WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) – In the final hours before the House votes, 350 organizations from across the nation have come together to express their vehement opposition to the Ryan immigration bill, which fails to put an end to President Trump’s family separation policy and also puts children and their parents in internment camps.
In the letter, the Women’s Refugee Commission, Human Rights Watch, the Japanese American Citizens League, Bend the Arc, and over 300 organizations enumerate their shared grievances, stating that the bill does not end family separation and “slashes our family-based immigration system, guts our asylum laws, waives laws that protect communities within 100 miles of the borders and wastes $23 billion taxpayer dollars to build a wall and militarize border communities.”
Despite Speaker Ryan’s claims today, the bill contains no provision to end family separations, does not compel the administration to change their policy and incarcerates children and families while eliminating standards of care for children. Together, these organizations implore Congress to put morality before party and pass bipartisan, humanitarian legislation, quickly.
Text of the letter is below
June 20, 2018
Dear Members of Congress,
We, the below signed organizations, write to express our grave concerns with Speaker Ryan’s Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018 and to urge all Members of Congress to vote against this bill. The Border Security and Immigration Reform Act, or Speaker Ryan’s bill, slashes our family-based immigration system, guts our asylum laws, waives laws that protect communities within 100 miles of the borders and wastes $23 billion taxpayer dollars to build a wall and militarize border communities. It does provide limited protections for DACA-eligible individuals, but these protections are less robust than even what the President has proposed and the bill harms immigrant youth and their families more than it actually protects them. Nothing in this bill prevents the U.S. government from taking children from their parents and in fact, this bill actually puts children in more danger by keeping them in jail for longer periods of time with fewer standards for their wellbeing. We call on all Members of Congress to reject this bill and adopt a truly bipartisan compromise that provides a permanent solution for Dreamers without harming immigrant families, like the Dream Act or other similar legislation.
Under Speaker Ryan’s bill, Dreamers are at the mercy of an untested point system that creates a confusing, convoluted path to citizenship that could take more than 20 years. Some Dreamers who don’t have enough “points” would never get a path to citizenship. Furthermore, the bill would hold Dreamers ransom to border money; if DHS uses the border money for other purposes, the path to citizenship for Dreamers will be eliminated. Tying the future of the youngest and newest Americans to $23 billion dollars in border spending and a more than 30 percent increase in Border Patrol agents is wasteful spending and it’s wrong, especially given recent reports of CBP abuses. Recently, Border Patrol agents killed 20-year-old Claudia Gómez Gónzalez, a Guatemalan woman crossing the border, by shooting her in the head. We reject the massive increased funding to the agencies included in the bill–funding that will be used to continue to expand the cruel and un-American separation of families. We urge Members of Congress to adopt border security grounded in accountability, strict Congressional oversight and the needs of local communities and to cut funding for border militarization, detention, and deportations. We further urge all Members of Congress to reject any approach that uses Dreamers as bargaining chips to enact an anti-immigrant agenda.
This bill keeps families apart and blocks American citizens from reuniting with their married adult children and siblings abroad. U.S. citizen family members who have been in line for over a decade would lose their place in line for a green card and be left with no alternative path to reunification. In addition, the bill terminates the Diversity Visa program, specifically targeting Black immigrants from African countries, which would make our immigration system less equitable and less diverse. We cannot stand for any compromises to our immigration system that refuse to value our families. Nothing in this bill prevents the Trump administration from taking children from their parents – despite claims to the contrary. The current mass separations are a matter of policy – not law – and this bill does not compel the administration to change its policy. Not only does it not solve this abhorrent, manufactured crisis, it actually puts children in more danger by stripping away decades of bipartisan protections. With this bill, children will be deported more quickly to some of the most dangerous countries on Earth and if they aren’t deported quickly, they will languish for longer periods of time in immigration jails in even worse conditions than currently sanctioned under the law. These provisions directed at children are part of a broader assault on the asylum system in this bill, including significant narrowing of the grounds to apply for asylum and unilaterally declaring any country, including Mexico, a safe third country. The result would be a dramatic reduction in the number of people who are able to obtain humanitarian protection in the U.S.
