Statement Re Detained Asylum Seekers at the Port Isabel Detention Center, Texas We are writing to express our grave concern about the ongoing detention of numerous asylum seekers in the ICE Port Isabel Detention Center, Los Fresnos, Texas. The great majority of these persons have never committed a crime. Moreover, they have families with legal status here in the United States who are eager to take them in while their immigration cases are processed. Prior to this administration, release of these migrants to their families would have been routine. These asylum seekers are now in danger of contracting the Corona Virus, or Covid-19, and suffering severe illness and even death. They must be released to family and friends forthwith. Keeping them in long term, unjustified detention under these conditions is the moral equivalent of locking them into a burning building. Hygienic conditions and medical care at this facility are shocking even during the best of times. The conditions are now unconscionable. The asylum seekers do not receive soap, only small packets of shampoo in the morning. Soap they must purchase on their own through the commissary if they can. The guards, arriving from their homes, walk in and out of the dormitories without gloves or masks, and go from one dorm to the other in this manner throughout the day. There are 70 men to a dormitory so social distancing is impossible. The men also eat in their dorms, with food workers bringing in the food trays, with gloved hands but no masks. There are four toilet bowls in each dorm, standing out in the open without any screens. These are cleaned in the morning and evening, but no cleaning materials are available in between. These conditions fly in the face of the precautions we are all required to respect. Many of the detainees have serious health problems. It is a matter of time until the virus strikes, and the results will be devastating. We know that the detainees have brought these concerns to the facility’s officers, but to no avail. The detainees also initiated a hunger strike on Monday, March 30, 2020. We understand that there is a grave risk of retaliation and intimidation should it continue. We demand that all migrants in the Port Isabel Detention Center be immediately released to their friends and family unless they have a criminal record clearly indicating a danger to society. Contacts: Madeleine Sandefur Jennifer Harbury ANGRY TIAS AND ABUELAS

THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF THEY ARE NOT RELEASED, THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY SITTING DUCKS WITH IMPROPER HYGIENE AND MEDICAL RESOURCES, AND THE CONTAGION FACTOR WOULD NEARLY GUARANTEE MANY MORE FATALITIES AT THESE DETENTION CENTERS THAN WOULD OCCUR IF THEY WERE FREED. IF WE ARE FREEING INMATES FROM AMERICAN PRISONS BECAUSE IT IS INHUMANE TO KEEP THEM LOCKED UP DURING THIS PANDEMIC.... WHAT KIND OF MONSTERS ARE WE IF WE DON'T FREE THESE PEOPLE AND CHILDREN, TOO???? HOW WILL WE LIVE WITH OURSELVES AS A NATION POST SOMETHING LIKE THIS???? THINK!

We’re all going to die or suffer terribly without it.

In reviewing the Code of Conduct set forth by NYS School Boards Association board members are to act as ‘role model to our students’. We believe that some board members have gone far beyond not following rules of order.

In the midst of the health and economic problems currently facing our country, our military people who are brave enough to serve do so deployed in forward areas. It is the individual Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine who forms the basic unit of our national defense. Our servicemembers who serve, do so depending on the officers assigned above them. Their lives depend on those officers entrusted with their care. In reciprocal fashion, commanders cannot fulfill their objectives if their personnel are inadequately supplied, or have medical concerns. A commanding officer is completely ineffective without operational personnel. Navy Captain Brett Crozier acted expediently to garner attention to the medical needs of his crew. We respectfully demand proper attention be given to Captain Crozier's crew, to absolve Captain Crozier of any wrongdoing in seeking prompt medical attention for his crew, and to initiate an investigation into the competency of those who would place blame of Captain Crozier instead of initiating immediate action to provide medical supplies and replacement crew members in the most expedient fashion. Ironically, Acting Navy Secretary Modly said, “Capt. Crozier is an honorable man who, despite this uncharacteristic lapse of judgment, has dedicated himself throughout a lifetime of incredible service to our nation and he should be proud of that.” [https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/military/story/2020-04-02/captain-of-coronavirus-stricken-carrier-theodore-roosevelt-fired-over-leak-of-letter-asking-navy-for-help] Thomas Modly noted Capt. Crozier's honorable record. He appears to have exercised extraordinary measure, not faulty judgment which begs the question why he felt this was his most expedient option. It wasn't a lapse of judgment at all, rather an act of heroism deserving of a commendation. The individual serving as Secretary of the Navy could follow Captain Crozier's exemplary action by placing those brave personnel in the highest priority as well. Such consideration could be a giant leap toward restoring the US Navy's great example of military strength.

