(Above: Photo of Signs at Prayer Vigil for Families in Detention, held at Berks County Detention Center, 12/6/20.)
Protect 28 Kids & Their Parents from Deportation Over the Holidays
For years, Disciples have partnered around the country to protect children and parents from detention, and to urge family detention (currently happening in Dilley and Karnes, Texas and in Berks, Pennsylvania) be ended, in lieu of more humane care for families as they await consideration of their legal asylum cases.
"May God touch your hearts to help us get out of here
together as one whole family." Ashlee, 13 years old
Yesterday, a US Federal Court judge in D.C. lifted a stay of deportation protecting the 28 black and brown children from 20 families who are currently detained from deportation. This means they are now at risk of imminent deportation, even during the holidays!
This Christmas, will you hear and respond to Ashlee's prayer above, as she remains detained and waiting at Berks?
To Answer Ashlee's Prayer TODAY:
1) CALL USCIS Director Jennifer Higgins at (202) 272-0979, using the sample script in the image above to ask she grant reconsideration of asylum for these families.
2) CALL These Leaders to Stop ICE from Deporting Detained Children
These Chairs of House Committees with oversight responsibilities for immigration agencies are needed to urge the federal government grant these families a fair review of their asylum claims. Call:
Representative Nadler - (202) 225-5635
Representative Lofgren - (202) 225-3072
Representative Thompson - (202) 225-5876
Suggested Script: “I am calling the Representative to ask that they urgently intervene on behalf of immigrant children and their parents who ICE is planning to deport to their deaths as early as today. A group of over 20 children, including toddlers and teenagers, have been detained by ICE in family prisons in Texas and Pennsylvania for as long as a year and a half.
These children may be deported as early as TODAY, and their lives are in danger. We are asking that the Representative contact Jennifer Higgins, Associate Director for the Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate, to demand that the families’ asylum applications be fairly adjudicated under the law. Please, will the Representative help stop the atrocity of children and parents being deported back to danger? Please help us answer Ashlee's prayer for release together with her family!
REMINDERS:
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Don't miss this exciting opportunity, Dec. 18, 5 p.m. Eastern. Register & Join "Love to Black Immigrants Card Writing Campaign": www.bit.ly/LoveToBlackImmigrants
Questions or Comments?
Contact: sstanley@dhm.disciples.org, Rev. Dr. Sharon Stanley-Rea,
Director, Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries
