It’s a budget betrayal of working families, immigrants, and communities already pushed to the brink:  Congressional Republicans would funnel TRILLIONS to weapons contractors, private prison profiteers, and mass deportation operators. The kicker? They’d gut essential programs like Medicaid and SNAP to pay for it all.  If this bill reaches the President’s desk, it’ll do one thing: Embolden an unaccountable MAGA regime deadset on prioritizing billionaires' wallets over our communities' needs. The House passed this budget reconciliation package — and exposed deep divisions within Republican ranks that put this bill on thin ice in the Senate. It gives us an opportunity to derail these misguided priorities as this dangerous budget inches closer to the finish line. To seize it, your Senators need to hear from you now:

Refugees from Ukraine who came to the US legally need to have an opportunity to work to support their families and contribute to the US economy by paying taxes. The government of the US is refusing to renew their work authorization, forcing them to start working illegally and be on social financial assistance. This assistance doesn’t provide enough financial support, robs them of dignity to provide for their families, and prevents them from contributing to the US economy. 

The threat of ICE in schools creates unnecessary trauma, leads to damaged trust in educators, and causes students from undocumented and mixed-status families to miss school, leaving a lasting impact on their education. And surveillance and intimidation in our schools creates an unwelcoming and harmful environment for all children. Some school districts in states like California, New York, and Illinois are already taking action to protect the rights of students—and we need more districts to follow their lead and put students’ safety first.  With federal protections weakened by the Trump administration, school districts must pledge to:  • Prohibit immigration officials from entering schools if they don’t have a judicial warrant • Ensure ALL students know their rights, including that they cannot be forced to share their immigration or residency status with an ICE agent • Train all school personnel to be able to identify ICE agents and protect students Our children deserve to learn free from fear—regardless of immigration status. Sign the petition now >> 

After Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents abducted Kilmar Abrego Garcia, he was illegally deported to an infamous mega-prison in El Salvador — the same country he fled as a teenager because of gang violence. Despite a unanimous Supreme Court order that Abrego Garcia be returned, the Trump administration has refused to act. Instead, they’re stonewalling and causing more harm: His wife and three kids have been forced into a safe house after U.S. officials posted their home address on social media. Experiences like this are becoming horrifyingly commonplace, but cracks in a horrible deportation machine are showing. Trump's immigration approval rating sank 10 points in April. ICE buses filled with people to be deported have turned around. Senator Chris Van Hollen went to El Salvador himself to push for Abrego Garcia’s safe return. After being denied access at CECOT, the notorious mega-prison, he was able to speak with him and confirm that he is still alive. Over the past few weeks, more members of Congress have met with detainees and political prisoners to amplify their stories and fight for everyone’s rights. It’s critically needed leadership, but it wouldn’t have happened without activists like you pushing for it, so let’s keep going. Gratitude can make a HUGE difference in moments like this. A thank you signals you’re doing the right thing. It builds encouragement to do it again. It’s also a uniquely hot commodity — like all humans, when one lawmaker sees another get praise, they want in. If we want to see more actions like Sen. Van Hollen’s, he and other members taking brave action need to hear from you today.

Just days ago, three U.S. citizen children from two different families were deported with their mothers by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). One of them is a 4-year-old with Stage 4 cancer who was deported without medication or the ability to contact their doctors. Lawyers say the families were taken to an ICE facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, where they were prevented from communicating with their family members and legal representatives and then put on a flight to Honduras. The lack of humanity and due process is shocking and intentionally violent.  Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence in an already broken immigration system that isn’t working for anyone. And it’s becoming increasingly worse and harder to navigate for people under the Trump administration in the past few months.  People are being arrested by ICE, their families ripped apart and their children—regardless of their citizenship— kidnapped and sent to countries they’ve never called home. This is happening right now in our country. And it must stop.  This isn’t about partisan politics. It’s a matter of fairness and basic rights. Trump’s administration and these expedited deportations are violating the rights of both citizens and noncitizens. It’s unacceptable. 

Democracy -By Langston Hughes Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear. I have as much right As the other fellow has To stand On my two feet And own the land. I tire so of hearing people say, Let things take their course. Tomorrow is another day. I do not need my freedom when I'm dead. I cannot live on tomorrow's bread. Freedom Is a strong seed Planted In a great need. I live here, too. I want freedom Just as you.

Experts are already concerned about the treatment visitors to the World Cup and Olympics would face in the U.S.—especially for people traveling from countries that the Trump administration has treated with open contempt. This isn’t a theoretical threat. Already, countries including Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, and Canada have issued travel advisories about the possibility of being detained by the Department of Homeland Security in the U. S. and have warned transgender people about the State Department’s change in policy regarding gender markers on passports.  It's not clear that the millions of people who will visit the United States over the next three years will be kept safe from the Trump administration’s draconian policies. Add your name telling the leadership of FIFA and the Olympics to put the safety of visitors and athletes first.

