I am a Family Therapist who works with children and families every day. I cannot look away from glaring child abuse. Our government's intentional terrorizing and traumatizing of the poor, and especially children, is unconscionable. This is a dark day for the U.S. that we would allow this treatment to happen to anyone, let alone innocent children and their parents who are fleeing impossible conditions in their own countries, brought on, in part, by our backing of their own corrupt governments. Please speak up now for all those stranded at inhumane border stations.

A secret Facebook group composed of approximately 9,500 current and former Border Patrol agents has been discovered. In the posts, members of the group joke about the deaths of migrants, discuss throwing burritos at Latino members of Congress visiting the detention centers in Texas, and they posted a vulgar illustration of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez engaging in oral sex with a detained immigrant. This border patrol Facebook group is just the latest example of law enforcement affiliation with hate groups on social media, particularly Facebook. Hundreds of active-duty and retired law enforcement officers have been found to be a part of Confederate, anti-Islam, anti-government and white supremacists groups on the social media platform. In 2018, Patrol Council, the union representing Border Patrol agents across the country endorsed a video that included white nationalists and anti-Muslim extremists. The xenophobic and racists attacks against immigrants who are simply looking for a better life for themselves and their families must stop. Now, more than ever, with the rise of hateful ideas like white nationalism it’s imperative to make sure our border agents are not infected with this hate. Sign this petition to urge the Department of Homeland Security to screen their employees for possible ties to white nationalists groups.

We cannot as United States citizens not hold our representatives responsible for this appalling inhumanity. We are all responsible because we elected these members to Congress; we must hold them accountable.

We agree with the demands of the WayFair Walkout: -Cease all current and future business with BCFS and other contractors participating in the operation of migrant detention camps at our Southern border (or any other location). BCFS "partners with government agencies, corporations, non-profits, and community leaders to develop programs and service models that combat challenges in health and human services" and has received over $179 million in federal contracts since 2015. -Establish a code of ethics for B2B Sales that empowers Wayfair and its employees to act in accordance with their core values -The additional request that all profits from completed sales be donated to the organization Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES)

After visiting the Homestead Child Detention Center last week, I was horrified by the overcrowding and prison like conditions. The U.S. government is currently holding thousands of child migrants, many of whom have been separated from their families by U.S. immigration officials in Homestead. Most have fled violence and poverty in Central America and are seeking asylum in the United States. Instead of being released to family members or other sponsors, many are spending weeks or months in inhumane detention. And because Homestead is an emergency influx center, children are not protected by agreements that ordinarily ensure licensing and other standards are met. US taxpayers are paying a FOR PROFIT company, Comprehensive Health Services (owned by Caliburn) over $750 per DAY per child. It is estimated that the per DAY cost to taxpayers for detaining the children of Homestead is over $2.4 million. We are imploring the Democratic candidates to go to Homestead and see the detention center for themselves. Every day there are witnesses who hold up signs over the fence in support of the children and tell them they are not alone. Can the candidates for president please join them? We must get these children out of detention and into Homes Instead.

We do not accept the unethical and despicable treatment of human beings seeking asylum with their families. Family separation and child detention are not solutions. They are atrocities.

Human Right Abuses and Crimes Against Humanity have no place on American soil. There is no grey area in this discussion. You are for breaking International law or you aren't.

ICE is still planning to execute raids to deport children and families. Whether it happens in two weeks (per Trump's threat) or in two months, using hotel rooms as temporary jails is a crucial part of this plan, because ICE cannot legally hold children in its adult detention facilities. Hotels should put people over profits and publicly refuse to work with ICE to execute Trump's disgusting attack on immigrant families. We've researched nine hotel chains that run the low-cost properties most likely to be used by ICE and are calling on each of them to publicly commit that they won't participate in the planned raids on families and kids.

Personally affected by the administration’s values. Heck, yes. It’s killing my soul to think there are people who think they have the right to decide that poor or homeless immigrants don’t need to wash or have comfort, and then go home at night to eat a meal prepared with government money and sleep in a bed with sheets, blankets, and pillows. Their monstrous absence of human compassion and empathy makes even their God wince.

I immigrated to the U.S. from Ethiopia at the age of 10, fleeing a war ravaged country with my family with only the clothes on our backs and a few suitcases. We relocated with the help of HIAS and started our lives in the U.S. As a Jew, mother, doctor, and a refugee, I am saddened and appalled at the treatment of the refugees and asylum seekers at the southern U.S. border. The world said "Never Again" after the Holocaust, yet the United States is committing human rights violations on people whose only crime is fleeing violence and poverty in search of better opportunities for their families. This must end now! Please watch: https://youtu.be/3b_jmO5q-ZU

This proposal was written by Scott Hicks, Esq., an expert lawyer in immigration law. The treatment of people at the southern border with Mexico is appalling. Conditions under which unaccompanied children are held are considered child abuse when parents treat their children that way in the United States. I live in a vibrant community of people from many places. As a teacher, I see the effects that the current policies and negative climate have on the children. The future of this country depends on our children and they need to be healthy and well for the challenges they will face.

