Monday, January 30, 2017

URGENT: Take Action for Refugees Now!


Tell the White House & Congress that you OPPOSE Trump’s Announcement to

Grind Refugee Resettlement To a Halt & Bar Refugees from Certain Countries


President Donald Trump has announced that the U.S. government will stop resettling refugees from certain countries; pause the entire refugee resettlement program for 120 days; preference religious minorities; and reduce the number of refugees we welcome at the very time when they are most in need of safety. These announcements fly in the face of our best values of compassion, hospitality, and welcome. With more than 65 million forcibly displaced in the world–the worst in our global history–it is more important than ever to take action by condemning this new policy.

Barring refugees from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen from resettlement and narrowly preferencing religious minorities is tantamount to a Muslim ban. And by reducing refugee admissions from 110,000 to 50,000, Trump is going back on America’s promise to refugees and abdicating America’s leadership role on human rights. Halting resettlement for 120 days will grind refugee processing to a halt. Each step of the security check process is time sensitive, so a pause will force refugees who were set to arrive in the United States soon to instead wait months and even years to go through fingerprinting, interviews, health screenings, and multiple security checks all over again, all while their lives are in danger.

These announcements are gut-wrenching for our community members who are waiting to be reunited with a sister, brother, parent or child, and for refugees overseas with no other options for safety than to be resettled in the U.S. We cannot discriminate against refugees for how they pray or where they are from. Refugees are the most thoroughly vetted immigrants in the United States, undergoing biographic and biometric checks, medical screenings, forensic document testing, and in-person interviews. It is critical that President Trump and all Members of Congress hear their constituents decry these announcements and declare their support for refugees from all over the world.

CALL THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS TODAY!
President Trump: (866) 961-4293
Your Senators and Representatives: (202) 224-3121*

*Please call this line 3 times to be connected with your 1 Representative and 2 Senators
Sample Script: “I’m your constituent from [City, State], and I support refugee resettlement in the U.S. I am strongly opposed to President Trump’s announcements to stop the resettlement of refugees from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen; pause the refugee resettlement program entirely; preference religious minorities; and reduce the number of refugees we welcome. This discriminatory announcement is morally reprehensible, runs counter to who we are as a nation, and does not reflect the welcome for refugees I see in my community every day. I urge you to do everything in your power to see this announcement reversed.”

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.

One of the best ways to make your voice heard is by tweeting @realDonaldTrump, @WhiteHouse, and @ your Senators/Representatives; posting a comment on Facebook.com/WhiteHouse; and submitting an electronic message at whitehouse.gov/contact.

Please also join us in tweeting photos at @WhiteHouse using the hashtag #SolidaritySelfie: 1) Write a short note on a piece of paper – something like “Refugees Welcome,” “Here to Stay” or “I stand with immigrants.” 2) Take a picture of yourself with the paper. 3) Tweet the photo of yourself, along with a note, at @WhiteHouse. Make sure to include the hashtag #SolidaritySelfie!
Suggested Tweets:
  • .@realDonaldTrump & @WhiteHouse Don’t stop welcoming refugees. Resettlement demonstrates the best of our values #SolidaritySelfie
  • .@realDonaldTrump & @WhiteHouse Keep America welcoming. Refugee resettlement is a proud American legacy with bipartisan support #SolidaritySelfie

You can also take action by organizing or joining Rapid Response Prayer Vigils in your area! Click HERE to learn more!

More than 2,000 faith leaders have signed a letter opposing policies to bar refugees based on their religion or nationality, available at bit.ly/2000FaithLeaders4ALLRefugees. And statements from faith leaders opposing this announcement can be found HERE. Responses to the announcement from Syrian, Iraqi, Cambodian, and Bhutanese refugees can be found HERE.
Follow @CWS_global on Twitter and “like” CWS Immigration & Refugee Program on Facebook for up-to-date alerts.

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