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 ...

There are over 5 million children in the United States with at least one undocumented parent. Currently there are over 5,100 active deportation cases across the state of Oregon and more than 71,000 Oregon children are at risk of losing a parent to deportation. This forced separation has enormous consequences for our students, their families and our education communities. The 71,000 Oregon children and youth living under the threat of being forcibly removed from a loving and capable parent experience enormous education disparities. These young people experience high levels of anxiety and depression, which effects their ability to participate in academic activities. Additionally, the very legitimate fear of being stopped by ICE and detained in the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma keeps many parents from being able to actively engage with the school community. Children and youth who are at risk of losing a parent are less likely to be able to participate in after-school activities or supplemental academic support, lowering their academic success rates and their over-all satisfaction with their education experience. These kids are also disproportionately represented in chronic absenteeism and following the forced removal of a parent, are ten times more likely to drop out than their peers. Educators from all around the state can describe the horrible impact of forced removal on their students and their school communities. Ten-year-old students being sent to school with their passport to prove they are citizens. Six-year-old children defending themselves in court with no attorney. Children arriving home after school only to find the house empty and learning their parents will never return. These are not stories happening in other countries, or only on the southern border. They happen in Oregon every day. Educators stand against the senseless destruction of loving families. We stand against Oregon children and youth being caught in the crosshairs of federal policy. We stand for an Oregon where every child is valued and safe, free to pursue their education and future free from the violence of family separation. We urge our state leaders to vote yes for the Immigrant Defense Fund.

The National Sheriffs Association has been working with a white nationalist hate group called "FAIR," and it shows. Sheriffs nationwide have adopted a despicable immigration narrative and promoted an unprecedented expansion of deportation agreements that "deputize" sheriffs to carry out Trump's anti-immigrant agenda. Just last week, the National Sheriffs Association honored FAIR's go-to Sheriff in Florida, Bob Gualtieri of Pinellas County. It's time to expose the hate groups behind this agenda, and demand that sheriffs step away from them now.

Ken Cuccinelli has a shockingly regressive record on immigration, including: - Comparing immigration policy to pest control and insinuating that the government should break up immigrant families. - Sponsoring a resolution to amend the Constitution and strip US-born children of undocumented immigrants of their citizenship - Introducing legislation to let employees get fired for speaking languages other than English at work and disqualifying them from unemployment benefits - Repeatedly referring to immigration as an "invasion" and speaking in favor of invoking "war powers" to drop due process and militarize the border The head of the union that represents US Citizenship and Immigration Services employees did not mince words: "the possible appointment of Ken Cuccinelli ... spells the end of legal immigration as it currently exists." As Virginia attorney general, Cuccinelli embarked on a multiyear legal campaign to smear and discredit one of the world's most prominent climate scientists, Michael E. Mann. Cuccinelli demanded thousands of emails by invoking a discredited conspiracy theory in order to allege fraud. It was a clear case of political interference and censorship, and Cuccinelli ultimately lost. The episode demonstrates the danger of putting Cuccinelli into a position of power over others. Now, as climate change drives forced migration around the globe, Cuccinelli is set to take over the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, which handles the legal process of gaining residency and citizenship in this country. Even many Republican senators loathe Cuccinelli, who led a group that has boosted their conservative primary challengers. Tell your senators that Cuccinelli is too unqualified and extreme for this, or any, position in our federal government!

I am a concerned citizen that the legacy of President Obama is in jeopardy. I encourage you to continue to extend the legislation to preserve immigration rights as they arrive in the United States of America. I also have a concern that news of 6 dead children occurred while in the custody of the border patrol. I oppose the separation of the family and the children being separated from the adults upon arrival at the border. Thank you for considering to extend the legislation and make their future brighter.