Like so many other people, I am horrified by the administration's policy of separating refugee children from their parents at the border. Senator Jeff Merkley recently visited a detention center where these children are warehoused and exposed the horrific conditions in which they are held. These children are housed in large cages with other children of all ages crying and mourning the forced separation from their parents. Ivanka Trump is in a unique position as the daughter of the President and a member of his administration. She has a very close relationship with her father and may be the only person who could convince him to change his position on this unconscionable policy. She is a self-identified feminist and mother. This is an attempt to appeal to her humanity and heart. If she spoke to her father, he just might change his mind. To see an example of a letter I sent to Ivanka, click here - https://tinyurl.com/y7q43fcg. Please tweet Ivanka @IvankaTrump with the hashtag #IvankaReuniteRefugeeChildren along with your own message, a picture of you with your children, or another image that could awaken her compassion. This is about appealing to her heart, not shaming or attacking her. Shaming and attacking her will not create the change we want. Many of us have much deeper criticisms of the policies of the Trump administration and are in the streets challenging them. The goal of this petition is much more narrow. This particular outrage is one that violates all universal norms of humanity. Thus, we are attempting to reach the hearts of as many people as possible, including those who might disagree with us on other issues. So please share this not only with those who already oppose Trump or this policy, but also with members of your family, colleagues, co-workers, and others who normally would not publicly oppose Trump but who might be moved on this particular issue to sign this petition. Cat Zavis, Executive Director, Network of Spiritual Progressives seeking a new bottom line of love, compassion, generosity and social, economic, and environmental justice. www.spiritualprogressives.org

Earlier this month, at the direction of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who serves under Trump, it became official US policy to routinely and intentionally separate children from their parents at our southern border. [1] Hundreds of children have been ripped from their families: 658 kids in the first 13 days of the program alone. [2] And last week the ACLU released a report with horrifying details about the rampant abuse of children in custody at detention centers in our nation. [3] The situation is critical. On May 23, Claudia Gonzalez, a young woman from Guatemala was murdered by a CBP officer at the US - Mexico border. [4] There are hundreds of stories like this, and thousands more of children and families torn apart by Trump’s deportation force. Trump's facts are wrong, his name-calling is wrong, his policies are wrong, his callously hurting children is wrong... and we can't let his destructive actions become the final say that our possible future great grandchildren will read in their history books. The unhinged and false narrative of Donald Trump is harming our children, hurting our nation, and damaging our economy: FACT: There is no flood of immigrants coming north as Trump has said. In fact, there has been net negative migration at our southern border for years, in that more people are (and have been) going south across the border than have been coming north. [5] FACT: There is no tide of murderers coming into the U.S. as Trump has said. In fact, research show that recent immigrants are significantly less likely to commit crimes than anyone else. [6] FACT: There is not a drain on our economy from immigrants as Trump has said. In fact, immigrants are a key economic engine in our nation, working in every field and paying taxes. Immigrants or the children of immigrants started 40 percent of our Fortune 500 companies, as well as many small and medium-sized businesses, employing many people and fueling our economy and lifting our communities and families. [7] And, as Money CNN reported: “The truth is that undocumented immigrants contribute more in payroll taxes than they will ever consume in public benefits.” [8] FACT: It’s not a crime to apply for asylum. In fact, it’s a right protected by our national and international laws. Even the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, part of the Department of Homeland Security, found that 88 percent of the mothers and children entering at our southern border had credible fear, including escaping extreme sexual and gender-based violence, that meets the threshold for qualifying for asylum, which is a protected international human right. [9] Yet most are being stopped from being able to exercise their legal right. Jeff Sessions must lift his policy of separating children from their families and prosecuting migrants crossing the U.S. - Mexico border, many of whom are seeking asylum! It's time to speak out, to stand for children, to spread the word around to your friends about what's happening so they can stand up, too, and to make your voice heard. Sign on now! [1] “Jeff Sessions wants illegal immigrants to know they’ll be separated from their kids,” Vice News, May 7, 2018. [2] “658 children separated from parents at the border over 13 days,” WBTW News13, May 29, 2018. [3] “ACLU Report: Detained Immigrant Children Subjected To Widespread Abuse By Officials,” NPR, May 23, 2018. [4] “She came to the US for a better life. Moments after arrival, she was killed,” CNN, May 29, 2018. [5] “Yes, we are experiencing a net outflow of illegal, undocumented workers from America back to Mexico,” Politifact, April 26, 2017. [6] “Contrary to Trump’s Claims, Immigrants Are Less Likely to Commit Crimes,” The New York Times, January 26, 2017. [7] “40 Percent of Fortune 500 Companies Founded by Immigrants or Their Children,” Forbes, June 19, 2011. [8] “5 immigration myths debunked,” CNN Money, November 20, 2014. [9] “Trump administration drafts plan to raise asylum bar, speed deportations,” Reuters, February 18, 2017.

