We are seeking your help in obtaining state & local elected leaders to sign on to this letter at https://welcomingrefugees2021.org/ supporting a robust admissions goal in FY21 by Wednesday, September 9, 2020. Last year, 408 local and state elected officials from 46 states signed the FY20 letter – and we want to make sure we beat it and collect signatures from all 50 states!
Below you will find a sample/template outreach email you can use or adapt when outreaching to state and local elected leaders. In addition, we launched the #RefugeesWelcome2021 campaign to put pressure on state and local elected leaders to sign this letter: https://welcomingrefugees2021.org/. Please join us by using our #RefugeesWelcome2021 Social Toolkit (with graphics folder).
For more information on how to contact your state officials and other resources, please click out the links below:
- Find contact information for your state elected officials at http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/index.cfm#address
- To tweet your officials, click to find the twitter handles for your state legislators
- #RefugeesWelcome2021 campaign landing page / letter
- Information for constituents—all this information available at https://welcomingrefugees2021.org/reaching-out-to-elected-representatives/
- Sign-on form for electeds
- Refugee contribution stories
Dear State Senator / Representative [NAME]:
We write to invite you to join an important bipartisan letter for state and local elected leaders to demonstrate their support for refugees and a robust refugee admissions goal for FY 2021. The deadline to sign is Wednesday, September 9, 2020.
Right now, the administration is considering how many refugees to resettle in FY21. U.S. law requires the administration to consult with Congress before deciding what the refugee admissions goal will be. Importantly, without a signed admissions goal, resettlement will grind to a halt.
We can – and should – continue the safe resettlement of refugees in the United States. Refugees contribute greatly to the United States in ordinary times, and have continued to show up for their new communities during the COVID-19 crisis, with many working on the frontlines of the pandemic, including 176,000 refugees serving in the healthcare field and 175,000 working as part of the food supply chain. Per CDC guidelines, all international travelers – including refugees – must undergo thorough medical checks for COVID-like symptoms prior to entering the U.S., and are required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
Our state welcomes refugees. Refugees are resilient, hard workers and valued members of our community. They contribute to our state’s economy as workers and entrepreneurs, paying taxes, starting businesses, revitalizing towns, and buying homes. [Add state specific information about refugees, refugees’ positive contributions to your state and/or ways that communities welcome refugees].
Since 1980, the U.S. has set an average annual refugee admissions goal of 95,000. The administration has already cut refugee admissions by more than 80%, from the historic average goal of 95,000 to just 18,000 in FY2020 – an all-time low. This reduction has negatively impacted refugees in our state who are awaiting family reunification, people of faith and other volunteers who are dedicated to welcoming refugees, and businesses across our state that employ refugees.
Refugee resettlement is important to our state. We urge you to affirm the importance of this life-saving program and sign this letter calling for a rebuilding of the program and robust admissions goal for FY21. Click here to sign on by Wednesday, September 9th. Thank you for your public service and attention to this matter.
Thank you for your work!
Sincerely,
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