Today was Valentine’s Day as well as Ash Wednesday, and supporters across the country took time to send messages #toImmigrantsWithLove.
A project of Fwd.us, United Farm Workers, UFW Foundation, and others, immigrants and non-immigrants alike took the time to thank parents, friends, neighbors, and strangers for the sacrifices they’ve made in coming to the U.S. and contributing to our culture and economy. A pop-up table was even set up in Times Square where passers-by could write messages of well-wishing and support.
Meanwhile, Dreamers and advocates with Church World Service, United We Dream, and others were back on Capitol Hill demanding legislative action on the Dream Act. The Senate is considering a number of immigration amendments this week, but it’s not clear whether they’ll take on the urgently-needed task of protecting Dreamers before DACA status begins expiring for thousands. To remind them of what their priorities should be, Dreamers delivered valentines to Republican members of Congress while faith leaders performed Ash Wednesday services in front of Senate leaders’ offices.
As Patrick Carolan of the Franciscan Action Network said:
We are here to remind Senator McConnell and all the members of Congress, the vast majority who claim to be Christian, that we are all considered strangers somewhere. That we should treat the strangers who come to our community the way we would like to be treated. And that we can never ever accept intolerance or injustice while claiming to be part of people of faith and part of the body of Christ.
Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) also took to the Senate floor today to deliver a rousing speech demanding action for Dreamers as well as calling on Republicans to honor the family values they claim to espouse. As Sen. Menendez said today:
If my colleagues want to have a debate about comprehensive immigration reform, we can have that debate another time, but not today, not this week. Not until we protect Dreamers living in fear of deportation, due to a President who once said about Dreamers “we’re going to work something out that’s going to make people happy and proud.” The polls show that deporting Dreamers will not make Americans happy and proud. The time for talk is over, the time for kind words is over, the time for excuses is over. This week Congress needs to take action. It’s time to see who stands with Dreamers and who is complicit in their potential deportation.
View just some of the photos and tweets from Capitol Hill and across the country today:
