twenty-two years ago, in a decision rooted in fear rather than fact, the United States instituted a travel ban on entry into the country for people living with HIV/AIDS.

We talk about reducing the stigma of this disease yet we've treated a visitor living with it as a threat. We lead the world when it comes to helping stem the AIDS pandemic, yet we are one of only a dozen countries that still bar people with HIV from entering our own country. If we want to be the global leader in combating HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it.

And that's why, on Monday my administration will publish a final rule that eliminates the travel ban effective just after the New Year.

Congress and President Bush began this process last year, and they ought to be commended for it. We are finishing the job. It's a step that will encourage people to get tested and get treatment, it's a step that will keep families together, and it's a step that will save lives."

Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

"They've now fired a shot at my house while my wife was standing next to the car. It's become something else, and if anybody thinks that we're not engaged in a battle for the soul of this country right now, you're sorely mistaken."

- CNN's Lou Dobbs, commenting on the recent news that a gun shot struck his home earlier this month. Dobbs believes the attack is from groups opposed to his stance on immigration.

Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images

A reminder to all of you who plan on registering in this year's DV-2011 green card lottery: you have one more month to submit your registration. This year's lottery ends at 12:00PM EST (GMT -5) on November 30th.

Make sure to read the State Department instructions very carefully and double-check your entry before submitting.

Before you submit your entry, learn how to enter the green card lottery, get answers to your frequently asked questions and links to other resources. If you have questions about the process or if you just want to connect with others registering in the DV-2011 lottery, check out the DV-2011 Registration thread in the Immigration Issues Forum.

Just last week I wrote that immigration reform may be on the back burner but it's far from quiet. Unfortunately, any push for reform is going to be met with protest from the anti-immigration groups. Well hold on to your hats, folks, because things are heating up.

Americans for Legal Immigration (ALIPAC) is organizing tea parties against immigration reform to be held on November 14th. The anti-immigrant group has put together a new website at www.AgainstAmnesty.com to promote the upcoming events.

Our mission is to conduct rallies and protests, titled Tea Parties Against Amnesty and Illegal Immigration, across America.  We hope that these events combined with our lobying [sic] efforts and support for campaigns will stop these attempts to destroy America through mass illegal immigration and amnesty.

Will the events be peaceful? That seems to be the group's intent.

Our protests against Amnesty are open to all Americans and groups that share our nonviolent and non-racist multi-ethnic and bi-partisan support for secure borders and immigration enforcement. Any groups, individuals, or materials that are not appropriate will not be allowed in our permitted areas.

Peaceful, maybe, but ALIPAC president William Gheen is known for his hard line approach.

"Make my day punk!" said Gheen. "[Rep. Luis] Gutierrez and his fellow traitors in Washington know they are running out of time on this Amnesty legislation and since 78% of Americans oppose what they are trying to do and many consider it Treason."

I don't know what poll Gheen is using, but if he's quoting the recent CNN poll that's making the rounds, he might want to look at this blog post from America's Voice.

The tea parties will ramp up again in Spring 2010, just around the time we expect immigration reform discussions to take place in Congress. And why would the anti-immigration reform groups need a second wave of tea parties? Because they're not going to stop the push for reform, that's why.

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Counter-protester Erika Paz yells at members of the white supremacist group, the National Socialist Movement, during the NSM's anti-illegal immigration rally near a Home Depot store on October 24th in Riverside, California.

NSM's goal, according to The Press-Enterprise, is to shut down the day labor site. It is the second such demonstration in Riverside by the Detroit-based Neo-Nazi group in the past month.

A brawl broke out early in the demonstration and police in riot gear had to take control.

Photo: David McNew/Getty Images

"He discovered that one of the ways to get people to watch was to make the image of a young Latino trying to get into this country a profoundly negative icon. Lou Dobbs is almost single-handedly responsible for creating, for being the architect, of the 'young Latino as scapegoat' for everything that ails this country."

- Fox News reporter Geraldo Rivera holds nothing back while criticizing CNN's Lou Dobbs at an event Thursday.

Photo: Peter Kramer/Getty Images

With the nation's attention still focused on health care, it may seem like comprehensive immigration reform has been swept under the rug. Don't worry--it may be quiet right now, but CIR is not dead. This past week members of Congress have shown us that immigration reform legislation is still on the agenda.

Last week, Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) outlined the components of a comprehensive immigration reform bill he is expected to introduce in the House.

"We simply cannot wait any longer for a bill that keeps our families together, protects our workers and allows a pathway to legalization for those who have earned it. It is time we had a workable plan making its way through Congress that recognizes the vast contributions of immigrants to this country and that honors the American Dream. I am preparing such a plan, and will introduce it in the near future."

His legislation will include the following core principles:

• Pathway to legalization for undocumented workers
• Professional and effective border enforcement
• Smart and humane interior enforcement
• Protecting workers
• Verification systems
• Family unity as a cornerstone of our immigration system
• Future flows of workers
• AgJOBS
• DREAM Act
• Promoting immigrant integration

The complete set of core principles with full descriptions can be found in Rep. Gutierrez's press release.

While Rep. Gutierrez does not specifically mention the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) or Reuniting Families Act in his speech, he is an original cosponsor of the UAFA and is a strong supporter of same-sex rights. This component of immigration reform has not been forgotten.

Just this week, Rep. Mike Honda, sponsor of the Reuniting Families Act, and Sen. Patrick Leahy and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, sponsors of the UAFA, asked their colleagues to remember the importance of keeping families together.

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