This week, at least 29 Republican governors have said they oppose letting Syrian immigrants into their state following the tragic attacks in Paris. Unlike Europe, which has been overwhelmed by the crisis, the U.S. has a thorough vetting process for every refugee who is allowed to enter the United States. The typical process takes between 18 and 24 months. Furthermore, under the U.S. Constitution, governors can’t deny any group of people entry to their state, nor can they determine our federal refugee policy, which is set by the president. Statements attacking Syrian refugees make no one safer and create an environment where racist attacks are more prevalent. We can be a strong, secure country and a welcoming, moral one at the same time.

I am starting this petition because Gov Wolf has received numerous objections towards his decision to accept Syrian Refugees. I want to show him that there are many people in Pennsylvania who respect and support his decision.

Secretary of State John Kerry says a ceasefire between Syria's government and opposition could be just weeks away from reality, AP reports. [1] Kerry said the ceasefire envisioned by the political process agreed upon in Vienna on 11/14 would significantly help efforts to fight ISIS as well as end the Syrian civil war. “We're weeks away conceivably from the possibility of a big transition for Syria, and I don't think enough people necessarily notice that,” Kerry said. John McCain noticed, and he’s not happy. McCain slammed the ceasefire deal on NPR, on the grounds that it accepts that Russia and Iran have influence in Syria. [2] But a war to remove Russian and Iranian influence from Syria would be a long war indeed. Saudi Arabia and Turkey, key backers of the Syrian opposition, signed the deal in Vienna, but that’s not good enough for John McCain. Secretary Kerry has done what 55 House Democrats [3], led by Jim Himes, urged him to do: get a deal with Russia and Iran to end the Syrian civil war, so the world can cooperate to confront ISIS. As Rep. Himes said on the House floor at the time [4], Washington has to accept that a realistic political deal in Syria that allows the world to focus on confronting ISIS is not going to be “perfect” from Washington’s point of view. Urge Congress to support the Syria ceasefire deal by signing our petition. References: 1. http://news.yahoo.com/kerry-paris-consult-french-leaders-attack-082615127--politics.html 2. http://www.npr.org/2015/11/17/456326738/sen-john-mccain-on-isis 3. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/rep-jim-himes--54-house-d_b_8222622.html 4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/to-help-syrians-back-real_b_8474446.html

While many Americans have responded to the Paris attacks with compassion, Republicans—including 27 governors and many of the leading GOP candidates for president—are rushing to block refugee families from entering our borders. We all need to stand up, be counted, and reject fearmongering and the scapegoating of refugees.

Amidst growing anti-immigrant rhetoric that's harming our communities and our economy, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has dealt a cruel blow. They ruled against the President’s Executive Action on Immigration which would have protected millions of immigrant families from separation and allowed them to be more visible in their ongoing contributions to our country’s economy. However, the fight isn't over. We still have a chance to stand up for fair treatment of immigrant families and for our economy. To be clear, taking action is important for our families and also for our economy. Research shows that immigrants play a large and important role in our economy, founding many of our largest companies, as well as building small businesses that fuel our economy. [1] In fact, an estimated 30 percent of the small business growth over the last two decades was driven by immigrants — and studies also show that immigrants are more than twice as likely to start a businesses as U.S.-born citizens. [2,3] Immigrants or the children of immigrants founded more than 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies. [4] The executive action included two key programs: The expansion of a program for DREAMers (youth and young adults who came to the U.S. as children without documentation), and the establishment of a new program that would help undocumented immigrant parents and others - who meet certain criteria - to not be separated from their loved ones, as well as to work legally. (The programs are called DACA and DAPA, respectively.) But before these programs could be implemented, a number of governors and attorneys general challenged the executive action by bringing a lawsuit against it. Legal scholars say this politically motivated lawsuit has no legal merit. And leading economists have calculated that the two programs would add $90 billion to the nation's economy in an expanded workforce and payroll taxes. Help me tell the DOJ to move as quickly as possible to appeal this anti-immigrant lawsuit so that it can go before the Supreme Court! _______________________________________________________________ [1] "The Shocking Stats About Who’s Really Starting Companies in America," Fast Company. [2] "Immigrant Small Business Owners," Fiscal Policy Institute. [3] Ibid. [4] "Report: New American Fortune 500," Partnership for a New American Economy.

In light of the xenophobia around the country in response to the Syrian refugee crisis, Oregon should be a model of an enlightened state that does not give into waves of bigotry. Instead of responding with "no comment," Governor Kate Brown should unambiguously stand up for what is morally right and welcome victims of the war in Syria into our state, as Oregon has done for refugees from all over the globe for decades.

I have always been horrified that the United States turned back ships of Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany. I never want to see the United States take that route again. I also think that the only way to fight terrorism is to embrace our values so that people can see the clear difference.

My son was given a 25-year to Life enhancement on a 6-year sentence for a total of 31 years to Life at the age of 18 for assault with a firearm with no fatalities. It was his first offense and he was given an indeterminate sentence.

This country started as a melting pot and it should stay as such, regardless of what the 1% would like us to believe. We are supposed to be the home of the free and the brave--and that is what we should be showing the world by opening our borders to refugees, not turning our backs on them. Welcoming refugees fleeing from violence is the BEST possible way our state can show the true meaning of the words on the Statue of Liberty: "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Arkansans deserve a governor who embodies their generous nature, not one who cynically abandons the "Christian" values he espouses for the sake of perceived political gain.

We have Syrian refugees at the middle school where I teach. Their stories are heartbreaking. Most American families came to this country as immigrants. Illinois should be doing what it can to be tolerant and welcoming of Syrians who are fleeing the terrorism in their home country.

This is to urge the LAUSD school board to immediately rescind its contract with TFA for special education services. Our most vulnerable students deserve the most qualified professionals possible. Los Angeles Unified School District ratified a contract with Teach For America to provide trainees to fill 25 teaching positions in special education at its November 10, 2015, board meeting. There was no debate on the matter; it was hidden in the consent calendar with attachments of attachments buried deep. While Board member Dr. George McKenna raised important questions about TFA’s retention rate and its commitment to our students, the answers he was provided were misleading because they rely on unchecked data from TFA itself, according to a report in American Prospect (1/5/15). The truth is 87% of TFA recruits plan to leave teaching after their internships end, according to a recent article in Bloomberg News (3/9/15). LAUSD was only the most recent stop by TFA on a statewide campaign over the last few months making the same claims about the need for special ed TFAers. Most school districts from Chula Vista to Santa Ana resisted the sales job after public outcry. But those districts held actual discussions about the controversial contracts with TFA. LAUSD senior staff needs to go back to the drawing board to create partnerships with reputable teaching programs to recruit teachers who will be qualified on Day 1 and are likely to remain committed to the teaching profession. TFA is one of the tools that Eli Broad is using to attack our schools and undermine the very fabric of the public school system in Los Angeles (his foundation is a top funder of TFA). Our elected leaders just endorsed that by approving this contract. It should be rescinded immediately. We are a coalition of public education advocates that includes: Tina Andres, Santa Ana Unified teacher and special education parent Jameson Brewer, Ph.D. candidate, former TFA Anthony Cody, co-founder/board member Network for Public Education Josh Leibner, National Board Certified Teacher Cynthia Liu, K-12 News Network Ellen Lubic, Joining Forces for Education Carl Petersen, Change the LAUSD Sari Rynew, retired teacher Robert D. Skeels, Juris Doctor Candidate and public education advocate Julian Vasquez Heilig, Ph.D., Cloaking Inequity/Education Chair, California NAACP/board member, Network for Public Education Karen Wolfe, PSconnect Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.