SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS
How You Can Help During April 2021
Witnessing God’s love for all people, we stand with and advocate for immigrants through partnership, direct action, education, and support for local immigrants, as well as related organizations.
As part of our advocacy program, the Immigrant Welcoming Work Group compiles actions and local events held in support of immigrants and immigration issues. We urge you to perform some of these actions and/or attend some of the events! Content is updated monthly.
If you take any action listed in this summary, please notify Tom Haigh, jthaigh45 (at) gmail.com, for tracking purposes. If you have content for future updates, please submit to Janine Sieja, janinesieja (at) gmail.com.
I Have Ten Minutes
- NEW – Ask your state representative to support the Sanctuary State Bill (H.F. 1919). This bill would require that state law enforcement resources not be used to enforce civil immigration law, thus making our communities safe and more welcoming. Find your legislator’s contact information. SPONSOR: Interfaith Coalition on Immigration (ICOM).
- NEW – Tell the Biden administration to stop deportations. The petition requests stays of removal for individuals facing deportation, the closure of detention facilities, separating policing from mass deportation, and the decriminalization of immigration. SPONSOR: We Are Home, a coalition of immigrant rights organizations.
- Tell your state legislator to supportrelief for immigrants and refugees with old convictions. The Post-Conviction Relief Bill (H.F. 833) creates a pathway for people whose records would have triggered immediate consequences such as deportation to be reviewed by a judge. SPONSOR: Coalition of Asian American Leaders.
- Demand that the Biden administrationreunite families in the United States who have been forcibly separated and provide relief—find the missing parents, provide immediate protections, establish resources, make systemic changes and hold those responsible accountable. Families deserve citizenship, care and a commitment that it will never happen again. SPONSOR:
- Tell President Biden toaddress root causes and respect the rights of immigrants and asylum seekers. U.S. policies have contributed to the conditions that force thousands of people in northern Central America and Mexico to migrate. The Biden administration can reverse those polices and help transform conditions so people can live with dignity in the community they freely choose. SPONSOR: American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).
- Ask Congress to support citizenship for undocumented immigrant people. The U.S. Citizenship Act creates a pathway to citizenship for undocumented and under-documented people. The bill also prioritizes keeping families together and reuniting family members who were separated. Ask your senators and representatives to vote for this important and long-overdue bill. SPONSOR:
I Have One Day
- Review your investments to ensure they align with your values. Are you supporting corporations that profit from private prisons and detention centers, or violate worker rights in other countries? Learn to discern. SPONSOR: American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).
I Can Contribute Financially
- Donate to a spring food drive for immigrants sponsored by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC). Donations will be used to purchase grocery store gift cards to feed immigrant families impacted by COVID.
- Help the Green Valley – Sahuarita Samaritans put water in the desert, among other kind services for migrants. They are a worthy organization doing valuable work.
- Buy a handmade bordado from an Etsy shop and support women refugees.
- Support the Casa Alitas program, which serves migrant families who have left their home countries to escape violence and poverty by providing short-term shelter and help to reunite with family members in the United States.
- Support the Kino Border Initiative, a multi-faith center for immigrants in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. The center offers 380 beds for immigrant women and children. The estimated immigrant population on the streets in Nogales is 3,500.
