Advocacy Alert: Faith communities have an important role to play in advocating with our government officials on immigration justice. Consider organizing a faith-based post-carding or letter-writing effort, attending Town Halls, or organizing a delegation. Here are some action alerts you can use, or craft your own: 

• Tell Congress: Pass the VISIBLE Act to unmask ICE agents

• Tell Your Elected Officials: Stand with Refugees

• Tell ICE / Congress: Stop terrorizing children

TAKE ACTION: TELL CONGRESS TO STOP ICE ABUSES IN NC

Sample message:

As a person of faith, and a constituent, I am outraged to see the increasingly unconstitutional and immoral attacks against immigrant communities around the country and now here in NC. Masked armed men are kidnapping people, disappearing them, tearing apart and terrorizing families, even zip-tying children. In my community, our neighbors are scared to leave their homes, to go to church, to see the doctor, to send their children to school. This isn’t about public safety – ICE is rounding up people without any criminal record and without any due process. It’s not about immigration enforcement – ICE is rounding up people regardless of immigration status. This is an extremely dangerous abuse of power that erodes trust in local law enforcement and diverts critical resources which could instead be used for public welfare. Here in WNC, we believe in fairness, in keeping families together, in treating everyone with dignity and respect for rights. We know that immigrants make our community stronger. 

Congress has a duty to uphold the Constitution, to conduct oversight, and to stop these abuses. I urge you to contact DHS and demand they hold ICE and CBP accountable and stop terrorizing NC families. 

I respectfully request a reply as to what steps you are taking to defend the constitution and to safeguard the rights of our community against ICE abuses.

Send a LETTER: State who you are and why you care (e.g. a constituent, parent, person of faith, teacher etc); what the issue is and why it matters; what you want them to do. Add “I respectfully request a reply” and include your return address. 

Send a POSTCARD: Space is very limited. Write one or two short issue sentences, and one short ask. E.g. ICE is tearing apart NC families, targeting vulnerable children, and terrorizing communities. This is immoral and unconstitutional. As a person of faith, I urge you to protect your constituents by demanding DHS stop ICE abuses. On the back side, have your child draw a picture, repeat your ask or a faith-based message, or leave it blank. 

Make a CALL: Call the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and state the name of the member of Congress. Once connected to their office, ask to leave a comment. Leave a short message stating that you are a constituent, what the issue is, and your ask.

For print:

• Print version of this action alert

• Blank postcard template for print

Targets: 

Representative Chuck Edwards

1505 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Know Your Rights

If you don’t use your rights, you can lose your rights. Most legal protections in our country are protections that do not discriminate.

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Learn more here about your rights as an immigrant, and how to express them.