ACT NOW: Protect Refugees from Restrictive Implementation of Admissions Bans
The Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees urges that its constituents take action to oppose the Administration’s continued efforts to constrict refugee resettlement and discriminate against travelers because of their ethnicity or religion. This week, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to partially lift injunctions against these bans and, while further litigation progresses, limit the entry of refugees, as well as travelers from Syria, Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan, to those who have a "bona fide relationship with a person or entity" in the United States. The definition of "bona fide relationship" is broad, and, MFA believes, covers virtually all refugees-in-progress. However, the Administration has concluded to implement the Supreme Court Order very restrictively – and began doing so Thursday evening, June 29 –discounting many family relationships and disregarding the relationships refugees already have with U.S. resettlement agencies. Indeed, resettlement agencies have already committed to the U.S. Department of State to resettle, by name, at least 26,000 additional refugees this year. This interpretation violates the Supreme Court's order, as well as U.S. obligations under international law and domestic statutes. It also flies in the face of American values and the precepts of all great faiths.
As the refugee ban goes into effect, many people are at risk for being turned away. Our elected officials must take a stand and urge the Administration to reverse course, before our country denies entry to victims of violence and persecution.
CALL YOUR SENATORS & REPRESENTATIVE TODAY: (202) 224-3121
Call your two Senators and your Member of Congress and use these suggested talking points to send a clear and succinct message:
I’m a constituent from [City, State] and I am calling to say that I support welcoming refugees to the United States.
I am concerned that refugees will imminently be denied entry to the country. I urge you to ask the Administration to reverse its restrictive interpretation of the Supreme Court’s ruling and allow all family members and people with U.S. ties and all refugees who are accepted into the U.S. refugee resettlement program to arrive here safely.
[Personal stories are very effective. If you have a personal story or reflection on why your values and history compel you to take action for refugees, add it here]
I also urge you to support admission of at least 75,000 refugees in Fiscal Year 2018 and to provide robust funding for overseas protection and vetting of refugees and for domestic resettlement services.
Refugee resettlement is in U.S. national security interests and refugees are a boon to our economy and to revitalizing and stabilizing America.
