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