The Trump administration has been engaging in systematic attacks against our immigrant neighbors whom we pledged to protect. President Trump terminated the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, turning our nation’s back on undocumented immigrant youth who are valued members of our communities. DACA has protected nearly 800,000 immigrant youth from deportation and allowed them to work, attend school, and raise a family. Yet more than 16,000 DACA recipients have seen their protections expire. And since September 2017, the administration has terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian, Sudanese, Nicaraguan, and Salvadoran TPS holders in the United States. TPS is a program designed to protect people from being returned to harm, like armed conflict, natural disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. The administration will decide by January 30th whether to extend TPS for Syria, a country decimated by one of the most destructive and fatal conflicts in recent history and producing over 5.4 million refugees since the conflict began. The administration has also threatened the sanctity of family unity by jeopardizing the family-based visa program. These actions are devastating to our families, our congregations, and our communities.
This is why we must urge Congress to pass the bipartisan Dream Act (S.1615/H.R.3440) legislation by January 19th, to do everything in their power to see TPS re-designated and extended for at least another 18 months for Syria by January 30th, and to support a permanent, legislative solution for all TPS holders. Currently, legislators are in negotiations to pass a spending bill that would keep the government open after January 19th, and it is crucial our Members of Congress hear from us immediately. Together, our collective advocacy places the faithful call to love our neighbors into action.
CLICK HERE TO URGE YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES TO PASS THE DREAM ACT, PROTECT ALL TPS HOLDERS, AND KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER!
You will receive a phone call and be patched through to your 2 Senators and 1 Representative
Here’s an example of what to say: “I am a constituent from [CITY/TOWN], and I oppose the administration’s decision to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian, Sudanese, Nicaraguan, and Salvadoran TPS holders. As negotiations for federal funding continues, I urge you to pass a clean Dream Act by January 19th. And as we approach the January 30th deadline to decide whether to extend TPS for Syria, I urge you to do everything in your power to see Syria’s TPS designation re-designated and extended for at least another 18 months, as well as to support a permanent, legislative solution for all TPS holders. I call on you to demonstrate bold leadership and ensure family unity is upheld throughout these discussions.”
You can also tweet @ your Senators/Representatives with the same message! Here are sample social media posts:
- [@legislator] There are 5800 Syrian TPS holders in the United States who cannot return to their war-torn homeland. Extend TPS for Syria. #SaveTPS
- [@legislator] I call on you to make the right decision and to extend TPS for Syria for at least 18 months. #SaveTPS
- @legislator] Pledge your support for Syrian TPS and urge the administration to extend it by 18 months! #ProtectTPS
- [@legislator] TPS recipients are childcare workers, small business owners, gardeners, cooks, builders, & janitors. #ProtectTPS
- [@legislator] Congress needs to pass a clean #DreamAct now! Immigrant youth are #HereToStay #GreaterAs1
- My community stands with our immigrant neighbors and calls on [@legislator] to pass a clean #DreamAct #GreaterAs1
- [@legislator] Do your part to pass a clean #DreamActNow and protect immigrant youth #HereToStay #GreaterAs1
- [@legislator] An attack on immigrants is an attack on families and American values. I urge you to pledge support for Dreamers and TPS holders. #SaveTPS #DreamActNow
Follow @CWS_global on Twitter and “like” CWS Immigration & Refugee Program on Facebook for up-to-date alerts. Join our global home base for refugee solidarity—because we are all#GreaterAs1. Please tell us if you take action (opens a new webpage)!