Immigrant students are an essential part of our UH community, yet many face unnecessary barriers due to restrictive policies and lack of institutional support. By joining our campaign, you can help push UH to take action—ensuring immigrant students have the resources, protections, and advocacy they deserve. Together, we can make UH a truly inclusive and supportive environment for all.

With the growing threat of harmful immigration policies in the U.S., it is important to provide material support for immigrant students and their families. When 1 relative faces deportation, it affects the entire family.  Currently, there are not many supports in the Salem-Keizer School District for students and their families when they experience deportation. Students report that deportations deeply affect their emotional, physical, and academic well-being, as they are forced to deal with loss of income, housing, food, and other necessities. These are unjust and detrimental barriers to education.  The Salem-Keizer School District should not be spending nearly 1 million dollars on a program that is not supported by research. Instead, these funds should be utilized for the actual well-being of students in the district, which begins by addressing the emotional, physical, and financial needs of immigrant students and families. 

We need to stop the glorification of such a serious situation. These are people’s lives that are being impacted, not TV fodder.  Please show some compassion for those who are victims of this cruel process and stop the glorification of the situation. 

Everyone who cares about their neighbor should sign this petition in hopes to make and keep NC as a state that is seen as a safe and welcoming place for all. While we cannot control what the federal government is doing, we do have the power to reach out to our government, especially our governor, as we elected them to work in our best interest.

Trump's attack on birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, and it's just one part of MAGA's far-right playbook to scapegoat our immigrant neighbors, all while Trump makes life easier for his wealthy friends and harder for everyone else. If this Congress votes on this order, they must resoundingly reject this brazen attack on our Constitution and its discriminatory agenda that threatens the very fabric of America.   Trump's promises of deportation raids and family separation policies are in practice unpopular—morally AND economically. Yet, he remains undeterred, because the true goal isn't efficient policies—it's scapegoating immigrants, fueling division, and creating a distraction while he and his billionaire allies profit at the public's expense. Congress must take action and refuse to concede to Trump's assault on our Constitution. Re-litigating the question of who gets to be a citizen is just another attempt by Trump to divide us and further advance a discriminatory America. We won't be distracted or divided. Add your name to demand Congress denounce and fight back against Trump's unconstitutional executive order—and commit to protecting birthright citizenship.

Imagine you were fleeing violence, or seeking to reunify with your relatives in the United States. You are crossing the border when the US government arrests you. Despite your age, you are treated like a criminal, locked in detention, and separated from your family. Not only must you endure conditions that the federal government itself has found inhumane, but you must also defend yourself in immigration court alone-because the United States does not recognize your right to a lawyer even if you cannot find one. This is the reality that hundreds of thousands of adults and children face each day. It is the result of an immigration system designed to dehumanize and criminalize people, not welcome them with dignity. The US immigration system is an arrest-to-deportation pipeline rooted in racism. Our nation’s immigration laws were created and founded explicitly in racism and xenophobia. The past three decades have been marked by an ever-expanding immigration detention system, and an immigration enforcement regime that criminalizes people of color and funnels people from the criminal legal systems into detention and deportation. As a result, our immigration system serves as a form of “double punishment” for people who pass from one legal system to another, compounding the racial disparities and injustices in both. Just as Black people are more likely than white people to be targeted by police, Black immigrants are also disproportionately vulnerable to immigration enforcement. One-in-Ten Black people living in the United States are also immigrants. 

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? Photo: WEYE-TV

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