From Church World Service (http://www.churchworldservice.org):
Last week, reports suggested that President Trump is seriously considering terminating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which would place nearly 800,000 immigrant youth at immediate risk of deportation. This move would mean turning our nation’s back on immigrant youth who are valued members of our communities. Here are 5 ways you can take action TODAY to help keep the DACA program intact!
1) DC HUNGER FAST SOLIDARITY ACTIONS
From September 5th-September 8th, United We Dream (UWD) and the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) are organizing a hunger fast in Washington, DC to stand in solidarity with DACAmented community members and #defendDACA. DACA recipients will begin a hunger fast on September 5th, the deadline the Texas Attorney General and others have imposed on Trump to cancel DACA or face a lawsuit. It will last throughout the week. Click here to join an action in solidarity to support DACA and TPS. If you are in DC RSVP here for action on September 5th.
From now until September 5th, NAKASEC is holding a 24 hour vigil in front of the White House to defend DACA and save TPS. The action today will also include calls to say #NoMuslimBanEver. Please join us! Sign up to be part of the solidarity fast, vigils and actions.
Faith leaders: We invite you to host solidarity vigils around the country. Click here for a faith vigil toolkit to learn how to host an interfaith vigil and sample media resources to amplify its coverage! For more resources, click here for a DACA mini faith toolkit. You can also connect with local undocumented youth organizations and immigrants rights groups.
2) CALL YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES NOW:
Representatives: 1-888-496-3502
Senators: 1-888-410-0619
*Please call your 1 Representative and then your 2 Senators
Sample Script: “Hi, my name is X and I’m calling from City, State and my zip code is X. I am a person of faith. I’m deeply concerned about the reports that President Trump could end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) this week. I support the program and strongly oppose any attempt to terminate or alter it. I urge the Senator/Representative to do everything in his/her power to protect 800,000 DACA-recipients from deportation and support their right to work and study in this country. There are three things I’m hoping your office will do right now. Can the Senator/Representative appeal directly to the President to keep this program in place, issue a public statement of support for DACA recipients, and support a clean passage of S.1615/H.R.3440, the Dream Act of 2017?”
IF DACA IS RESCINDED SAMPLE SCRIPT: “Hi, my name is X and I’m calling from City, State and my zip code is X. As a person of faith, I strongly oppose President Trump rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. This move is devastating for my community. I urge the Senator/Representative to do everything in his/her power to protect 800,000 DACA-recipients from detention or deportation and push for a pathway to citizenship through the immediate and clean passage of S.1615/H.R.3440, the Dream Act of 2017.”
3) ONLINE ACTION THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA
- Please tweet @realDonaldTrump and your Senators/Representatives:
- We are called to #LoveThyNeighbor + welcome the stranger. @realDonaldTrump Dreamers deserve our protection #DefendDACA #Faith4DACA
- Dreamers are: students, teachers, doctors, small-business professionals & integral to our communities & economies #DefendDACA #Faith4DACA
- .@realDonaldTrump Ending DACA= loss of $460.3 B from GDP over 10 years + removal of 685,000 workers from economy. #DefendDACA #Faith4DACA
- .@realDonaldTrump Young immigrants who have long called America their home shouldn’t be stripped of legal status #DefendDACA #Faith4DACA
- .@realDonaldTrump Faith communities continue to fight to #DefendDACA #Faith4DACA DefendDACA.com
- People of faith call on @realDonaldTrump to #defendDACA + the 800,000 immigrant youth it protects #DefendDACA #Faith4DACA
- 800,000 immigrant youth could lose their jobs and stability for their families if @realDonaldTrump eliminates #DACA #DefendDACA #Faith4DACA
- Over 5 yrs DACA has provided work permits to undocumented youth +invigorated our communities #DefendDACA #Faith4DACA DefendDACA.com
- With DACA, immigrant youth have been able to purchase homes and support their children. We have to #DefendDACA #Faith4DACA
- My faith community stands with DACAmented immigrant neighbors & call on Congress + @realDonaldTrump to #defendDACA #Faith4DACA
- Ave hourly wages rose by 69% after DACA=more tax revenue for cities, states, & U.S. https://www.americanprogress.org/?p=437956 #DefendDACA #Faith4DACA @realDonaldTrump
- 16% of DACA recipients bought houses, 5% started businesses https://www.americanprogress.org/?p=437956 #DefendDACA #Faith4DACA @realDonaldTrump
- At least 72% of the top 25 Fortune 500 companies employ DACA beneficiaries https://www.americanprogress.org/?p=437956 #DefendDACA #Faith4DACA @realDonaldTrump
Click to tweet at Members of Congress facts about DACA and calls for them to engage. See more resources and ideas for social media action in this Digital Toolkit.
4) WRITE AN OPINION EDITORIAL IN SUPPORT OF DACA
Please click here for template Op-Eds that you can localize and add personal stories. See a recent Op-Ed in Baltimore Sun by local bishops, and others at www.interfaithimmigration.org/issues/dream-act/.
5) KNOW & SHARE THE MESSAGE TO DEFEND DACA & TPS
- Faith leaders: Sign on to this letter by Friday, September 1 to support TPS
- For DACA recipients: 5 Things You Should Know
- 1,000+ faith leaders support DACA
- Over 1,300 Catholic educators support DACA
More information is available at http://defenddaca.com/
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