Congress Must Stop the Administration from Implementing Refugee and Muslim Ban Background: Repeatedly, President Trump has tried to grind refugee resettlement to a halt, ban individuals from six Muslim-majority countries, and reduce the number of refugees we welcome in the United States. After several lawsuits were filed against his executive orders, the Supreme Court issued a decision that partially allows the administration to limit the entry of refugees – as well as travelers from Syria, Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan – to those who have a “bona fide relationship with a person or entity” in the United States. The Trump administration is narrowly interpreting this ruling to discount many family relationships, as well as the relationships that refugees have with U.S.-based resettlement agencies. This interpretation is clearly not in keeping with the Supreme Court’s decision. Resettlement agencies have already provided assurances to the U.S. State Department to resettle, by name, an additional 26,000 people this year, church co-sponsors have signed documents stating their commitment to help many of these refugees, and community-based organizations have started preparing for their arrival. All of this clearly demonstrates a formal relationship with a U.S. entity. Trump’s executive orders are discriminatory and morally reprehensible, and with these latest actions they could successfully ban thousands of refugees and dismantle the U.S. refugee resettlement program. Right now is a critical time to call on our Senators and Representatives to hold the administration accountable and stop the refugee and Muslim ban. We need Congress to urge the administration to recognize the relationships refugees have with family members and U.S.-based resettlement agencies so that we can keep our promises to refugees we have promised to resettle.
CALL YOUR SENATORS & REPRESENTATIVES TODAY: (202) 224-3121 Please call 3 times to connect with your 1 Representative and your 2 Senators
Sample Script: “I’m your constituent from [CITY/TOWN], and I support refugee resettlement. I strongly oppose President Trump’s refugee and Muslim ban executive order. I urge you to do everything in your power to ensure the administration does NOT implement the refugee and Muslim ban and recognizes the relationships that refugees have with family members and U.S.-based resettlement agencies. I ask that you do everything in your power to urge the administration to stop the refugee and Muslim ban.”
Please also share a personal story about why refugee resettlement is important to you, your community, etc. Let them know the specific ways that refugees contribute and are welcomed into your community. You can also tweet at your Senators & Representatives: “.@[SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE] Tell the White House to welcome more #refugees in the US & stand against refugee/Muslim ban EO. #RefugeesWelcome #GreaterAs1”Please spread the word and send this alert to your networks! Please tell us if you take action (opens a new webpage)! Follow @CWS_global on Twitter and “like” CWS Immigration and Refugee Program on Facebook for up-to-date alerts. Join our global home base for refugee solidarity—because we are all #GreaterAs1.
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