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.

healthcare is a basic human right, and no one should be denied care due to financial barriers. A universal healthcare system would improve public health, reduce inequality, and create a more productive society by ensuring that everyone, regardless of income, can get the care they need when they need it. Together, we can build a more just and equitable system that benefits everyone.

What significance does Thrive House Shelter hold for both me and others? “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?

This cause is essential because farmworkers are the backbone of the agricultural sector, directly contributing to food security and economic stability in the U.S. They labor in physically demanding and often dangerous environments, facing risks such as pesticide exposure, extreme heat, respiratory issues, and repetitive injuries. Despite their critical role, these workers are often excluded from healthcare benefits, which can have severe repercussions both for their health and for the communities they support​. Farmworkers, especially those on H-2A visas, face substantial barriers to accessing healthcare. These include limited insurance coverage, language barriers, and fears of immigration-related repercussions, often forcing them to seek care only in emergency situations. This lack of regular healthcare not only worsens their health outcomes but also strains local healthcare systems due to higher emergency room usage. Improving healthcare access for farmworkers is therefore a matter of social justice, public health, and economic prudence​. Expanding healthcare access for farmworkers not only benefits them personally but also supports healthier communities, more resilient healthcare systems, and a more stable food supply. Without this support, these workers’ health deteriorates, which could lead to labor shortages and higher costs in the agricultural sector, impacting food availability and prices across the country.

During his first term, President Trump left in place for nearly two years most of the Obama opening with Cuba.  A key actor in creating maximum pressure against Cuba and Venezuela was the now hostile and alienated former National Security Advisor John Bolton.**   For more than sixty years US and Cuban national interests and human well-being have been paralyzed by a conflict over sovereignty, self-determination and freedom with two centuries old roots.***   The historic transformation begun by Barack Obama and Raul Castro was virtually destroyed by Donald Trump in the second half of his first term and only partially rebuilt by Joe Biden. By President Biden restoring mutual engagement, he can rebuild trust and open the door for the second Trump Administration to act positively.  Ending all travel restrictions (including on normal tourism), dismantling the UN condemned unilateral embargo and returning the Guantanamo base and prison that was obtained as a condition for independence, the US can give Cuba space and resources to find more creative national solutions to economic, social and political problems.  It can also create the possibility of US and Cuban cooperation with efforts by Brazil, Colombia and Mexico to find a peaceful solution to the political conflict in Venezuela. Resources: * Trump's Venezuela and Cuba policy in focus in Bolton speech in Florida By Roberta Rampton, Reuters   October 31, 2018    https://www.yahoo.com/news/trumps-venezuela-cuba-policy-focus-bolton-speech-florida-155235539.html Current economic problems in Cuba https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2024/08/analysis-of-economy-government-reversal.html ** Then Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power announces US abstention on the embargo resolution https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2021/05/ambassador-samantha-powers-address-to.html *** The underlying historical problem between the US and Cuba https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2019/05/louis-perez-cuba-as-obsessive.html Links between Irish and Cuban nationalism in 19th century New York   tinyurl.com/CubaIrelandNY   

This message is crucial because it highlights a severe injustice and failure within our legal and social systems, jeopardizing the safety and well-being of a vulnerable child. N.A.G.A aka Nelson, who has already endured unimaginable abuse and trauma, was wrongly sent back to the very people who trafficked and exploited him, despite clear evidence of his victimization and the protections to which he is legally entitled. The message underscores the critical need for accountability and reform in handling cases of child trafficking and abuse. It brings to light the failures of various authorities, including the Department of Family and Protective Services, law enforcement, and the judiciary, in safeguarding Nelson's rights and ensuring his protection. Nelson's story is a poignant reminder of the real-world consequences of bureaucratic negligence and legal missteps, and it calls for immediate action to rectify these injustices and secure a safe future for him. By sharing Nelson’s plight, we draw attention to the broader issues of human trafficking and the importance of upholding the rights of survivors. It advocates for systemic changes to prevent such egregious failures from recurring and reinforces the need for a compassionate, informed approach to child welfare and human trafficking cases. Nelson deserves not only our attention but our action to ensure that he is safe, loved, and given the opportunity to heal from his past trauma. #savingnelson 

Please help us by signing this petition on behalf of Language Access Providers so that we can continue providing caring, professional interpretation services to those who need it most. 

