TAKE ACTION! 4 Ways to Support Immigrant Families Before the End of the Year
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Dear Allies,
In the nearly 3 years that Donald Trump has been president, his administration has constructed, brick-by-brick, an invisible wall of policies that makes it harder for immigrants with low and moderate incomes to navigate the immigration system, as well as restrictions in basic-needs programs that make it harder for families to thrive and live with dignity. We won't stop fighting for immigrant families — and it’s a fight that, together, we can win. In these final weeks of 2019, we have FOUR WAYS for you to take action and #ProtectFamilies.
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1. Comment on the State Department’s Proposed Public Charge Form
The Department of State (DOS) has published an interim final public charge rule that will restrict people who aren’t white and wealthy from immigrating to the United States. DOS has also proposed an onerous new public charge form to accompany the rule. Public comments opposing this form are essential to block implementation of the interim final rule and to build the administrative record in case litigation against DOS is filed. We have drafted this PIF template comment to help you submit a comment opposing the form. The deadline is Monday, December 23. |
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2. Comment on USCIS’s Proposed Fee Hike
The Trump Administration has published a proposed rule that would make it impossible for many immigrants who aren’t wealthy to gain status or citizenship. The rule would raise application fees for citizenship from $640 to $1,170; for lawful permanent residency (LPR) from $1,220 to $2,195; DACA renewals from $495 to $765; and for the first time would create a fee for asylum applications. The deadline to comment is Monday, December 16. In less than 3 minutes you can submit a comment opposing the fee for asylum applicants or the increased fee for naturalization. |
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3. Submit Statements about how Trump’s Immigration Policies are Harming Children to the House Education and Labor Committee
Last week, the House Committee on Education and Labor examined how the Trump administration’s cruel immigration policies are preventing children and families from accessing basic programs and services, including public education and nutrition assistance. Witnesses, including a school superintendent, pediatrician, an immigration judge, and an early childhood expert, spoke about the impact of a range of policies on children's mental and physical health, education, and overall well-being. There is still time to submit written statements for the record to Paula Daneri at [email protected]v or to any committee member by Tuesday, December 17th. |
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4. Use Social Media to Fight Fear with Facts
Late last week, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a preliminary injunction granted by the district courts in Washington state that prevented DHS’s public charge policy from taking effect nationwide. However, DHS’s public charge rule remains blocked due to nationwide injunctions issued in district courts in Maryland and New York; their decisions are not affected by the ruling from the 9th Circuit.
Despite the fact that the DHS remains blocked by the courts, our state-based partners continue to share first-hand accounts of people in immigrant families who remain afraid to participate or allow their children to participate in health care, housing and nutrition programs. Their stories show us that it’s not enough to block a harmful policy – we must make sure that impacted individuals know about it. We encourage you to continue offering reassuring messages to community members that the Department of Homeland Security public charge rule remains blocked by the courts. We invite you to broadly share the PIF “Know Your Rights” materials, available in English, Spanish and several other languages. You can also amplify this tweet thread from CLASP.
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Thank you for your continued partnership!
Madison Allen, Center for Law and Social Policy, &
Sonya Schwartz, National Immigration Law Center
Visit us at https://protectingimmigrantfamilies.org/
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