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Call to Action: July 17, 2018

RE-UNITE THE FAMILIES

STOP INDEFINITE DETENTION

More than 2800 children are still locked up, away from their parents.

HHS’s Azar told Congress: “…within seconds, [I] could find any child within our care for any parent.” But last week, he had only re-united 57 of 103 children under age 5, violating the court-imposed deadline. The other 46 were “ineligible” because their parents had been deported, had been accused of crimes (one was a DUI), or were sick. The next deadline, to re-unify parents and older children, is July 26.

Meanwhile, children and their parents are abused:

  • Parents have to undergo (and pay for) DNA tests, needlessly delaying reunification.
  • Children are subject to draconian rules: No writing in your room. No mail. No touching (not even your sibling!). No running. Must clean toilets.
  • Deported parents can’t have “humanitarian parole,” allowing them to re-enter the US to pick up their children!

Trump attempted to re-write the Flores Agreement (which forbids detaining the children more than 20 days) to permit them to be held indefinitely. The court rebuffed Trump. Recently, a House committee, supported by Senator Grassley, voted to repeal Flores, and Republicans have spurned requests for hearings.

Stop These Inhumane Acts!

Where’s Walden!?!

**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR SENATORS**

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR MERKLEY AND WYDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent and voter from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because I am appalled by the inhumane and illegal treatment of children separated from their parents at our borders. The administration’s cruel acts shame us all, and we must oppose and denounce them. Please tell the Senator to: i) vote against any Appropriations Amendment that would overturn the Flores Settlement or legalize Trump’s other heartless immigration policies, including indefinite detention; ii) call for hearings into how these abuses have occurred; and iii) advocate for a reunification czar and central clearinghouse to reunite families and children. Thank you.”

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/

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/

**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**

SAMPLE SCRIPT:

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent and voter from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because I am appalled by the inhumane and illegal treatment of children separated from their parents at our borders. The administration’s cruel acts—fully supported by Greg Walden—shame us all, and we must oppose and denounce them. Please tell the Mr. Walden to: i) vote against any Appropriations Amendment that would overturn the Flores Settlement or legalize Trump’s other heartless immigration policies, including indefinite detention; ii) call for hearings into how these abuses have occurred; and iii) advocate for a reunification czar and central clearinghouse to reunite families and children. 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: REMEMBER FOR THE MIDTERMS**

Learn how to defend vulnerable Democratic Senators and which red seats could be flipped. And check out Indivisible Oregon’s website for our plans to flip the House in the midterms. We must reclaim Congress! The 2018 elections will be the most important of our lives.

2018 is the most important election in our lifetimes. 

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