We have reached a critical moment for immigrants. Congress is approaching a March 5 deadline for taking action to protect nearly 700,000 Dreamers and their families from the threat of deportation – a threat set by the Trump Administration to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) that protected many undocumented immigrants brought to the country by their parents, allowing them to work and attend school.
CALL CONGRESS ON MONDAY, Feb. 26
Please join the National Call-In Day to Protect Dreamers organized by the U.S. Catholic Bishops. Print and share this instruction sheet.
Here’s what to do:
1.) Call 855-589-5698 to reach the Capitol switchboard and press 1 to connect to your Senator. Once you are connected to the Senator's office, ask to leave a message for your Senator:
"My name is ____ and I live in (city or zip code). I urge you to support a bipartisan, common-sense, and humane solution for Dreamers: Protect Dreamers from deportation and provide them with a path to citizenship. Reject proposals that undermine family immigration or protections for unaccompanied children. As a Catholic, I know that families are not “chains,” but a blessing to be protected. Act now to protect Dreamers, our immigrant brothers and sisters."
2.) Call 855-589-5698 again and press 2 to connect to your Representative. Once you are connected to the Representative's office, ask to leave a message for your Representative:
"My name is ____ and I live in (city or zip code.) I urge you to support a bipartisan, common-sense, and humane solution for Dreamers: Protect Dreamers from deportation and provide them with a path to citizenship. Reject proposals that undermine family immigration or protections for unaccompanied children. As a Catholic, I know that families are not "chains," but a blessing to be protected. Act now to protect Dreamers, our immigrant brothers and sisters."
PRAY WITH DREAMERS on TUESDAY, Feb. 27
In response to requests from Dreamers for a demonstration of additional support from Catholic leaders, a group of Catholic social justice organizations with offices in Washington, D.C. have organized a Catholic Day of Action with Dreamers at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, February 27 starting at 10:30 a.m.
Click here to pray with us and follow the event online as it happens
More than 300 people are expected to join in prayer in the Rotunda of the Russell Senate Building, followed by an act of nonviolence civil disobedience by some while others visit various congressional offices to deliver the message that Congress needs to act now to protect Dreamers an support family unity.
CELEBRATE OUR SUCCESS SO FAR
Earlier this month a federal court in New York temporarily ruled that the Trump administration must continue the DACA program as it was before it rescinded on Sept. 5. Click here to read Maryknoll’s contribution to an amicus brief for this successful case.
Thank you.
In peace,
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns