Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) Toolkit
The COVID-19 crisis affects everyone in our communities, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and their families. Very soon, the U.S. Supreme Court will issue a decision in the DACA case that could fundamentally alter their futures in the United States.
Just now, the Supreme Court agreed to accept a new brief from the lawyers for Batalla Vidal, et al., No. 18-589, one of the DACA cases. This brief outlines the impact that ending DACA would have during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At least 27,000 DACA beneficiaries work in health care, and many others work in other essential fields. Now is not the time for another major upheaval in so many people’s lives. In the name of public health and moral and faith-based values, as well as the law, the Interfaith Immigration Coalition urges the Supreme Court of the United States to rule against the Trump administration’s illegal cancellation of DACA.
This toolkit includes
Send a Letter to the Editor to Your Local Paper
Send a Letter to the Editor to Your Local Paper
Head to your computer to write a short letter to the editor. Below are the steps to follow. Contact media@interfaithimmigration.org for help!
- Look up your local newspaper online to find its submission guidelines for letters to the editor. Some will have you email them the letter, others will require you to submit it via an online form. [Google your newspaper name plus “LTE submission” if you can’t find it.]
- Draft the letter. Keep it short and simple, no more than 250 words. Use the messaging guidance below or the sample letter to the editor. Modify it to suit your voice and perspective.
- Submit your letter. Follow the guidelines for your specific paper. Include your full legal name, daytime phone number, and mailing address. They will use this for verification and to contact you if they decide to print your letter.
- Send us a copy. Email media@interfaithimmigration.org when you submit your letter, and also when it is published! We will post your letters on our social media accounts.
Sample Letter to the Editor (204 words)
If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is that we are stronger together and we need to look out for each other. The U.S. Supreme Court must uphold the law and rule against the Trump administration’s illegal cancellation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
DACA affects 700,000 young immigrants who grew up in the United States, but do not have legal immigration status here. They have lived in the U.S. their entire lives; this is their home. Many are now parents of American children. Twenty-seven thousand DACA recipients work in health care, and many more work in other occupations essential to COVID-19 response and recovery.
When President Trump announced he was ending this program, DACA recipients and U.S. businesses, schools, and communities challenged him in court. The Supreme Court is set to issue a decision in the coming weeks.
The way the Trump administration tried to end DACA was illegal. And, now is not the time to inject more stress and uncertainty into these young families’ lives. The Trump administration should extend DACA work permits for two years, and the U.S. Supreme Court should rule in favor of DACA recipients who are part of this nation.
Message Guidance
Background
The Home is Here campaign issued this update after the Supreme Court agreed to accept the supplemental brief on April 20, 2020.
Statements
The following statements issued by partner organizations contain useful messaging ideas:
- Home Is Here Campaign
- Interfaith Immigration Coalition
- FWD. US (focused on health care workers)
Below are some additional talking points:
- Our vision for the United States is as a beacon of hope and a place where communities and families can stay together and thrive regardless of where they were born. The current administration does not share this vision, and is putting policies in place that threaten valued members of our communities.
- We are in the midst of an unprecedented public health crisis and grave economic collapse. Throwing 700,000 people, many of whom are doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, child care providers, cleaners, business owners, restaurant workers and other first responders, out of work, jeopardizing their health care and putting them into the pipeline for deportation is the last thing we need right now.
- What’s more, there are over 250,000 American children whose parents are DACA recipients. Upheaving their parents’ lives also upends these childrens’ lives, at a time when kids are already’ worried and scared.
- Given this, we have two recommendations:
- The Trump administration should automatically extend DACA work permits for two years.
- The U.S. Supreme Court should rule against the Trump administration’s illegal cancellation of DACA. 27,000 DACA recipients themselves are health care and support workers. 250,000 American chidlren have parents with DACA. Now is not the time to inject more stress and uncertainty into these young families’ lives.
Promotional Materials
Spread the word about this Letter to the Editor action and the #Faith4DACA Campaign!
- Post these graphics on your social media accounts asking others in your network to send their own letters in.
- Find more graphics, videos, and content to share in this toolkit from the #HomeIsHere campaign and United We Dream.