Daily Dispatch 11/19/2019: #SaveAsylum

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InAlienableDaily Dispatch
November 19, 2019

This week we are joining with the Latin American Working Group, Alianza Americas, the Washington Office on Latin America and many others, to ! Today, and through the week (indeed keep at it as long as necessary), we are getting the word out to call members of Congress and demand that they defund/end the Remain In Mexico program. This is a good follow-up action for those who took part in the National Call-in Day to - as it is the same set of policies! From the :

The Trump Administration's immigrationviolate more human rights by the minute. 

Over 60,000 families, men, women, and children who have been returned to Remain in Mexico are waiting in danger throughout their asylum proceedings. And the numbers keep growing. The administration calls this the “Migrant Protection Protocols.” We call it the . This needs to end. We can’t let more people be turned away, waiting without shelter and in danger. 

Sham virtual courtrooms costing $20 million were created in tent facilities to hear 500-700 asylum cases per day. Apart from violating asylum seekers’ rights to due process, the public is also barred from entry. This is outrageous. The administration is trying to rush through these cases, denying asylum seekers their fair day in court to try to deport them more quickly. 

To add insult to injury, a transit asylum ban was implemented to deny protection to those who traveled through other countries first before arriving at our border, denying access to asylum to everyone but Mexicans. “Safe Third Country” agreements were signed with Central American countries that are not safe. This means that migrants from other countries will be sent back to the very conditions that they were fleeing in the first place.

These are not the principles under which this country was founded. We don't turn our backs on people when they need us most. The actions of our government undermine what it means to be an American. Join us in speaking out. 

Take Action!!

Here's what you can do to get involved:

Together, let's make their phones ring: 

    •         Call your representative and two senators.
    •         ​Sample Script: "My name is ____ and I am a constituent from ____. I urge Representative/Senator ____ to defund and terminate the harmful MPP policy. DHS must be held accountable for violations of the rights of migrants due to their policies. Asylum seekers should be allowed to wait for their asylum hearings in safety within the United States, not be sent to harm in Mexico to wait for months. I am alarmed that they are being returned to dangerous Mexican cities where they are at risk for kidnapping and extortion. I implore you to speak out against these policies. My community welcomes and values immigrants & refugees, and as someone who represents my community, I urge you to do the same." 

Together, let's get trending: 

Join us in this Week of Action to raise our voices and tell the administration that we will not let them shut the door on asylum. Your action is vital.