This bill fails to live up to the ideals enshrined in the Statue of Liberty and to the best of what this nation can be. At this critical juncture in our nation’s history when our moral credibility is at stake, we must stand for what is right. We urge Members of Congress to vote “no” on Speaker Ryan’s bill, the Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018.
Signed,
National Organizations
ACCESS
Action Group Network
Action Together Network
ALAS – Alianza Latina en Contra la Agresión Sexual
Alliance for Climate Education (ACE)
America’s Voice
American Dance Therapy Association
American Federation of School Administrators
American Federation of Teachers
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Arte Sana
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF)
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO
Asian Pacific Institute on Gender Based Violence
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Bend the Arc Jewish Action
Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association
Blue Future + the Youth Progressive Action Catalyst
Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities
Center for American Progress
Center for Biological Diversity
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
Center for Survivor Agency and Justice
Center for Victims of Torture
Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc. (CDM)
Church World Service
Citizens for Criminal JUSTICE
Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues
Climate Hawks Vote
Coalition on Human Needs
Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach
Columbia Law School Immigrants’ Rights Clinic
Common Defense
Community Food and Justice Coalition
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Courage Campaign
Democrats for Education Reform
Earthjustice
Economic Policy Institute Policy Center
Endangered Species Coalition
Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM)
Family Equality Council
Family Values @ Work
Farmworker Justice
Food Empowerment Project
Franciscan Action Network
Freedom for Immigrants
Freedom Network USA
Friends of the Earth
Futures Without Violence
Great Old Broads for Wilderness
GreenLatinos
Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network
Healthy Teen Network
Hip Hop Caucus
Hispanic Federation
Human Rights Campaign
Human Rights First
Human Rights Watch
Immigrant Defense Project
Immigrant Legal Resource Center
Immigration Hub
In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda
Indivisible
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Japanese American Citizens League
Jewish Women International
Jobs With Justice
Justice Strategies
Justice, Peace and Integrity for Creation Committee of the Sisters of St.Francis of Philadelphia
Latin America Working Group (LAWG)
Latino Victory Project
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
League of Conservation Voters
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
Main Street Alliance
MALDEF
Mi Familia Vota
MomsRising
MoveOn
NAACP
NACA Inspired Schools Network
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
National Action Network
National Alliance to End Sexual Violence
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF)
National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders
National Black Justice Coalition
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Center for Transgender Equality
National Council of Jewish Women
National Education Association
National Employment Law Project
National Family Farm Coalition
National Immigrant Justice Center
National Immigration Law Center
National Institute for Reproductive Health
National Korean American Service and Education Consortium
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association
National Network for Arab American Communities
National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
National Network to End Domestic Violence
National Organization for Women
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA)
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
National Women’s Law Center
Natural Resources Defense Council
NDWA/We Belong Together
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Northern Jaguar Project
OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates
Peace Roots Alliance
Pesticide Action Network
Physicians for Human Rights
Physicians for Reproductive Health
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
PolicyLink
Postcards for America
Progressive Turnout Project
RISE Stronger
Rural Advancement Fund of the National Sharecroppers Fund
Rural Coalition
Rural Development Leadership Network
School Social Work Association of America
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
SIECUS
Sierra Club
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)
Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC)
Stand for Children
Student Action with Farmworkers
The Climate Reality Project
The East Coast Asian American Student Union
Third Way
Truman National Security Project
UFW Foundation
Union of Concerned Scientists
UNITE HERE
United Farm Workers (UFW)
United Steelworkers
United We Dream
Voices for Progress
Voto Latino
Women’s March
Women’s Refugee Commission
World Farmers
Young Democrats of America
State and Local Organizations
Action Together NJ Atlantic County
Action Together Suncoast Indivisible
AFGE Local 3354
Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Alliance San Diego
American Indian Mothers Inc. (AIMI)
Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Arkansas United Community Coalition
Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake Counties Farmers Union (Ohio)
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta
Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago
Asian Americans Advancing Justice-LA
Asian Law Alliance
Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council
California Coalition Against Sexual Assault
California Council of Churches IMPACT
California Institute for Rural Studies
California League of Conservation Voters
California Partnership to End Domestic Violence
California Voices for Progress
Campaign for America’s Future
Campesinos Sin Fronteras
Carmel Valley Women’s Network
CASA
Central American Resource Center
Central Washington Justice For Our Neighbors
Chispa Arizona
Chula Vista Partners in Courage
Circle of Health International
Cleveland Jobs with Justice
CLUE-Ventura County
Coalición de Derechos Humanos
Coalition Ending Gender-Based Violence
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
Colectiva Legal del Pueblo
Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Communities for a New California Education Fund
Community Farm Alliance
Concerned Citizens of Tillery
Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence
Connections for Abused Women and their Children
Conservation Voters New Mexico
Crooked River Action
Dakota Sustainability League of North Dakota (DSL-ND)
DCADV
Dove, Inc.
