FIGHT TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION POLICY AND PROTECT OUR COURTS
Trump’s manufactured immigration crisis, caused by the adoption of an inhumane and cruel zero tolerance policy—which enabled ICE storm troopers to wrench families apart at the border—backfired, forcing him to backtrack somewhat.
His Executive Order allegedly ending family separation fails to address how the thousands of already separated families will be reunified. Nor does it scrap zero tolerance for asylum seekers (including domestic violence survivors), creating, instead, a system of indefinite family detention in prison-like conditions, which runs afoul of a Ninth Circuit decision that the government cannot hold any minor in custody for more than 20 days.
As Senator Merkley tweeted, Trump merely “replace[d] his inhumane child-snatching policy with another damaging strategy of handcuffs for all.”
Public outrage must continue—both to expose Trump’s inhumanity and to force Congress to pass legislation stopping the zero-tolerance policy and addressing Trump’s other disastrous immigration policies, without compromising due process.
To date, the only victories have come in federal courts. But, once Trump reshapes them in his image, they’ll no longer safeguard our rights or promote justice.
We cannot allow either to happen. Our MoCs must continue to fight for a humane immigration policy and a federal judiciary that serves all Americans.
**ACTION ONE: CALL YOUR SENATORS**
(Leave a message if you can’t get through)
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling to express my dismay at Trump’s zero-tolerance policy and indefinite family detention in prison-like conditions. Please thank the Senator for exposing the plight of asylum seekers being held in federal prisons without access to attorneys. I am asking the Senator to keep speaking out by (1) supporting legislation that keeps families of asylum seekers together and in the community while they await asylum hearings, (2) opposing legislation that would keep families detained indefinitely, limiting their ability to retain attorneys and prepare their asylum claims and (3) withholding votes on any judicial nominations until the Trump administration reverses the zero-tolerance policy that precipitated these crimes against humanity. Thank you.”
**ACTION TWO: CALL TRUMP ENABLER GREG WALDEN**
(Leave a message if you can’t get through)
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling to express my dismay at Trump’s zero-tolerance policy, and indefinite family detention in prison-like conditions. I am asking the Greg Walden to speak out by (1) voting NO on both immigration bills in the House, (2) supporting legislation that keeps families of asylum seekers together and in the community while they await asylum hearings, and (3) opposing legislation that would keep families detained indefinitely, limiting their ability to retain attorneys and prepare their asylum claims. I will remember Greg’s statements and actions this November. 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: JOIN A SIT-IN AT WALDEN’S MEDFORD OFFICE TOMORROW, JUNE 22 AT 2:30 P.M. 14 North Central Avenue**
- Raise your concerns about the immigration policies.
- Some 2,300 children remain separated from their parents!
- “Tender age” shelters?
- Demand transparency!
- Stop dehumanizing immigrants!
- Stop violating human rights!
HOLD WALDEN ACCOUNTABLE!
**ACTION FOUR: WRITE A LETTER OPPOSING TRUMP’S RIGHT-WING JUDICIAL NOMINEES**
Forty federal district court nominees, two federal Claims Court nominees, and 3 federal circuit court nominees await Senate confirmation. The vast majority are right-wing, anti-choice, anti-worker, anti GLBTQ, anti-environment, anti-minority, pro-gun who put the interests of corporations over those of ordinary citizens—many are opposed by their home-state senators and approved by the Judiciary Committee on party-line votes. Thomas Farr (District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina), Ryan Bounds (9th Cir.) and Andrew Oldham (5th Cir.) are likely to come up for a vote this week. You can write to your senators about each of these nominees by using www.herdonthehill.org.
**ACTION FIVE: REMEMBER FOR THE MIDTERMS**
It has become clear that we need a different Congress to protect our democratic values, our families, and our independent judiciary.
- Please make sure you and everyone you know is registered to vote.
- Ask every candidate for Congress where they stand on this administration’s cruel immigration policies that imprison asylum seekers and their children and preclude many from even making their claims in court.
- Ask where they stand on how our federal judiciary is chosen and whether they believe that home-state senators should have some say in the makeup of the courts that will rule on their citizens’ claims.
Remember the 2018 elections will be the most important of our lives.
**ACTION SIX: PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT**
If you are able to help financially….
- Read this USA Today article on helping families separated at the border
- Donate directly to National Immigrant Justice Center
- Donate directly to Kids In Need of Defense (KIND)
SOURCES:
- https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/us/politics/trump-immigration-children-executive-order.html
- https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/06/20/business/economy/immigration-economic-impact.html?action=click&module=Ribbon&pgtype=Article
- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2018/jun/20/tender-age-trump-children-separations-detention-shelters-latest-news-updates-live
- https://www.vox.com/2018/6/20/17484546/executive-order-family-separation-flores-settlement-agreement-immigration
- https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/06/ted-cruzs-protect-kids-and-parents-act-is-a-cynical-ploy.html