Although, it is a great initiative to do distant learning, parents and/or students are not fully equipped, mentally, emotionally to successfully provide or acquire the education that is provided by an official educator. This initiative will also keep the educators and households sane as we survive and readjust because of this pandemic. It will also provide a more realistic grade point average for schools and students not to lose their academic status.

They put their lives at risk to serve & protect all of us.

Health care and other essential service workers have become sick and some may die over the lack of preparedness, even though these masks were changing hands and flying back and forth between countries since January of 2020

This week, Politico reported that there is “contentious debate” over whether or not companies should be allowed to use taxpayer money from the relief funds to lobby Congress. This is utterly absurd. Any companies receiving federal relief money must be banned from using it to lobby Congress. The lack of a strict ban on using relief funds to lobby Congress was a gaping hole in the original stimulus. Congress must act urgently to close this loophole. Source: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2020/04/01/corporate-america-might-need-more-money-from-congress-786576

As we just recently learned, The Sage Colleges has made the decision to cancel commencement and all related events for the undergraduate and graduate class of 2020. The President of The Sage Colleges, Christopher Ames, announced that the college will be developing an "online tribute" to students as a form of virtual-graduation. We are devastated by the decision to cancel graduation rather than postpone it to a time when there is not a threat of COVID-19. This pandemic has already taken so much from us. We have been unable to finish classes in person, health science majors have been denied the ability to do senior capstone clinicals in hospitals, and we have not been able to say goodbye to some of our closest friends. As students, we have dedicated four years of our lives and four years of tuition to The Sage Colleges. We have worked hard for our education, spent countless hours staying up late studying, getting up before the sun to commute to classes or clinicals, and for many of us we have even cried over classes. Although we were given the option to come back and graduate with the class of 2021, we deserve to be recognized with our friends and peers as the class of 2020. Both undergraduate and graduate students deserve to be honored for our hard work in an in-person commencement ceremony during the late summer to fall months, or when it is safe to gather. Parents, family, and significant others have also been by our side for the last four years supporting everything we accomplished. They deserve to watch us graduate and celebrate with us as we reach a crucial milestone in our young lives. I encourage ALL undergraduate students, graduate students, family, and students of future graduating classes to sign this petition and show President Christopher Ames that we are "Sage Strong" and we demand an in-person commencement.

Millions of college students have been laid off due to the COVID-19 virus, but under government regulations do not qualify to receive a stimulus check if they are claimed as a dependent by their parents for school. This act excludes thousands of working college students, with real bills, with no aid in paying their bills during this Pandemic. Sign this petition if you believe a working college student that pays their taxes and has other living expenses ie: rent, phone bill, car insurance ect. should be eligible in receiving some type of financial aid from the U.S. Government during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

We are working to expand access to free menstrual products (pads, tampons, liners, etc.) for all students who need them, including trans and non-binary students. We plan to work with on-campus resources to allow community members (students and faculty) free access to these necessities. Menstrual product access is a basic necessity for more than half of our student body. Currently, free menstrual products are provided in the Student Health Services building where you can only take two at a time, but nowhere else on our campus. Our campus lacks menstrual product dispensers in all bathrooms, therefore the only place to access these essential products is in the Student Health Services building. This does not assist anyone in need of these products during an emergency. Expanded access to these products is necessary to ensure the safety of students and faculty because this is an issue of hygiene.