TAKE ACTION NOW!!!! Oppose Discrimination and Protect Refugees
on July 4, 2017
Article from the official webpage of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
President Trump has repeatedly denigrated our nation’s values by repeatedly attempting to grind refugee resettlement to a halt and discriminate against travelers because of their ethnicity or religion. After several lawsuits were filed to stop Trump’s refugee and Muslim ban executive orders, the Supreme Court decided to allow the administration to limit the entry of refugees, as well as travelers from Syria, Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan, to those who have a “bona fide relationship with a person or entity” in the United States.The definition of “bona fide relationship” is broad, and yet, the administration is interpreting this ruling to discount many family relationships and disregard the relationships refugees already have with U.S. resettlement agencies. Trump’s interpretation not only violates the Supreme Court’s order, but also flies in the face of our notions of fairness, justice, and hospitality. Your Senators and Representatives need to hear that you call on them to do everything in their power to hold the administration accountable and recognize the relationships that refugees clearly have with U.S.-based resettlement agencies. Only then can we keep our promises to refugees we have promised to resettle.
CALL YOUR SENATORS & REPRESENTATIVES TODAY: (202) 224-3121
Please call 3 times to connect with your 1 Representative and your 2 Senators
Sample Script: “I’m your constituent from [CITY/TOWN], and I support refugee resettlement. I strongly oppose President Trump’s refugee and Muslim ban executive order. I urge you to do everything in your power to ensure the administration complies with the Supreme Court decision and recognizes the relationships that refugees have with U.S.-based resettlement agencies. I ask that you urge the administration to change this interpretation, which clearly violates the court order.”
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.
Resettlement agencies have already provided assurances to the U.S. State Department to resettle, by name, an additional 26,000 people this year. Many have church co-sponsors who have already signed documents stating their commitment to help these refugees rebuild their lives. All of this clearly demonstrates a formal relationship with a U.S. entity.
Now is the time to call your Senators and Representatives at (202) 224-3121 and tell them you support refugee resettlement and oppose any attempt to implement Trump’s refugee and Muslim ban executive order.
Disastrous consequences of the first and second executive orders against refugees are still reverberating around the world. This is not who we are as a nation. We cannot turn our backs on the refugees we pledged to welcome. As Americans and as people of faith, we must stand together and urge Congress to do everything they can to ensure the executive order is rescinded.
We need all hands on deck – please spread the word and have everyone you know share this alert!
Thank you for all your work and support!
Jen SmyersDirector of Policy and AdvocacyImmigration and Refugee ProgramChurch World
