August 28, 2019
Resources for Your August Recess 2019 Visits to Support Refugees!
As you know,  reports  surfaced in mid-July that some administration officials have proposed  resettling zero refugees in 2020  – all during the worst refugee crisis in world history. Zeroing out refugee resettlement would amount to a  full refugee ban , with grave long-term implications, devastating thousands of refugees who are in dangerous situations and who we have promised to protect. At the same time, the administration has proposed  barring refugees from seeking asylum  if they travel through another country to reach the U.S. southern border. As people who care about refugees and asylum-seekers, we must demand that Members of Congress publicly denounce these proposals and weigh in with the administration directly, urging them to commit to resettling 95,000 refugees (the historic average) next year and protect asylum-seekers.

Right now, Members of Congress are home and in-district for the annual August recess period. Take advantage of this time by setting up a meeting with them in person, dropping by their in-district offices, or showing up to a community event!  Establishing and strengthening relationships with your congressional offices are crucial to protecting access to asylum and refugee resettlement – and August Recess is the longest time of the year when your legislators are in your district and state!!

Here’s what is urgently needed from you and your congregation:
  1. CHECK HERE:  https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members to enter your address, and ensure you know who your US legislators (2 Senators, 1 Representative) are for your state/district.
  2. RESEARCH your legislators’ views on refugees, and check to see on what committees they serve. (Judiciary, Foreign Policy, and Appropriations are especially important for refugee concerns.) GA-1935-Concerning-Steep-Reductions – FINALALLEDITS
  3. READ THESE TOOLKITS to prepare: Rise for Refuge Toolkit: http://bit.ly/RiseforRefugeToolkit and the Interfaith Immigration Coalition’s August Recess Toolkit: http://bit.ly/InterfaithAugust2019.
  4. SCHEDULE YOUR MEETING, AND INVITE AND PREP WITH OTHER FAITH PARTNERS! Scheduling can require multiple contacts, and lots of  patience. Remember, you are building relationships–so use each contact to ensure they are understanding how much your faith values lead you to support refugees. You’ll find needed phone numbers and sometimes required online request forms on your leaders’ websites.
  5. TAKE “LEAVE BEHINDS” LIKE THESE: 
Follow Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries on Twitter @StanleyRea, and on FB at: http://bit.ly/RIMFacebook, and call Rev. Dr. Sharon Stanley-Rea, Director, Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries, with any questions: 202-957-7826.
See our website at: bit.ly/DisciplesRIM
If you haven't already done so, please sign up HERE to receive our important refugee & immigration "RIM WRAP" Alerts!

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