Call to Action: November 14, 2018

STAND WITH ASYLUM SEEKERS


The arrival of desperate asylum seekers at our southern borders is clearly a humanitarian, not a military crisis.

Nonetheless, Trump ordered thousands of U.S. soldiers to the border as window dressing for a political stunt, at an estimated cost of $200 million.

Just some of this administration’s anti-asylum edicts include:

  • A narrowed interpretation and a greater burden of proof of credible fear, including denying domestic violence as grounds for asylum.
  • Limiting asylum hearings to those arriving at ports of entry, declaring all others “illegal”.  The resulting bottlenecks keep people waiting at the border for weeks without humanitarian support.
  • Immediate deportation of anyone declared illegal without the chance of an asylum hearing.
  • Separate asylum hearings for parents and children.  Asylum for one family member may be granted and another declined, yet again using the threat of family separation as a deterrent.
  • Barring anyone covered by any of Trump’s Presidential proclamations.

Trump feeds xenophobic and racist fears for political gain.  He misuses our military and flouts U.S. and international law.  He ludicrously justifies stopping exhausted families seeking a safe haven in our country by calling them a threat to national security.

Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and have both made their views clear on these inhumane actions. Once again, Where’s Walden?

This must stop.  It will take our voices to stop it.


**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR SENATORS**

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS MERKLEY AND WYDEN:
(Leave a message if you can’t get through)

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code].  Asylum is a human right.  Donald Trump is changing the rules for asylum seekers unilaterally using false claims of national security as a justification. Our rules were already strong and followed both U.S. and international law.  We don’t need troops on the border, and we don’t want immigrants seeking asylum to be denied safe harbor and a fair hearing.  Please do all that you can to end this humanitarian crisis.  Thank you.”

SENATOR RON WYDEN 

Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/

SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY 
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/


**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN*

SAMPLE SCRIPT:
(Leave a message if you can’t get through)

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code].  Asylum is a human right.  Donald Trump is changing the rules for asylum seekers unilaterally using false claims of national security as a justification. Our rules were already strong and followed both U.S. and international law.  We don’t need troops on the border, and we don’t want immigrants seeking asylum to be denied safe harbor and a fair hearing.  We need Mr. Walden to put people before party, to show his humanity. We need him to show us that he will do all he can to end this humanitarian crisis.  Thank you.”

COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me


**ACTION THREE: LEAVE A COMMENT ON REGULATIONS.GOV**

 Comment on the “Bar on Entry” under Certain Presidential Proclamations; Procedures for Protection Claims here.


**ACTION FOUR: THE ACLU IS SUING. SUPPORT THEM**