What is happening to Rümeysa Öztürk is terrifying.  Abruptly stripped of her visa. Restrained and arrested. Smuggled out of Massachusetts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in plainclothes. Hidden from her family, community, and lawyers in a private, for-profit detention facility in Louisiana. All because she wrote an op-ed in the Tufts school newspaper calling for the university to abide by undergraduate student senate resolutions meant to hold Israel accountable for international law violations. Rümeysa's harsh and unlawful detainment is an assault on our fundamental First Amendment rights and civil liberties—and we should all be concerned. Donald Trump is abusing his position of power to intimidate everyday people, silence dissenters, and roll back our fundamental rights. He doesn’t care about safety or ensuring our schools are welcoming spaces. In fact, his administration has been doing the opposite, bullying universities to control curriculum, gutting public programs, and pitting our communities against each other.  Show the Trump administration that we are united and we will continue to mobilize to protect Rümeysa and others from his illegal power grabs.  Sign the petition to urge Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan to launch an immediate and thorough criminal investigation into Rümeysa's kidnapping.

The arrest of a sitting judge is an alarming move that signals a dangerous abuse of federal power—one that threatens judicial independence and any remaining checks on Trump’s power.  It will also make our communities less safe. People must have trust in the courts to be willing to report a crime. When people in our communities are afraid to access the courts out of fear of being snatched up by ICE, it hurts our communities in so many ways. And it ties back to the broader anti-immigrant crackdown aligned with Trump’s Project 2025 framework. Together, we must protect the rule of law, judicial independence, and the rights of every person who appears in a courtroom—regardless of immigration status. We’ve already seen how ICE abuses its power to target student activists, U.S. citizens, legal residents and green card holders, and Trump’s political opponents—often without a warrant. When does it end? If we don’t speak up now—and demand our elected officials do the same—there’s no telling how far this administration will go. Sign the petition for Congress to investigate this judge’s arrest immediately.  All of these arrests, abductions, and deportations aren’t just about attacking immigrants and marginalized communities. Trump is using his administration to fearmonger so he can continue to seize and build his power without opposition. Without checks and balances.  Demand Congress act NOW to answer for Kash Patel’s—and ultimately Donald Trump’s—dangerous overreach.  Image credit: Wall Street Journal

The Trump Administration has arrested a sitting judge – Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan.  These are the actions of a dictator. This isn’t just an arrest, it’s a blatant attack on judicial independence meant to send a chilling warning to every judge in the country. Here’s what’s happening: federal agents wanted to arrest someone at a hearing before Judge Dugan. Judge Dugan said no, protecting the integrity of her courtroom and refusing to turn it into an ambush zone. And in response, the FBI opened an investigation into her, and now has arrested her on charges that could send her to prison for years. But here’s what’s crystal clear – even under the Trump regime, standing up for due process and our Constitutional rights should be celebrated, not punished. It’s on all of us to speak out for what’s right. Add your name to tell the Trump Administration to STOP this authoritarian power grab.

President Trump – who has sworn an oath to “preserve, protect, and defend” our Constitution – is illegally trying to shred one of its most important guarantees of equal rights: the 14th Amendment. His executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship would endanger millions of people born in this country and permanently reshape what it means to be an American. Common Cause is evaluating our legal options to respond – because we simply can’t let this stand. The good news is no president, including Trump, can override an official, ratified part of the U.S. Constitution. But the bad news is this fact won’t stop them from trying, and in doing so, striking fear for millions of our neighbors that they’ll be condemned to permanent second-class status.   Combined with his plan to deport thousands of families and community members in the first week of his administration, Trump’s already made clear that he’s beginning his presidency by forcing American immigrants into hiding and denying us all the multi-racial democracy and safe neighborhoods we deserve. The 14th Amendment is clear – and legal experts say Trump would likely need to pass a constitutional amendment to overrule it. But Trump and his cronies in Congress know they can’t do that, so they’re desperately searching for any way around our checks and balances. If you agree we can’t let that happen, join us in urging Congress to protect birthright citizenship – and REJECT this blatant attempt to divide our communities and attack our constitutional rights.

By taking these steps, you will send a clear message: Our community values the safety, health, and dignity of all its residents. You will rebuild broken trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. You will ensure our schools remain places of learning, our hospitals places of healing, and our houses of worship places of peace. Sign this petition now to demand an end to police-ICE collaboration and protect our community's vital sanctuaries. Let's restore trust and build a truly safe community for everyone.