Shoulder to Shoulder
Calls to Action
Protect Afghan Women and Support Urgent Afghan Refugee Resettlement
Over the last few days the world has been witness to the precipitate fall of the Afghan government and army. The rapid entry of the Taliban into all major Afghan cities has exposed countless American citizens and our Afghan allies to violence and retribution at the hands of the invading army. While the situation on the ground is rapidly changing, it is clear the U.S. government is making significant efforts to airlift out U.S. citizens, as well as those who were directly employed by the U.S. government.
But it is not clear that there is a pathway to safety for women who are not directly employed by our government. Afghan women who under the U.S. occupation provided education or humanitarian aid, supported democracy, or worked with the press are in particular danger from the Taliban.
You can find more background information from MWEG here.
Contact the administration and Congress, expressing your support for a multi-pronged process:
First, providing the funding necessary to mitigate this humanitarian disaster.
Second, shifting current immigration policies that hamper relief efforts. This could be done in a number of ways, including transporting at-risk Afghans to safety before initiating the refugee settlement process, increasing the refugee ceiling, changing the requirements for visas offered through the Department of State, raising the ceiling on the current refugee cap, expediting processing for SIV and P2 visa applicants, and implementing the use of humanitarian parole. This parole process would allow individuals and nonprofit organizations to provide sponsorship to Afghans seeking refuge in our country.
Click below to begin writing your email. (To have an even greater impact, call your members of Congress as well.)
Ask Congress to Support Dreamers and Pass the American Dream and Promise Act
The American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 is a bipartisan bill that would provide permanent protection and a pathway for Dreamers (children who arrived in the U.S. without documentation) to receive citizenship. This bill has been introduced repeatedly since 2001 and has received bipartisan support. The House passed the Dream Act, but the bill is currently held up in the Senate.
On July 16, 2021, a federal judge ruled that accepting new DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) applications is illegal. While this does not change the status of current DACA recipients, it does bar new applicants, emphasizing the need for legislative action. Executive orders are insufficient because future administrations or courts could revoke protected status and potentially deport Dreamers to countries they do not even remember living in. Until the Dream Act is passed, DACA recipients, also known as Dreamers, will remain in a state of uncertainty. The Dream Act will provide a path to citizenship for millions of individuals who feel completely American in everything but name. They already contribute to our communities, but citizenship will allow them the security of being able to further their education, find meaningful employment, pay taxes, invest in their communities, and bring their full commitment to our nation without fear of future deportation.
You can read more here. Then write your senators to ask them to support the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021. After you enter your information, you can edit your letter and add a personal statement to let your senators know why this is important to you. (Remember the Principles of Peacemaking.)
Tell Congress that Families Belong Together and You Care About the 545 Children Whose Parents Cannot be Found
Discover more ways you can support immigration reform!
Sign in to your MWEG Portal account or set up an account here to access the resources below.
Find informational materials, events, and other opportunities to get involved in immigration advocacy work.
Watch our previous immigration-focused Town Halls and Deep Dives here.
Get connected with other MWEG members by engaging in the Shoulder to Shoulder Community in the MWEG Portal.
Thank you for taking action!
We hope this tool has helped you to quickly take action on issues that are important to you.