From the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (http://www.interfaithimmigration.org):
Today, the House of Representatives will consider H.R.6136, the Border Security and Immigration Reform Act, an anti-immigrant, anti-family bill that would do nothing to stop family separation. Instead, it would tie dreamer protections with harmful immigration enforcement provisions, curtail protections for unaccompanied children and asylum seekers, expand detention of minors, and further militarize our borders. Just a couple of days ago, the House rejected H.R.4760, an anti-immigrant, anti-family bill that would have dismantled family-based immigration, expanded detention and deportation, and gutted asylum protections.
Meanwhile the Senate is considering its own anti-immigrant, anti-family bills that do nothing to stop family separation. And yesterday, the administration signed an Executive Order that mandates immigrant family detention. Instead of terminating the administration’s cruel “zero tolerance” policies targeting vulnerable families, this order undermines real solutions to family separation while continuing to violate the rights of those seeking protection. Family detention is not a solution to family separation. So long as the administration detains, prosecutes, and deports parents, family separation will continue. It is critical our Members of Congress hear from their constituents right now to understand that anti-immigrant proposals like these would harm our families and not stop family separation.
TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress to Stop Separating Families & Protect Family Unity
Go to https://greateras1.org/take-action-tell-congress-to-stop-separating-families-protect-family-unity/ to be connected to your 1 Representative and 2 Senators; alternatively, contact them directly—find contact information:
- Senator Robert Casey: http://casey.senate.gov
- Senator Pat Toomey: http://toomey.senate.gov
- Your Representative: http://www.house.gov
Sample Script: “I’m your constituent from [CITY/TOWN], and [as a person of faith], I urge you to REJECT anti-immigrant, anti-family legislation like H.R.6136, the Border Security and Immigration Reform Act; Senator Cruz’s Protect Kids and Parents Act; Senator Tillis’s Keep Families Together and Enforce the Law Act; or any other proposal that violates the sanctity of family unity. These bills do nothing to stop family separation or uphold family unity, as they dismantle protections for unaccompanied children and asylum seekers, expand detention and deportations, gut family-based immigration, and further militarize our borders. These bills do not offer a workable path to citizenship for Dreamers already living among us. Children and young people should not be used as bargaining chips to advance harmful immigration proposals. Congress should act to bring families together, not keep them apart.
I also urge you to OPPOSE President Trump’s executive order on family separation that mandates family detention, without terminating the administration’s cruel “zero tolerance” policy that leads to the detention, criminal prosecution, and deportation of parents. Family separation will persist, as any assigned jail time must be served apart from their children. Family detention is not a solution to family separation.”
Please share this message on social media with your Senators and Representatives (find PA Twitter handles below):
- .@SpeakerRyan, why not include bipartisan bills that have support from a majority of the American public in your legislation? #DreamActNow
- The American people have made it clear, we say NO to family separation and family detention. @SpeakerRyan’s bill does nothing to address either.
- People of faith say no to a bill that keeps families apart and blocks Americans from reuniting with their children and siblings abroad. #ValueOurFamilies @SpeakerRyan
Here are the top 8 ways to take action and stop family separation & family detention. Check out our new Interfaith Toolkit to Stop Family Separation, End Family Detention, and Keep Families Together: bit.ly/EndFamilySeparationToolkit.
(1) Call Congress: Click here to be connected to your 2 Senators and 1 Representative.
(2) Plan a Neighbor-to-Neighbor Visit to Your In-District Member Offices: Your Members of Congress will be home from June 30th – July 8th – an important time to share the importance of protecting family unity. Establishing and nurturing relationships with your Senators and Representatives are crucial to enacting immigration policies that protect and affirm the rights of all people, and also to stopping proposals that would exacerbate family separation. Every Senator and Representative has an office – often multiple offices – in their home state. Use our Neighbor to Neighbor Toolkit to request meetings and put together a team.
(3) Join and Support June 30th Mass Mobilization in Washington, DC and Across the Country: Click here to find events near you or to register your event. Distributed actions will be planned across the country. Hosting events like interfaith vigils provide the opportunity for faith leaders to express how welcoming immigrants is part of all faith traditions, reflecting on the deep scriptural and spiritual roots of our work to support immigrants. You can also visit www.standwithimmigrants.org to connect volunteers to opportunities and resources.
(4) Amplify on Social Media: Don’t forget to share the same message with your Senators & Representatives on social media! Click here for a digital media toolkit with sample social media posts and graphics. Use the hashtag #FamiliesBelongTogether #KeepFamiliesTogether and #ValueOurFamilies.
(5) Write Opinion Editorials for Local Media Outlets: Click here for a template op-ed. Publishing opinion editorials (op-eds) around Fourth of July is a great way to get the attention of your Members of Congress. But first, you need to write a piece that tells your story – not just the facts.
(6) Sign the Petition: Click here to sign the faith statement against family separation led by the Disciples of Christ. Additional faith petitions are forthcoming.
PA Twitter Handles
- Bob Casey: @SenBobCasey
- Pat Toomey: @SenToomey
- Bob Brady (PA-1): @RepBrady
- Dwight Evans (PA-2): @RepDwightEvans
- Mike Kelly (PA-3): @MikeKellyPA
- Scott Perry (PA-4): @RepScottPerry
- Glenn Thompson (PA-5): @CongressmanGT
- Ryan Costello (PA-6): @RepRyanCostello
- PA-7: Vacant
- Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-8): @RepBrianFitz
- Bill Shuster (PA-9): @RepBillShuster
- Tom Marino (PA-10): @RepTomMarino
- Lou Barletta (PA-11): @RepLouBarletta
- Keith Rothfus (PA-12): @RepRothfus
- Brendan Boyle (PA-13): @CongBoyle
- Mike Doyle (PA-14): @USRepMikeDoyle
- PA 15: Vacant
- Lloyd Smucker (PA-16): @RepSmucker
- Matt Cartwright (PA-17): @RepCartwright
- Conor Lamb (PA-18): @ConorLambPA
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