Immigrant Family Separation

In a Free Society, Some are Guilty, All are Responsible

As many of you know there is a crisis on our southern border. Children as young as four are being separated from their parents and placed in detention facilities while their parents, often asylum seekers fleeing conditions we cannot even begin to imagine, are processed as criminals for illegally entering the United States. 

The Jewish community has taken a strong stand against this policy of family separation. Many of you have asked what you, as individuals, can do. The Social Action Committee has put together a list of actions we, as citizens, can take to address this situation in meaningful ways. 

Things you can do:

1. Call Congress 
Call both your senators and your representative and tell them you are against family separation at the border. Ask them to support public hearings to hold the administration accountable for what it is doing on the border. Urge them to support Senator Dianne Feinstein's Keeping Families Together Act.

**Call daily until you see action. 
Senator Burr (202) 224-3154, (336) 631-5125
Senator Tillis (202) 224-6342, (919) 856-4630 
Rep David Price (NC-04): (202) 225.1784, (919) 967.7924
Rep George Holding (NC-02): (202) 225-3032, (919) 782-4400

2. Learn more

The United States has signed onto international treaties upholding the rights of individuals with a well-founded fear of persecution to seek asylum - at their port of entry (with or without authorization) or when they are within the country. 

HIAS/ VOX: The Trump administration's separation of families at the border, explained
https://www.vox.com/2018/6/11/17443198/children-immigrant-families-separated-parents

Listen to HIAS' May 24 conference call on Protecting Asylum in America

3. Donate to organizations supporting immigrants seeking asylum
There are many groups working on this issue - some helping asylum seekers on the border, others helping people in our own communities, and others working on changing policy at the national level. Find a group whose work speaks to you and contribute what you can.

• Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, TX is collecting diapers, deodorant, toothpaste and other basic supplies for the immigrants they are housing. Here is their amazon.com wish list: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/ls?lid=1IDI00J4CWGWO...
   
• Donate to a bond fund to help detained immigrants reunite with their families: 
  https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/bondfund?source=direct_link
   
• Support our two refugee resettlement programs in Raleigh/ Wake County: 

1. U.S. Committee on Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) - North Carolina (http://refugees.org/field-office/north-carolina/)
2. Lutheran Services Carolinas (lscarolinas.net)

• Support the Girls. (http://isupportthegirls.org) Service organizations on the border need help with bras and underwear for female detainees. $65.00 sends 200 bras to Texas. Follow link on their website or search PayPal for IInfo@iSupportTheGirls.org

Other important links:

Bend the Arc: We Declare a State of Moral Emergency.  Sign Petition
https://www.bendthearc.us/moral_emergency

Anti-Defamation League: Separating immigrant children is cruel, unethical, and un-American.  Sign Petition
http://action.adl.org/immigrant-families2/

Jewish Communal Letter Condemning Family Separation Policy (for organizations)
https://www.ou.org/community/notices/jewish-communal-letter-condemning-family-separation-policy/

HIAS: Deciphering Recent Threats to Asylum Seekers
https://www.hias.org/blog/deciphering-recent-threats-asylum-america