From the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (http://www.interfaithimmigration.org):
This is World Refugee Day National Call-in Week from June 18th – June 22nd. As we approach World Refugee Day on June 20th, we are called to celebrate refugees’ resilience and strength and urge our elected leaders to protect the U.S. refugee resettlement program. With global need at its highest, the administration has reversed our nation’s history as a world leader in refugee protection and resettlement, setting an all-time low refugee admissions goal for fiscal year 2018 at 45,000. What’s worse, the administration is only on track to resettle 20,000 refugees this year, not even meeting their own goal. This amounts to tens of thousands of families who remain separated from one another.
It is critical that Members of Congress and the administration hear their constituents support for refugees, decry record-low refugee arrivals, and call for robust refugee resettlement in the United States.
Tell Congress to Welcome Refugees: Click Here or Call 1-866-961-4293*
*Please call three times to be connected with your Representative and both of your Senators. Alternatively, you can call 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 I urge you to support the U.S. refugee resettlement program. I strongly oppose President Trump’s continued Muslim and refugee bans, as well as the all-time low cap on refugee admissions. I urge you to do everything in your power to see that the administration resettle at least the 45,000 refugees they have set as the cap for 2018 and see the administration commit to resettling at least 75,000 for 2019. Resettlement is a core American legacy that allows the world’s most vulnerable refugees to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. My community welcomes refugees, and I urge you to reflect the best of our nation’s values by supporting the refugee resettlement program.”
Here are the top five ways faith communities can take action:
- Join the June 18th-June 22nd National Call-In Week: Go to https://greateras1.org/take-action-now-tell-congress-to-support-refugee-resettlement-and-hold-the-administration-accountable-to-resettle-at-least-45000-refugees-in-fy-2018/ to call your 2 Senators and 1 Representative from June 18th-June 22nd and urge them to do everything in their power to see the administration resettle at least 45,000 refugees in 2018 and commit to resettling at least 75,000 refugees next year. A sample call script is available here.
- Host Prophetic Witness or Refugees Welcome Event: Check out the map of 2018 Refugees Welcome & World Refugee Day events happening across the country and register your own! The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) has a tool for people sign up to host/attend local events in their area celebrating welcoming refugees. This tool is designed to help support planning an event, advertising, and encouraging local press turnout. Click here to learn more about how to use interfaith vigils, press conferences, actions, and foot washing ceremonies, and other events to escalate pressure on our national, state, and local leaders.
- Dedicate a Worship Service: We invite all congregations around the country to celebrate your community’s welcome for refugees around World Refugee Day. There are many ways to devote a worship service. For examples, please click here. You can find more planning resources for your celebration here. For more Welcome Sunday resources, please click here.
- Local or State Resolutions and/or Governor Proclamation: Urge your state and local leaders, including your Governor, state lawmakers, and local officials to adopt World Refugee Day resolutions or proclamations affirming refugee resettlement and calling on the administration to extend hospitality to refugees and all newcomers. Click here for or sample resolution language, sample letters, and other resources for your state and local advocacy. For more information on how to visit your state and local elected leaders, please click here.
- Amplify with Local and Social Media: Show your support for refugee resettlement by writing for a local or national publication. Writing an opinion editorial (op-ed) or letter to the editor (LTE) is the perfect way to share your perspective. Check out the RCUSA World Refugee Day Toolkit for a sample WRD op-ed. Click here for a sample WRD LTE. You can also share your message on social media! Sample tweets are available here and here. (PA Twitter handles below) Sample graphics are available here.
For more resources, check out our Interfaith Toolkit for World Refugee Day: bit.ly/FaithWRD2018. You can also check out the Welcoming Refugees Event Toolkit, here. Click here for how refugee communities can take action.
More information about how to celebrate World Refugee Day is available here: www.rcusa.org/world-refugee-day.
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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