Ron DeSantis, Florida Republicans, and Vertol Systems didn’t stop with the Martha’s Vineyard flight. In June, 36 Latin American migrants were deceived and promised work, housing, and food if they agreed to be flown to California on a chartered flight organized by Vertol Systems. And just last month, DeSantis floated the idea of flying Haitian migrants to Martha’s Vineyard. Enough is enough! We have to stop these flights before it’s too late. The migrants who were trafficked to Martha’s Vineyard have since sued Vertol Systems, and a federal judge has allowed the lawsuit to proceed and said that there was evidence to support that the migrants were targeted because they were Latinx. The federal judge recognized these sham flights as a political stunt asserting that DeSantis was exploiting migrants "in a scheme to boost the national profile of Defendant DeSantis and manipulate them for political ends,” and ruled that the treatment of these migrants was "extreme, outrageous, uncivilized, intolerable, and stunning.” It’s shameful that instead of treating asylum-seekers with the due process, dignity and care they deserve, Vertol Systems and Republican governors like Ron DeSantis are exploiting them and using them as political pawns. These are not isolated incidents. They are deliberate actions relentlessly carried out by anti-immigrant Republicans. It’s completely unacceptable, and there is no excuse for Vertol Systems to continue profiting off of deceived migrants. They must stop organizing the flights NOW. Will you take action and sign the petition?

Ten percent of Minnesota's residents are immigrants. They are our neighbors, friends, family, and coworkers. They work, pay taxes, and contribute billions of dollars to state revenue every year. Still, many are subject to arbitrary and prolonged detention, exorbitant bail, or even deportation as a result of trivial interactions with local law enforcement. Blurring the lines between law enforcement and immigration enforcement erodes trust between immigrants and police, uproots beloved community and family members from their homes, and enables racial profiling. Doing better by immigrant communities in Minnesota benefits us all. Many immigrants don't trust law enforcement because it can double as immigration enforcement. This creates fear that they may be turned over to ICE detention in asking for help. As a result, many immigrants avoid reporting crimes or seeking emergency services. Immigration detention doesn't keep us safe. Almost 2/3 of those held in ICE detention have no criminal record. Most immigrants referred to ICE detention by local law enforcement have only minor offenses, like traffic violations. ICE detention often removes a primary breadwinner from immigrant households. This can push families into financial crisis. When parents are at home families are safer and healthier. The North STAR Act will benefit all Minnesotans. Immigrants will be able to seek medical care and emergency services without fear. Employers will benefit from a more stable workforce. Law enforcement can use freed up resources on more appropriate public safety tasks.

Businesses, healthcare providers, non-profit organizations, and local government jobs may encounter workforce disruptions and challenges in maintaining missions when DACA recipients face delays in renewals. This can impact productivity, economic growth, and the provision of essential public services.

Chicago’s long-standing status as a city that proudly welcomes immigrants is under attack. Over the past year, a small but loud group of anti-immigrant politicians have sought to undermine Chicago's long standing "Welcoming City" ordinance. Chicago first became a "Welcoming City" in 1985—nearly 40 years ago—through an executive order signed by Mayor Harold Washington. The ordinance allows immigrants to access critical services without fear of being deported or arrested simply because of their immigration status. But a few opportunistic anti-immigrant politicians and their far right followers have been working to revoke our status, using unfounded and biased fear-based tactics to turn neighbors against each other. These efforts are part of a larger, nationwide attack on immigrant communities, and they have no place in Chicago. Studies have shown that "Welcoming City" ordinances make cities safer, and repealing them would do nothing to address the challenges the city is currently facing in caring for new arrivals. We urge elected officials to firmly resist any efforts to repeal Chicago's “Welcoming City” status and instead work to secure the city, state, and federal funding needed to fully support all of our communities!