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As Speaker Ryan Visits the US/Mexico Border, Over 50 Organizations Urge Him to Stand with America Against Trump’s Immigration Policies

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Washington, DC – Just one day after the Department of Homeland Security released extensive, Draconian memos on how to implement Trump’s Executive Orders on immigration, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan traveled to the US/Mexico border.  In response, over fifty immigration, refugee, faith, labor, and legal service organizations sent the House Speaker a public letter, urging him to stand up to Trump and refuse to appropriate the extensive amount of resources needed to carry out the President’s deportation agenda.

The signatories note: “Banning people based on their religion; halting the admission of refugees who have fled violence and persecution; conducting deportation raids that terrorize immigrant communities; making every unauthorized immigrant a priority for enforcement; and gutting protections for those fleeing persecution who arrive at our southern border, are all part of the same strategy to severely limit legal immigration and create an unbearable environment for immigrant families in the United States. While you said that Dreamers do not have to worry about the Trump deportation force, this Administration has not even committed to protecting these young aspiring Americans who are contributing to our communities, our economy and their families under DACA….  Speaker Ryan, we ask that you make clear your commitment to working with immigrant communities rather than against them by refusing to fund the Trump Administration Executive Orders on immigration.”

The letter is available in it’s entirety below or online here.

“Dear Speaker Ryan,

As you travel to our southern border, we, the undersigned immigration, refugee, faith, labor, and legal services organizations, write to urge you to promote a fair and balanced immigration

policy. We call on you to respond to your constituents and tell President Trump that a deportation force that targets 11 million people, including families with U.S. citizens, is not welcome in Wisconsin nor is it welcome in the rest of the United States of America.

Banning people based on their religion; halting the admission of refugees who have fled violence and persecution; conducting deportation raids that terrorize immigrant communities; making every unauthorized immigrant a priority for enforcement; and gutting protections for those fleeing persecution who arrive at our southern border, are all part of the same strategy to severely limit legal immigration and create an unbearable environment for immigrant families in the United States. While you said that Dreamers do not have to worry about the Trump deportation force, this Administration has not even committed to protecting these young aspiring Americans who are contributing to our communities, our economy and their families under DACA.

As you visit the border region, we ask that you reflect on this Administration’s policies toward Dreamers, asylum seekers, businesses and workers, and the immigrant community as a whole. We ask that you speak with border communities about the already-constant presence of border and immigration agents in their daily lives, the record levels of militarization of the border that already exist, and the ways in which an incredibly expensive border wall will only harm these communities. Border communities thrive on open commerce, smart security and cross-cultural engagement

Most Americans reject the fear-mongering and anti-immigrant attitude reflected in the recent actions of the Trump Administration. These actions strike at the heart of millions of American families who live in fear of losing a loved one as a result of these draconian policies. We will continue to work together to achieve the promise of our country’s motto E Pluribus Unum – out of many, one – where our different backgrounds make us a stronger country, instead of the Us vs. Them mentality of the Trump Presidency. The Administration and certain members of Congress are trying to turn immigrants into the enemy. But Americans know that immigrants are part of their communities and their families and that this is their home.

Speaker Ryan, we ask that you make clear your commitment to working with immigrant

communities rather than against them by refusing to fund the Trump Administration Executive Orders on immigration.

 

Signed:

African American Ministers Leadership Council

Alliance for Citizenship

America’s Voice

American Civil Liberties Union

American Immigration Lawyers Association

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC

Center for Community Change

Church World Service

Disciples Refugee and Immigration Ministries

End Domestic Abuse, Wisconsin

Ethiopian Community Development Council, Inc.

Fair Immigration Reform Movement

Farmworker Justice

Franciscan Action Network

Friends Committee on National Legislation

Latin American Working Group

Leadership Conference of Women Religious

League of United Latin American Citizens

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

Hana Center, Chicago, Illinois

HIAS

Human Rights First

Immigrant Defense Project

International Rescue Committee

Korean Resource Center, Los Angeles, CA

Make the Road New York

Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition

Mi Familia Vota

National Council of La Raza

National Domestic Workers Alliance

National Employment Law Project

National Immigrant Justice Center

National Immigration Law Center

National Korean American Service & Education Consortium

National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund

Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice

Promise Arizona

Rio Grande Valley Equal Voice Network

Service Employees International Union

Services, Immigrant Rights & Education Network

Southeast Asian Resource Action Center

Southern Border Communities Coalition

Texas Organizing Project

The Advocates for Human Rights

T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

United Farmworkers

United Farmworkers Foundation

United We Dream

Voto Latino

Women’s Refugee Commission

We Belong Together”

 

Follow Frank Sharry and America’s Voice on Twitter: @FrankSharry and @AmericasVoice

America’s Voice – Harnessing the power of American voices and American values to win common sense immigration reform

www.americasvoice.org

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