Why This Change is Important   Family unity is a core value of the United States, and the current waiting times for sibling immigration visas undermine this principle. Currently, U.S. citizens may wait 15 to 20 years or more to bring their siblings to the U.S., an unreasonable delay that creates long-term separation and hardship. This delay is not just an inconvenience; it is an emotional and financial burden for families.   Facts: Emotional Impact: Families are forced to live with the distress of separation for decades, often missing out on critical life moments. Important family events—weddings, births, illnesses, and even funerals—occur without the support of siblings who are still waiting for immigration approval. Economic Impact: Families are often separated across borders, which creates financial burdens as relatives who might have supported each other are unable to reunite and share resources. When families are finally reunited, they often face economic challenges, which could be alleviated by reducing the wait times.   Family Support Systems: A reduction in the wait time would allow families to reunite sooner, making it easier for siblings to share responsibilities for caring for aging parents or helping each other with childcare.   The Human Side:   Take, for example, the case of Mohamed, a U.S. citizen living in Michigan. He has been waiting for nearly 18 years to reunite with his sister in Egypt. During this time, his sister has missed the births of his children, their graduations, and even important family events like weddings. The emotional toll on Mohamed and his family is immense, but they are powerless to change the system. Like Mohamed, millions of other U.S. citizens are facing the same heart-wrenching wait.   Why Should Others Join in the Campaign?   1. Support for Family Unity:   Many Americans understand the value of being with family in times of need. By reducing wait times, we ensure that families can come together sooner, providing mutual support in difficult times. Family reunification benefits everyone—not just the immigrants but also U.S. citizens who want to build their lives with the support of their loved ones. 2. Humanitarian Reasoning:   The U.S. prides itself on being a nation of immigrants. By advocating for change, we align with the values that make America a beacon of hope for families around the world. Speeding up the immigration process for siblings ensures that the U.S. remains a compassionate and welcoming nation that values families. 3. Economic Benefits for the Country:   When families are united, they can more easily contribute to the U.S. economy. Whether it’s through work, investing in local communities, or contributing to the country’s cultural diversity, family reunification strengthens our nation as a whole.   A Call for Action:   This is not just about policy—it's about families. People all across the U.S. are living with the pain of long separations. With your support, we can change the law to ensure that the immigration process for siblings is fair, timely, and humane. Together, we can advocate for a change that unites families sooner, strengthens our communities, and ensures a more just immigration system for all. Join this campaign because family should not have to wait 20 years to be together. Let’s work together to make the U.S. immigration system fairer and more compassionate for everyone.

The family has waited long enough.

As of December 19th, my children will have spent six years in foster care, completely cut off from family connections, parental visits, and phone calls. This has resulted in a profound sense of abandonment and alienation, largely due to the actions of the department. The intention behind this approach seems to be to make them more adoptable, but it only reinforces the feeling that they are unloved and unwanted. This is why I believe Title IV-E federal funding should be repealed; it no longer fulfills its original purpose. Below are the negative failures of title 4E federal funding. I had a generated by AI... I didn't want people to second-guess me or think I didn't have my facts straight.  Title IV-E of the Social Security Act provides federal funding for foster care and adoption assistance programs. While the intent of this funding is to support children in the welfare system and promote family stability, there can be negative results and impacts on families. Here are some potential negative outcomes associated with Title IV-E funding: 1. **Incentivization of Foster Care Placement**: The funding structure may inadvertently incentivize the placement of children into foster care rather than supporting families to stay together. This can lead to unnecessary separations and trauma for children and parents. 2. **Limited Support for Preventive Services**: Title IV-E funding primarily focuses on foster care and adoption assistance, which may result in insufficient resources allocated for preventive services that could help families avoid entering the child welfare system in the first place. 3. **Overburdened Child Welfare System**: Increased funding for foster care can lead to an influx of cases, overwhelming the child welfare system. This can result in inadequate attention and resources for families in crisis, leading to poorer outcomes for children and families. 4. **Disparities in Access to Services**: Families from marginalized communities may face barriers in accessing the benefits of Title IV-E funding. This can exacerbate existing inequalities and lead to disproportionate rates of foster care placements among certain populations. 5. **Stigmatization of Families**: The involvement of child welfare services can carry a stigma, which may discourage families from seeking help. This stigma can lead to isolation and further challenges for families struggling with issues that could be addressed with appropriate support. 6. **Short-Term Focus**: The funding may prioritize immediate placements and financial assistance over long-term solutions that address the root causes of family instability, such as poverty, mental health issues, and substance abuse. 7. **Potential for Mismanagement**: With increased funding, there is a risk of mismanagement or misuse of resources, which can detract from the intended support for families and children. This can lead to a lack of accountability and transparency in how funds are utilized. 8. **Impact on Family Reunification**: The focus on foster care placements may delay or complicate the process of family reunification, as resources may be more readily available for foster care than for services that support reunification efforts. 9. **Emotional and Psychological Effects**: The trauma of entering the foster care system can have lasting emotional and psychological effects on children and their families, which may not be adequately addressed by the services funded under Title

