From Oxfam America (http://www.oxfamamerica.org):
As you know, COVID-19 is exposing deep systemic inequalities in the US and is quickly making disparities worse, as millions of marginalized people are struggling to pay bills, stay healthy, and survive. Immigrants and undocumented people in the US were already marginalized and vulnerable; COVID-19 has compounded this, thanks in part to the Administration’s doubling-down on a long-standing anti-refugee and anti-immigrant agenda.
Over the last several weeks and with your help Oxfam has ramped up advocacy for the rights of refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers, specifically:
- The inclusion of undocumented people and their families in congressional relief measures through state policies;
- Urging for a temporary moratorium on deportations, which have continued, many to countries with strained healthcare systems could collapse as a result of COVID-19. Over 100 people deported from the United States have been confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19, often after being held in unsafe conditions in U.S. detention facilities without adequate testing or access to medical care;
- Calling for the urgent release of people being held in immigration detention facilities.
We are extremely concerned about the approximately 30,000 people currently held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, in well-documented sub-standard living conditions, to say the least. None of them are being held for committing crimes. And the current system not only violates their dignity and human rights but as the centers are unable to provide basic health care – let alone sufficient hand-washing or social distancing measures – they put the health of detained migrants, detention center workers, and local communities at risk. On top of that, evidence shows that releasing detained immigrants and asylum seekers would be safe and manageable.
Please join us in calling upon Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf to direct ICE to urgently release immigrants and asylum seekers from detention facilities back to their families and communities:
Sign and share this petition at https://secure2.oxfamamerica.org/page/s/release-people-from-ice-detention-centers.
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