Dear John - Today marks the one-year anniversary since the Trump administration began its dangerous and illegal “Remain in Mexico” policy, officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). This policy has had a devastating impact on people like Irma*, a Salvadoran asylum seeker, and her children. She was kidnapped in late June with her three children, ages 3, 10, and 14, after being returned to the dangerous Ciudad Juárez by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Irma and her children were held hostage for days with little to eat. In early July, Irma’s family in the United States was forced to make a $2,800 ransom payment after the kidnappers sent threatening messages to Irma’s sister[1]. Forcing asylum seekers, like Irma and her children, to remain in Mexico while awaiting a decision on their cases is exposing them to even more of the violence they sought to escape. This must not continue. Ask your members of Congress to defund MPP and end this illegal and inhumane policy. The impact of this policy has had devastating effects on already vulnerable asylum seekers. According to a recent report [2], as of September 2019, at least 16,000 children and 500 infants were sent back to Mexico. While in Mexico, 201 children reportedly faced kidnapping or attempted kidnappings. Incidents of child trafficking and sexual assault while asylum seekers wait for their hearings are growing. As of this month, there have been at least 816 public reports of murder, torture, rape, kidnapping and other violent attacks against asylum seekers and migrants returned to Mexico under MPP. The right to seek asylum and to remain in safety while doing so is internationally recognized. For years, we have followed international and U.S. laws governing safe asylum practices. MPP has broken with that and must be overturned. Congress can end this policy by defunding it. Send a message to your members of Congress today and urge them to protect the rights of children and families seeking asylum by ending the “Remain in Mexico” policy. Thank you for being a voice for kids, | 
