From Church World Service (http://www.churchworldservice.org):
Last week, reports surfaced that the administration is preparing to release an executive order that would grant authority to states and localities to deny refugee resettlement in their communities. This discriminatory and unlawful policy, in addition to some administration officials proposing resettling zero refugees in 2020, is another systematic attempt of the administration to decimate the refugee resettlement program.
As people of faith and conscience who care about refugees, we must make our voices heard and tell the White House and Congress that we welcome refugees into our communities and refugees are a critical component to strengthening our communities. Here’s the most important action you can take right now:
Tell State and Local Officials to Raise Their Voices!
Urge your state and local elected leaders to sign onto this joint letter and/or send their own letters to administration officials and their Senators and Representative(s) using this sample draft to support refugees in your community and urge the administration to commit to resettling 95,000 refugees in 2020! The deadline to sign on is Monday, September 9, 2019. CWS’s statement opposing this policy is available here, and talking points are available here.
Here are two more ways to take action:
(1) Call Congress: Go to https://greateras1.org/time-is-now-save-the-life-saving-refugee-resettlement-program/ (or call (202) 217-0817 three times) to be connected to your 2 Senators and 1 Representative. Alternatively, you can call directly—find contact information:
Here’s a sample script: “I’m your constituent from [CITY/TOWN], and I urge you to do everything in your power to protect the U.S. asylum system & refugee resettlement program from being decimated by the administration. After news surfaced that the administration is considering setting the refugee admissions goal for next year at ZERO, last week we learned that the Trump administration is preparing another unlawful and discriminatory policy that would allow states and localities to deny refugee resettlement in their community. Congress must hold the administration accountable. By law, the administration must consult with Congress prior to setting the refugee admissions goal, which means you are uniquely poised to ensure that the administration fulfills its obligation to consult with Congress ahead of deciding how many refugees to welcome in FY20. Please do everything in your power to see that the administration stops its attacks on asylum seekers and commits to resettling 95,000 refugees in 2020. My community welcomes refugees, and I urge you to reflect the best of our nation by supporting refugee resettlement.”
(2) Amplify on Social Media: Don’t forget to tweet at your Members of Congress (PA Twitter handles below). Here are some sample posts, and click for social media graphics:
- 📢America stands for welcome. Banning refugees is not who we are or what we stand for. #NORefugeeBans #SaveRefugeeResettlement #STOPTrump
- Shutting down the refugee resettlement program is an assault on our values. ⛔#NORefugeeBans #SaveRefugeeResettlement #STOPTrump
- 🚨🚨🚨Refugee families will die if the administration shuts down the resettlement program. We will not back down. #NORefugeeBans #SaveRefugeeResettlement #STOPTrump
PA Twitter Handles
- Bob Casey: @SenBobCasey
- Pat Toomey: @SenToomey
- Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1): @RepBrianFitz
- Brendan Boyle (PA-2): @CongBoyle
- Dwight Evans (PA-3): @RepDwightEvans
- Madeleine Dean (PA-4): @RepDean
- Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5): @RepMGS
- Chrissy Houlahan (PA-6): @RepHoulahan
- Susan Wild (PA-7): @RepSusanWild
- Matt Cartwright (PA-8): @RepCartwright
- Dan Meuser (PA-9): @RepMeuser
- Scott Perry (PA-10): @RepScottPerry
- Lloyd Smucker (PA-11): @RepSmucker
- Fred Keller (PA-12): @RepFredKeller
- John Joyce (PA-13): @RepJohnJoyce
- Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14): @GReschenthaler
- Glenn Thompson (PA-15): @CongressmanGT
- Mike Kelly (PA-16): @MikeKellyPA
- Conor Lamb (PA-17): @RepConorLamb
- Mike Doyle (PA-18): @USRepMikeDoyle
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