From the Latin America Working Group (https://www.lawg.org/):
Almost a year ago we called on you to speak out against the administration’s first attempts to keep kids locked up in cages indefinitely. Your voiced mattered. But the fight is far from over.
The president wants to indefinitely detain and traumatize families by overturning a longstanding court decision known as the Flores Settlement Agreement.
This executive ruling upends the protections in place for migrant children. Currently, children must be released from detention facilities after 20 days, but with this new ruling there is no timeline for when children are to be released. This means children could be left in detention facilities for months, or even longer. The settlement also defined minimum protections for migrant children, including access to basic human rights like appropriate food, shelter, health care, education, and legal support. The administration wants to get rid of all of this.
At least seven children have already died in detention this year—we cannot allow more to undergo this same fate. And we cannot allow more money to be funneled to CBP & ICE which don’t provide the minimal conditions for these children’s well-being in detention.
The administration says that this new rule will deter families from trying to come to our borders, but we know that this is just another excuse and that until the root causes of migration are addressed, families will continue to flee their home countries and seek protection.
NOW is the time for action. This rule is scheduled to go into effect at the end of October. There will probably be lawsuits to challenge it, but we still need to make our voices heard.
Here’s what you can do to help:
Together, we can #defundhate
Call your representatives and two senators. Find contact information:
- Senator Robert Casey: http://casey.senate.gov
- Senator Pat Toomey: http://toomey.senate.gov
- Your Representative: http://www.house.gov
Phone Script: “My name is _____, and I am a constituent from _____. I urge Representative/Senator _____ to cut funding for the expansion of detention facilities. DHS must also be held accountable for violations of the rights of migrant children. I am alarmed by President Trump’s recent announcement to overturn the Flores agreement and to keep migrant children locked up indefinitely. I urge you to speak out against these changes. My community welcomes and values immigrants, and as someone who represents my community, I urge you to do the same.”
Speak out on social media
Twitter (PA Twitter handles below):
- We’ve seen this administration repeatedly overlook the inhumane conditions in the detention centers. 7 children have died. They cannot be allowed to hold children in custody. #ProtectMigrantChildren
- Flores provides basic protections for the care of children in custody. It is shameful that the Trump Administration would try to take these safeguards away. #SaveFlores
Facebook:
In an attempt to deter families from seeking safety in the U.S., the Trump Administration plans to dismantle the only protection for children in detention centers. To hold children in unsafe and unhygienic conditions is a human rights violation. Join us in advocating for the rights of these migrant children. #SaveFlores
We know you care. Lift your voice and show the government that we won’t stand for the mistreatment of migrant children.
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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