DOVES of Big Bear Valley, Inc.
Earth Ethics, Inc.
El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos
El Pueblo, Inc.
El Vínculo Hispano / Hispanic Liaison – North Carolina
End Domestic Abuse WI
Equality North Carolina
Esperanza Community Housing Corporation
Esperanza Education Fund
EverThrive Illinois
Faith Action Network – WA State
Farmworker Association of Florida
Filipino Advocates for Justice
FL Immigrant Coalition
Florida Council Against Sexual Violence
Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, US Area
Freedom House
Friends Committee on Legislation of California
Friends of Broward Detainees
Frontera de Cristo
Fuerza del Valle
GAPIMNY—Empowering Queer & Trans Asian Pacific Islanders
Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO)
Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus
Herd on the Hill
Hispanic Federation – Connecticut
Hispanic Federation – Florida
HOPE of East Central Illinois
HOPE of Ogle County
Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence
Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Illinois Environmental Council
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault
Indivisible Nation BK
Indo-American Democratic Organization/IADO
International Community Health Services
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Jane Doe Inc, the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence
KAN-WIN
Kansas Black Farmers Association
Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence
La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE)
Land Stewardship Project
Latino Community Fund (LCF Georgia)
Latino Community Fund of Washington State
Legal Aid Justice Center
Legal Voice
Little Tokyo Service Center
LOCAL in Central CT
LOCAL in Northeastern CT
LOCAL in Southeastern CT
Lorain Ohio Immigrant Rights Assoc.
Los Angeles Black Worker Center
Los Angeles LGBT Center
Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Maine Conservation Voters
Make the Road New York
Make the Road Pennsylvania
Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition
Michigan Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence
Migrant Center for Human Rights
Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women
Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance
Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (MCADSV)
Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
Monterey Peace and Justice Center
Monterey Peninsula Society of Friends (Quakers)
MS Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Mujeres Latinas en Accion
Mutual Ground, Inc.
NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
Nevada Conservation League
New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault
New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence
New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc.
New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence
Nicodemus Educational Camps
North Carolina Justice Center
North Shore Democrats For Progress
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP)
Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence
Ohio Domestic Violence Network
Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project, Inc.
OneAmerica
Oregon League of Conservation Voters
PathWays PA
Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape
Physicians for Social Responsibility -Los Angeles
Progreso: Latino Progress
Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada
Promise Arizona
Reformed Church of Highland Park
Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence
RISE District
RISE Together Piedmont Triad
Safe Ag, Safe Schools Monterey County
Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments (SAVE), Inc
Safe Passage
San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium
SC Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network (SIREN)
Sexual Assault Network of DE
SHALVA, INC.
South Bay People Power
South Suburban Family Shelter
South Texas Human Rights Center
Southeast Immigrant Rights Network
Southland Resistance
Southwest Environmental Center
STAND CENTRAL NJ
Stopping Woman Abuse Now
Suit Up Maine
SURJ of Southwest Michigan
Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition
Texas Organizing Project
The Children’s Partnership
The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project
Tri-Valley Haven
Turning Point, Inc.
Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
Violence Free Colorado
Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance
W.O.M.A.N., Inc.
Wallingford Indivisible
Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs
Washington Conservation Voters
Washington Environmental Council
Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network
Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV)
Welcoming our Immigrant Neighbors of Northern Virginia (WIN-NOVA)
Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice
Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters
Woodstock Immigrant Support (WIS)
Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
YWCA Greater Austin
YWCA of the Sauk Valley