Signing this petition is vital to show Oregon’s leaders that we, as residents, demand bold action to protect our shared values and fundamental rights. As California and Washington take decisive steps to safeguard democracy, reproductive rights, environmental protections, and civil liberties, Oregon must join in solidarity to ensure our state remains a leader in progress, equity, and justice. Your signature amplifies the call for meaningful policies and partnerships that counter federal overreach and defend the rights, safety, and dignity of all Oregonians. Together, we can send a powerful message: Oregon will not stand idly by in the face of threats to our core principles. Make your voice heard—sign today!

The House of Representatives just passed a dangerous bill that would give President-elect Trump – and any future president – a blank check to take revenge on political enemies.  That’s right, H.R. 9495 would allow the president to SHUT DOWN any nonprofit organization whose First Amendment-protected speech he deems a threat to the country.   And you know as well as I do how that power would be abused – painting a target on organizations that are peacefully resisting or dissenting from the White House’s policies.   But here’s the good news: thanks to over 7,000 letters and calls from Common Cause members like you, we helped build unprecedented opposition to this legislation – convincing 39 representatives to flip their vote and oppose this bill.  With your action, I’m confident that we can convince enough Senators to BLOCK this legislation and stop it from becoming law. Add your name to tell the Senate to REJECT this dystopian attack on our right to dissent.

Trump's Cabinet appointees have no real interest in serving the American people. Working Americans will pay the price for this dysfunctional leadership, through the repealing of the Affordable Care Act and cutting Medicaid under RFK Jr. and having a white Christian nationalist commanding our nation's military.  As we face a second Trump term, Senate Democrats must do everything in their power to protect our essential government programs and services by rejecting Trump's Cabinet nominees. The consequences of these nominations will affect every person in America. With RFK Jr. leading the Department of Health and Human Services, Big Pharma and other predatory corporations will see record profits while seniors face skyrocketing prescription drug prices and working families have their health care cut through the Affordable Care Act being repealed. Trump is handpicking MAGA loyalists who will protect him at all costs and do anything to enact Project 2025. Trump should not be allowed to circumvent the Senate's process to squeeze in his Cabinet picks while the Senate is in recess.  It's up to us to stop him when we can and slow down any impact he could have on the American people. Trump is trying to create a society where the rich get richer and the working class have to pay even more out of their pockets. Image Credit: CTV

By signing this petition, you are showing the CCBC administration that you want a strong and fair working relationship in our negotiations to make the college an even better place for our students and faculty to learn and grow.  

There is so much uncertainty ahead, but we know that getting through the next four years will rely on us coming together to support one another and doing everything we can to slow down Trump and his MAGA agenda in Congress and in our communities.  We will not stop fighting for our rights, and we will resist Trump's dangerous and regressive agenda at every turn. If the Senate reconfirms Lauren McFerran, Democrats can maintain a majority on the National Labor Relations Board and ensure labor and worker safety at a federal level at least until 2026. There should be no more delays: Confirm Lauren McFerran, the Democratic chair of the National Labor Relations Board NOW! 