***español abajo*** Earlier this week, President Trump threatened that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will begin carrying out mass arrests, raids, and detentions of immigrants across the country. Since then, we have received multiple credible reports that these raids will impact D.C. and could begin as early as this weekend. The news has already begun to spread fear in the District, which is home to many immigrant communities - as powerfully illustrated by this recent Washington Post article. https://wapo.st/2IvdJfN Meanwhile, ICE activity in our region will likely intensify as the 2020 President Election nears. Out of concern for our city and our neighbors, we request that you take action to ensure that D.C. lives up to its Sanctuary status. Specifically, we call on you to ensure: 1) That there is absolutely no coordination between the Metropolitan Police Department and ICE. Large-scale operations like the one described by the President Trump rely on local cooperation, such as sharing information about residents, blocking off streets, withholding information about ICE activity from the general public, or detaining residents on ICE’s behalf. These deny due process to D.C. residents and particularly harm over-policed Black and Brown communities. We urge you to proactively ensure there is no collaboration between MPD and ICE. 2) That D.C. residents who are detained by ICE can access legal representation through D.C.’s Immigrant Justice Legal Services (IJLS) grant program. As things stand, anyone detained by ICE in the forthcoming raids are barred from receiving legal aid through IJLS. As a result, most families that cannot spend thousands of dollars on a private immigration lawyer will see their loved ones lose their case and be deported. The increase in IJLS funding to $2.5 million is a good step, but it won’t make a difference for our most vulnerable neighbors if this restriction isn’t lifted. 3) That the D.C. Department of Corrections (the “D.C. Jail”) stop notifying ICE when an inmate with an immigration detainer is released. The D.C. Jail’s current policy (https://bit.ly/2Iwgm11 - Section 9ab) instructs staff to notify ICE prior to the release of an inmate with an immigration detainer, allowing ICE to come to the D.C. Jail and detain the individual as they are being released. Notification of ICE at the D.C. Jail happens indiscriminately, regardless of whether the inmate had their charges dropped, were found innocent, or served their sentence. Compliance with immigration detainers by notifying ICE is voluntary for local jurisdictions. The D.C. Jail’s policy violates D.C. law (https://bit.ly/2x3My5h - § 24–211.07) and places dozens of D.C. residents in ICE’s custody. We believe D.C. is a city where all people should live without fear. We call on D.C. government to do everything in its power to protect our residents this week and for the long-term future. Our values must be matched with actions in defense of all immigrants. (to: Mayor Bowser; cc: Attorney General Racine & DC City Council members) ----- Ante las amenazas recientes por parte de la administración del presidente Trump contra los inmigrantes, le instamos a que haga todo lo que esté a su alcance para proteger a los residentes del Distrito de Columbia. Esto incluye garantizar (1) que las fuerzas de seguridad de la ciudad no cooperen, de ninguna manera, con el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE); (2) que los residentes de DC detenidos por ICE puedan acceder al programa de subsidios de Servicios Legales de Justicia para Inmigrantes (IJLS por sus siglas en Ingles); y (3) que el Departamento Correccional de DC se comprometa a no notificar a ICE cuando se libere a un preso que tiene un orden de detención de ICE. A principios de la semana pasada, el presidente Trump amenazó que ICE comenzaría a realizar arrestos masivos, redadas, y detenciones de inmigrantes en todo el país. Desde entonces, hemos recibido múltiples informes creíbles de que estas redadas afectarán al Distrito de Columbia, y podrán comenzar en los próximos días. La noticia ha generado temor entre los residentes del Distrito de Columbia que forman parte de comunidades inmigrantes, como lo ilustra este reciente artículo del Washington Post. https://wapo.st/2IvdJfN Mientras tanto, la actividad de (ICE) en nuestra región probablemente se intensificará a medida que se acerquen las elecciones presidenciales del año 2020. Por el bien de nuestra ciudad y nuestros vecinos, les solicitamos que tomen medidas para garantizar que el Distrito de Columbia cumpla sus garantías como ciudad santuario. Específicamente, les pedimos que se aseguren de que: 1) Las fuerzas de seguridad de la ciudad no cooperen, de ninguna manera, con ICE. Las operaciones a gran escala, como la descrita por el presidente Trump, dependen de la cooperación de fuerzas de seguridad locales. Esto incluye acciones como compartir información sobre residentes, bloquear calles, ocultar del público información sobre la actividad de ICE, o detener a residentes en nombre de ICE. Estas acciones le niegan el debido proceso legal a los residentes de DC, e impactan de manera adversa a comunidades marginalizadas que ya son sobre vigiladas. Les instamos que se aseguren de manera proactiva de que no haya colaboración entre la policía (MPD) e ICE. 2) Los residentes de DC que sean detenidos por ICE puedan acceder servicios de representación legal a través del programa de subvenciones de Servicios Legales de Justicia para Inmigrantes (IJLS) de DC. Presentemente, cualquier persona detenida por ICE tiene prohibido recibir asistencia legal a través de IJLS. Como resultado, la mayoría de las familias que no pueden gastar miles de dólares en un abogado de inmigración privado verán a sus seres queridos perder su caso y ser deportados. El aumento en la financiación de IJLS a $ 2.5 millones es un paso importante, pero no hará una diferencia para nuestros vecinos más vulnerables si no se elimina ...