Rather than targeting criminals, as promised, Trump has empowered ICE to aggressively stalk and detain any law-abiding hard-working immigrant. Tearing families apart is not a humane immigration policy. In addition to being cruel, it amounts to racial profiling, and makes us less safe by discouraging our immigrant neighbors from reporting crime and fully engaging in our communities because of fear of deportation. NJ should follow California's lead and be a Sanctuary State.

This issue has personally affected my family. Please read the story in the newspaper link below to see how much pain my family is silently suffering while taking care of the sick and infirm with the empathy that they deserve. H4EAD has personally helped me to work with more patients who are lacking access to care due to physician shortages in the USA. Also, I am able to diversify in my work and teach medical students from the Florida State University Medical School as Clinical Assistant Professor. If I have to go back to H1B and wait in line again for a green card, which is tremendously backlogged, it will put restrictions on my ability to help patients and continue training future doctors. https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2018/03/01/local-doctor-fears-job-loss-face-potential-trump-rule-reversal/337375002/

**UPDATE: The "Department of Homeland Security" deported Joel Colindres on Wednesday, January 31st. Please sign in hopes to reunite Joel with his family, safely here in the US. Joel is not a criminal. Joel is/was a hardworking, taxpaying father of 2 small children. He is/was the kindergarten soccer coach, the favorite son-in-law of his combat wounded veteran father in law. Joel never posed a threat to anyone. He has no criminal record. Joel fled violence and death threats in Guatemala in 2004. He sought asylum in the USA. Because of a clerical error, Joel's court date notification was mailed to the wrong address in the wrong state. Joel never received that notification- which set his life course in motion. Joel is happily married to a US citizen and has an approved I-130 and Visa sponsorship thru his wife. Rather than hear his asylum case or allow him to finish the Green Card process through his valid marriage, the "Department of Homeland Security" forced him to take a one way nonstop flight to Guatemala, the very place he fled. Please follow Joel's family's struggle on the Facebook page "Save Joel Colindres." ICE has made the cruel decision to break this family- but they're going to fight to keep it together. They will continue to fight for justice for Joel!

U.S. Military Veteran Miguel Perez Jr., 39, a Chicago resident faces deportation. Miguel is facing deportation to his native Mexico, where he hasn’t lived since age 8. His supporters, including U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill, are working to keep him in the country. Perez served two tours of duty in Afghanistan. This veteran served honorably and was discharged honorably. Let's support Sen. Tammy Duckworth and others in this cause.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a non-political federal agency that grants visas and U.S. citizenship to eligible immigrants. This week, it removed the phrase “nation of immigrants” from its mission statement with no specific explanation. This is a step backwards as to who we are as a nation. Words matter and have power. Our country was built by immigrants and continues to excel because of all the contributions they make each and every day. Make no mistake. The removal of these three words is part of President Trump’s anti-immigrant and xenophobic agenda. Donald Trump, Stephen Miller, and the rest of his Administration are using their authority to circumvent Congress whenever possible and make clear that immigrants are no longer welcome in the United States. This goes against our history and our heritage. Immigrants enrich our nation, which is why we must do everything in our power to ensure they are still welcomed into our communities, states, and country. We cannot allow the Trump Administration and USCIS to erode our American values. Please sign this petition demanding that USCIS add “nation of immigrants” back to its mission statement.

Join us in demanding your representative and senators #DefundHate by publicly calling for significant cuts to the detention and deportation machine and opposing any funding bill which wastes taxpayer dollars on this unaccountable and abusive system. Right now, Congress is making decisions about funding for the rest of this fiscal year, and they're considering massive increases in funding for new ICE and Border Patrol agents to terrorize our communities—an immigration detention system known for its abuse and mismanagement, and wasteful and dangerous border militarization, including the border wall. Congress has failed to pass permanent protections for immigrant youth, TPS-holders, or many other members of our communities. ICE and CBP under the Trump Administration have put the detention and deportation machine on steroids, continue to ramp up aggressive and hateful raids and other immigration enforcement, hide information from the American public, and retaliate against anyone who speaks out. With this track record, it's clear that Congress should be looking at cuts in funding, not huge increases! Congress must take steps now to cut funding that rips families apart and and instead invest in programs proven to support communities growing and thriving together like housing, education, nutrition, and health care.

This is not right and everyone with sympathy and big heart should join to sign this petition to stop this deportation.

Ravi Ragbir is an immigrant, a New Yorker, and an activist—who has been ordered to report for deportation on Saturday, February 10. This is only one of many examples of ICE targeting immigrant activists and leaders in a concerted effort to disrupt the movement for immigrant rights and respect and to intimidate other immigrants from speaking up. And, sadly, Ravi's is only one of countless stories of families and communities being torn apart by the Trump deportation machine. Ravi has contributed to his community in New York, is a civic leader, and has the support of elected officials and his own community. He has complied with all of his check-ins and the rules governing his status in the United States. He deserves to continue to be an active participant in his community in New York. ICE should cancel his deportation proceedings immediately—and similarly cease its aggressive actions against the countless immigrants whose homes, families, jobs, communities, employees, students, and hearts are here in American.

Motel 6—which is controlled by the CEO of the Blackstone Group, one of Donald Trump's biggest supporters—is suspected of calling ICE to report undocumented guests.  As the owner of Motel 6 and several other national hotel chains, Blackstone Group must ensure this disturbing practice is not being used against hotel guests anywhere. Employees at two Motel 6 locations in Arizona, where more than 20 arrests by ICE have been made in recent months, confirmed rumors, telling local media: "We send a report every morning to ICE -- all the names of everybody that comes in."  Let that sink in for a minute.  Motel 6 is literally taking money from immigrant customers, and then calling immigration agents to come round them up, jail them, and deport them if they can find a reason. This is unacceptable.  Adding insult to injury, Motel 6 has released a statement claiming this was an isolated incident and the practice "was discontinued." That's it. No change in policies, no employees disciplined, no increased oversight.  We can't let Motel 6 get away with these anti-immigrant practices. Demand that Blackstone Group ensures none of their hotels are cooperating with ICE.  Together we can show callous companies and CEO's that they are not above basic decency.

Edder Rizo Sanchez, a young immigrant in South Carolina, was detained on November 12, 2017 despite having DACA. Edder has been in detention ever since. After detaining Edder, ICE called United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to have his DACA revoked on November 17, 2017. The fact that ICE is working in collaboration with USCIS is unacceptable. Because of ICE’s collaboration with USCIS, Edder is away from his family in a detention camp. Leticia (Edders mother) has been heartbroken but has hope that Edder will come home to her. They have called this country home since Edder was three years old. Edder has been a pillar of support for his family and losing him to deportation would be devastating. This has been the first time Leticia and Edder have been separated. Now their dreams have been placed on hold. Help Leticia bring Edder home where he belongs.

Jorge has a story like so many immigrant stories: one filled with hard work, strong ties to his community, and love for his family. He has cooperated with the government, paid taxes, and has no criminal record. We have been hearing stories like Jorge's over and over again. This must stop. When immigrants arrive as children, attend our schools, and grow up as an American, they should be allowed, when adults, to make the decision to stay or return. It should be their choice! This is humanitarian. His wife and children have always lived in the US and him leaving would be extremely difficult for them emotionally and financially. We ask that you help them to stay together.

Families shouldn't be broken up, and America needs to be a more welcoming nation, especially to those who do good.