Release Rafael Benavides from Immigration Detention Asylum for Berkeley’s Benavides-Pineda Family No Deportations! 1. We, the classmates, teachers, friends, church, family, and community supporters ask this Immigration Court to terminate deportation proceedings for Rafael Benavides, Annelise Pineda, and Oriana Benavides Pineda and grant them and the rest of the Benavides-Pineda family asylum now. 2. The Benavides-Pineda family entered the United States with legal travel documents. Active members of the opposition movement in Venezuela, Rafael and other family members have been physically beaten and attacked for protesting the Maduro regime. They are part of the mass exodus of political refugees from Venezuela, the largest in the Western Hemisphere, seeking shelter in the United States and several other Central American, Latin American and Caribbean nations. 3. Rafael Benavides applied for asylum for himself and his family in July 2017. On November 12, 2017, while vacationing in Southern California, the Benavides-Pineda family accidentally drove across the border to Mexico, a common mistake on a confusing highway. This accident has put the family in an impossible and unnecessary situation, where despite their pending asylum process, they were detained and placed in deportation removal proceedings. 4. Rafael Simon Benavides remains in a Georgia detention center, away from his family for having done nothing wrong other than an honest common mistake. 5. It makes no sense to keep Rafael locked up in a detention facility in Georgia while his asylum petition is being processed. 6. We know how much his wife and children miss him and how much his absence has affected their well-being and their ability to live, learn, and blossom in our community. 7. We believe that families have the right to be together, especially when there is no reason to keep them apart. THEREFORE, WE THE UNDERSIGNED: Urge the immigration court to terminate the Benavides-Pineda family’s deportation proceedings, and allow them to reunite and continue their struggle for freedom and hope through the asylum process.

This petition is jointly organized by Sanctuary DMV, the DMV Sanctuary Congregation Network, and LA RED/Faith in Action. Prince Gbohoutou of New Carrollton, MD is an asylum seeker from the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) who has been living in the U.S. for the past 12 years since he was brought here as a 14-year-old, is DACA-eligible, is married to a U.S. citizen, and has built a career as an artist. Prince was detained by ICE when he voluntarily appeared for his check-in on April 19, with his wife and two Sanctuary DMV accompaniers. On Thursday, May 24, two Baltimore ICE agents - without notifying Prince, his attorney, or his wife - took Prince from the Maryland jail where he was being held to their main office in Baltimore. They placed Prince in five-point shackles and drove him to JFK airport in New York. ICE planned to put him on a 9pm flight to Morocco on the way to the C.A.R. Prince repeatedly expressed his fear of returning to C.A.R., the country from which his deceased father had sought asylum and where his mother had been murdered by government officials. At JFK, the two Baltimore ICE agents who had driven Prince from Maryland called four to five additional agents to forcibly remove Prince from the van and into the airport. ICE agents beat his legs with nightsticks when he did not exit the vehicle. At the plane, Prince again expressed his fear to return to C.A.R. and the flight’s captain told ICE he would not take Prince on his plane. Thanks to Prince’s courageous actions and the captain’s refusal to be complicit in a deportation, Prince remains in the United States for now, where he can pursue his green card application through his United States citizen wife. Upon leaving the airport, ICE officers drove Prince back to Maryland, with one of the officers threatening that he would get no visits and no phone calls as a result of his actions. He was taken to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center (back in the jurisdiction of the Baltimore ICE field office), where he is being held now. Prince’s wife Shaniece and one of our organizers visited Prince at the jail on May 25, the day after his ordeal at JFK, and witnessed multiple bruises on both shins. Prince said he now has a minor limp as a result of his treatment as well. We’re outraged by the treatment of Prince and are deeply concerned about ICE retaliation against Prince for bravely asserting his fear of return even in the face of imminent deportation. We are requesting Prince’s immediate release, for his assault to be immediately investigated, and for the officers involved and their supervisors to be held accountable. ***** Con atencion a Dorothy Herrera-Niles, Directora de la Oficina de ICE de Baltimore Solicitamos la liberación inmediata del Sr. Prince Gbohoutou de la custodia del ICE. También solicitamos una investigación sobre los eventos del 24 de mayo, cuando oficiales de ICE golpearon al Sr. Gbohoutou mientras lo forzaban a tomar un avión para deportarlo (sin haber notificado a su abogado ni a su esposa). Los oficiales involucrados y sus supervisores deben ser considerados responsables de este abuso físico. Antecedentes: Prince Gbohoutou de New Carrollton, MD es un solicitante de asilo de la República Centroafricana (C.A.R.) que ha vivido en los EE. UU. durante los últimos 12 años desde que fue traído aquí cuando tenía 14 años de edad, es elegible para DACA, esta casado con una ciudadana estadounidense, y ha construido una carrera como artista. Prince fue detenido por ICE cuando se presentó voluntariamente para su registro el 19 de abril, con su esposa y dos acompañantes de Sanctuary DMV. El jueves 24 de mayo, dos agentes de ICE de Baltimore -sin notificar a Prince, su abogado o su esposa- lo sacaron de la cárcel de Maryland donde lo tenían detenido a la oficina principal de Baltimore. Le pusieron grilletes y lo llevaron al aeropuerto JFK en Nueva York. ICE planeó embarcarlo en un vuelo de las 9pm a Marruecos en camino a C.A.R. Prince expresó reiteradamente su temor a regresar a C.A.R., país del cual su padre ya fallecido había solicitado asilo y donde su madre fue asesinada por funcionarios del gobierno. En el aeropuerto JFK, los dos agentes de ICE de Baltimore que habían conducido a Prince desde Maryland llamaron de cuatro a cinco agentes adicionales para sacar a Prince por la fuerza de la furgoneta y llevarlo al aeropuerto. Los agentes de ICE lo golpearon en las piernas al negarse a salir del vehículo. En el avión, Prince nuevamente expresó su temor de regresar a C.A.R. y el capitán del vuelo le dijo a los agentes de ICE que no llevaria a Prince en su avión. Gracias a las valientes acciones de Prince y al rechazo del capitán a ser cómplice de una deportación, ICE se vio obligado a abandonar su intento de deportarlo. Lo condujeron de regreso a Maryland, con uno de los oficiales amenazandolo con no poder recibir visitas ni llamadas telefónicas como resultado de sus acciones. Fue llevado al Centro de Detención para Adultos del Condado de Frederick (de regreso en la jurisdicción de la oficina de campo del Baltimore ICE), donde se encuentra recluido hasta ahora. La esposa de Prince, Shaniece y uno de nuestras organizadoras visitaron a Prince en la cárcel el 25 de mayo, un día después de su calvario en el aeropuerto JFK, y presenciaron múltiples hematomas en ambas espinillas. Prince dijo que ahora también tiene una cojera menor como resultado de este trato. Estamos indignados por el trato a Prince y estamos profundamente preocupados por la represalia de ICE contra Prince por negarse a abordar el avión. Estamos solicitando la liberación inmediata de Prince, que se investigue inmediatamente su agresión y que los oficiales involucrados y sus supervisores rindan cuentas.