• Camp displacements can cause unhoused neighbors to lose vital survival items. If replacing these items is even possible, it takes resources away from more sustainable homeless response solutions. Neighbors can also lose vital records such as photo IDs and Social Security cards, which are required for employment and housing and take heavy time and monetary resources to replace.  • Camp displacement – and the fear of displacement – can cause and worsen mental health conditions. In addition to creating feelings of dehumanization and traumatization, sweeps disrupt routine and can cause neighbors to be removed from existing social connections, which can worsen mental health stability.  • Camp displacements can cut neighbors off from life-saving medicine and care. While being displaced, neighbors can lose vital and hard-to-replace medical care for HIV, diabetes, hypertension, substance use and mental health conditions, and other conditions, harm reduction supplies, as well as equipment such as wheelchairs. If outreach staff cannot find neighbors after a camp displacement, these neighbors may also lose their only existing connection to services.  • Camp displacement can put residents into more dangerous and isolated environments. Following displacements, residents may seek safety in more isolated locations. In addition to being more difficult for service providers to access, these locations may lack safe water, bathroom facilities, and escape from the elements. This is especially dangerous if a camp displacement causes a loss of survival equipment that allows them to be protected while living outside in extreme weather.  • Camp displacements cost communities thousands of dollars. This includes personnel costs, medication and medical equipment replacement costs, and vital document replacement costs. Outreach to locate and rebuild trust with displaced neighbors requires additional costs and time. Our communities rise when we work to lift up our most vulnerable citizens. Please help us stand with our neighbors surviving outside to demand better for our city. We're all in this together! 

Fellow Tulsa Public Schools Parents and Guardians, We need your support to ensure that our classrooms remain places of learning, inclusivity, and growth—not platforms for political agendas. We have created a petition urging Tulsa Public Schools leaders to reject this mandate. By signing, you can join us in demanding that political rhetoric stays out of our classrooms. Let’s ensure our children’s education remains focused on their growth and future, not the ambitions of elected officials.

What significance does Thrive House Shelter hold for both me and others? The Thrive House Shelter provides a supportive shelter serving as a vital safe haven for countless black and brown trans women who are survivors of violence.  This shelter is a crucial step in addressing the unique challenges faced by transgender individuals, particularly Black and Brown trans women who often encounter homelessness and violence. The Thrive House was founded by Sarah Pope and Maxine Tory aims to provide a safe, trauma-informed environment who have experienced homelessness as Sarah herself, emphasizes the need for a dedicated space where trans individuals can access temporary housing, meals, healthcare, and emergency support services. The shelter is designed to be a sanctuary where individuals can find not only physical safety but also the resources necessary for long-term stability and well-being. Sarah Pope's vision for Thrive House Safety is rooted in her personal experiences and a deep commitment to making a tangible difference. She explains, “So many people have talked about building a safe space and the lack of housing for black and Bbown trans women, but nobody has actually tried to make an effort to change this. I didn’t want to keep talking about it. Let’s actually do something about it.” “This place allows me to truly be myself without any constraints.” “This space holds a deep sense of sacredness for me and my sisters, allowing us to strengthen our bond and inspire one another. ” “This is a place I can always rely on. It’s a welcoming space where black and brown trans femmes can find solace, nourishment, and camaraderie. ” “Thrive House is the sanctuary where I truly thrive. ” “Thrive House opened their doors when I was homeless ” “There is no other shelter safe for trans women this is why Thrive House is so important ” .

President-elect Trump has repeatedly vowed to conduct the “largest deportation effort in American history” and plans to mobilize the military and National Guard to raid our communities. These plans are instilling fear in our immigrant neighbors and, if carried out, will traumatize families through cruel separation efforts. We must prepare NOW to protect our immigrant neighbors’ safety and rights in the face of mass deportation efforts. The election results are not a mandate for cruelty. Governors and local governments have the ability to take strong, proactive countermeasures to protect immigrant communities immediately. Together, we can make sure our local governments are prepared to mount a defense and blunt the worst of Trump’s white supremacist plans. Governors and local governments can immediately implement these crucial policies to protect our immigrant communities:  • Use sanctuary measures that prevent the use of state and local resources in ICE’s deportation and detention operations • Prepare a coordinated response to mass raids by convening a task force to communicate when and where deportations are taking place and funding emergency resources, such as legal clinics, for deportation defense • Expand and publicize state assistance programs, including medical care and food assistance, for mixed-status families and undocumented immigrants in the event Trump cuts basic services to noncitizens  It’s imperative that our local officials take Trump at his word and his record. His anti-immigrant agenda goes beyond mass deportations—it includes cutting constitutional rights like birthright citizenship and cutting critical public benefits for U.S. citizen children while ramping up the militarization needed to enforce his cruel policies. In the face of these devastating policies, our local governments must step into their power as the first line of defense in protecting our immigrant communities. Will you sign the petition to tell Democratic governors to take decisive action NOW to prevent mass deportations and protect immigrants? Photo: WEYE-TV