President Donald Trump has announced that the U.S. government will stop resettling refugees from certain countries; pause the entire refugee resettlement program for 120 days; preference religious minorities; and reduce the number of refugees we welcome at the very time when they are most in need of safety. These announcements fly in the face of our best values of compassion, hospitality, and welcome. With more than 65 million forcibly displaced in the world–the worst in our global history–it is more important than ever to take action by condemning this new policy.
Barring refugees from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen from resettlement and narrowly preferencing religious minorities is tantamount to a Muslim ban. And by reducing refugee admissions from 110,000 to 50,000, Trump is going back on America’s promise to refugees and abdicating America’s leadership role on human rights. Halting resettlement for 120 days will grind refugee processing to a halt. Each step of the security check process is time sensitive, so a pause will force refugees who were set to arrive in the United States soon to instead wait months and even years to go through fingerprinting, interviews, health screenings, and multiple security checks all over again, all while their lives are in danger.
These announcements are gut-wrenching for our community members who are waiting to be reunited with a sister, brother, parent or child, and for refugees overseas with no other options for safety than to be resettled in the U.S. We cannot discriminate against refugees for how they pray or where they are from. Refugees are the most thoroughly vetted immigrants in the United States, undergoing biographic and biometric checks, medical screenings, forensic document testing, and in-person interviews. It is critical that President Trump and all Members of Congress hear their constituents decry these announcements and declare their support for refugees from all over the world.
CALL YOUR SENATORS & REPRESENTATIVES TODAY! DIAL 202-760-4687 OR ENTER YOUR INFORMATION HERE AND WE'LL CALL YOU AND PATCH YOU THROUGH.
Sample Script: “I’m your constituent from [City, State], and I support refugee resettlement in the U.S. I am strongly opposed to President Trump’s announcements to stop the resettlement of refugees from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen; pause the refugee resettlement program entirely; preference religious minorities; and reduce the number of refugees we welcome. This discriminatory announcement is morally reprehensible, runs counter to who we are as a nation, and does not reflect the welcome for refugees I see in my community every day. I urge you to do everything in your power to see this announcement reversed.”
Please also share a personal story about why refugee resettlement is important to you, your community, etc. Let them know the specific ways that refugees contribute and are welcomed into your community.
All done making your calls? Now follow up with an email, Tweet or Facebook Post. We know President Trump is paying attention to social media. Let's show him that people of faith care about our refugees!