ICE is separating children from their mothers at the border, and have "lost track of" up to 1500 child migrants. The fact that this is happening goes so far beyond the bounds of human decency that it is intolerable to anyone with a shred of morality.

I understand we've had issues with immigration, but listening and reading about mothers and fathers being separated from their children is gut-wrenching and a heartless practice. I sincerely don't recognize our country. It has become a divisive tactic by our President.

I am a kindergarten teacher. This could permanently traumatize the babies and children. This is being used to punish immigrants which is what our country was built on. So sad.

I've heard from community members and activists about how this sheriff has defied SB54, declaring California a sanctuary state, by publishing the identifying information and discharge dates so that ICE can intervene before immigrants are released and start deporting them. He called the appointment of Judge Diana Becton, a woman of color, to the position of Acting District Attorney, "appointing her would be a slap in the face of law enforcement.' He has also banned CIVIC, a volunteer organization working in the ICE detention center, from their work in the jail, in retaliation for their reporting of abuse and medical neglect. He is running unopposed, largely because he intimidates potential opponents. Let's send a signal about our concern and opposition: Write in NO CONFIDENCE for Sheriff on June 5th.

Almost 12,000 spouses of active duty, reserve, and veteran military personnel are currently in deportation proceedings. Many of them have U.S. citizen children. We should not be tearing these families apart. H.R. 5593, the Patriot Spouses Protection Act, recently introduced in the House of Representatives, would enable these families to stay together.

Indianapolis has a history of welcoming anyone who comes into our beautiful city. It is time that we shut the door on ICE and continue that heritage of welcome by welcoming our immigrant brothers and sisters.

Karla came to the United States from Mexico right before her third birthday. She used to be ashamed and afraid of being undocumented. But everything changed in November 2012 when she was able to obtain Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Because of DACA, Karla was able to work as an intern at the University of Houston Law Center Immigration Clinic, where she began to champion her fellow immigrants by organizing DACA clinics, participating in actions, and organizing legislative campaigns to protect undocumented students just like her. This month, Karla graduated from law school and will continue to be a champion for immigrants as an immigration attorney. Congress has had MONTHS to act, yet they’ve still failed to pass a Dream Act that would protect Dreamers like Karla, and hundreds of thousands of young immigrants like her. They are as American as anybody else in their graduating class, yet they may face deportation if Speaker Paul Ryan and Congressional Republicans don’t act. Tell Speaker Ryan: allow a vote on the Dream Act now! We cannot keep putting the future of Dreamers on hold.

As a refugee, I feel like we need to stand up for these people. They are people that escaped home due to violence and persecution