Category: advocacy

DACA

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DACA is in the news once again, and it’s time for a refresher. Much of the following information comes directly from the USCIS website.

What Is DACA?

DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood arrivals. What it means is that DHS (Department of Homeland Security) will exercise prosecutorial discretion to ensure that enforcement resources are not expended on low priority cases, such as individuals who came to the United States as children.

Who Qualifies for DACA?

Individuals qualify for DACA if they meet all the following criteria:

• Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;

• Came to the United States before reaching their 16th birthday;

• Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;

• Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making their request for DACA;

• Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012;

• Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a GED, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard  or Armed Forces of the United States; and

• Have not been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

What Does DACA Provide?

DACA gives undocumented immigrants:

• protection from deportation for two years;

• a work permit for two years;

• a social security number.

• In most states, they can get a driver’s license.

What Can DACA Recipients Do and Not Do?

DACA Recipients Can:

• get temporary protection from deportation for two years at a time. Renewing ones DACA status and work permit costs $495. As of March 2023, the processing time for DACA renewals was 3–18 months.

• apply for a driver’s license in some states. The licenses are marked that they cannot be used for federal purposes, like voting.

• DACA recipients are required to pay federal income taxes.

• request Advance Parole to travel outside the US for humanitarian purposes, educational purposes, or job-related purposes.

DACA Recipients Cannot:

• receive amnesty, a path to citizenship, or legalization.

• vote.

• receive any federal benefits, like Social Security, college financial aid, or food stamps.

• travel outside the US without special permission.

Where Does DACA Stand Now?

The following information is from the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC):

Yesterday, federal Judge Hanen ruled against DACA again. It is now up to the Fifth Circuit to decide the future of DACA and the case is likely to make its way back to the Supreme Court. Nothing has changed for DACA recipients with this latest decision. DACA renewals and Advanced Parole applications are still being accepted and USCIS is still not processing first time applications.  

Our hearts go out to all of the DACA recipients and youth who are DACA eligible but denied access to the program because of the previous court rulings. It’s deeply frustrating to witness how much DACA recipients contribute to this country, working tirelessly to build their lives here, and still be denied the same basic rights as those who were born here. It is a glaring hypocrisy – the US wants the labor and contributions of immigrants, but won’t extend the very rights they deserve as residents of this nation.  

What Can You Do?

Join me and CIRC in calling on the Biden Administration and Congress to take swift action to pass compassionate and comprehensive immigration reform for the millions of undocumented immigrants who contribute to the fabric of our communities and this country. DACA was never enough; Congress has had 10 years to do something about this and they haven’t. Their inaction is immoral and cruel. We cannot wait for the courts to decide the future of families. We need legislation that provides permanent security and a path to citizenship now! 

Current DACA recipients are encouraged to keep renewing their DACA status. The cost to renew is $495 – you can donate to our DACA Renewal Scholarship to support a DACA recipient to pay their steep renewal fee. For more resources and to stay up to date you can visit CIRC’s website and our national partners’ like United we Dream, the National Immigrant Law Center, and Informed Immigrant. 

I encourage you to not only sign on to the letter above, but also to watch this interview with CIRC employee, DACA recipient, and my friend, Nayda Benitez, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvxw3GN9RXM. The entire service honors Immigrant Sunday, or you can skip to 27:27 for the interview with Nayda.

Helpful Resources: Websites & Socials

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When I teach groups about the basics of US immigration policy, I always encourage participants to get their information from trusted sources. To assist in your quest for knowledge, here is a list of websites and socials that offer a plethora of information you can trust. Many of the organizations listed may be helpful in more than one category.

Policy/Law:

  • American Immigration Council
  • Center for Migration Studies
  • CLINIC
  • Migration Policy Institute
  • National Immigration Law Center
  • UNHCR
  • USCIS

Refugee Resettlement:

  • Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
  • Catholic Charities/US Conference of Catholic Bishops
  • Church World Service
  • Colorado Refugee Services Program
  • HIAS
  • International Association for Refugees
  • International Organization for Migration
  • International Rescue Committee
  • Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services
  • Office of Refugee Resettlement
  • Refugee Council USA
  • Refugees International
  • US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
  • World Relief

Non-Profits near the Border:

  • Artisans beyond Borders
  • Border Community Alliance
  • BorderLinks
  • Frontera de Cristo
  • RAICES
  • Salvavision
  • Sanctuary Works
  • Tucson Samaritans
  • Voices from the Border

Advocacy:

  • Accompaniment & Sanctuary Coalition Colorado Springs
  • ACLU
  • AFSC
  • Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition
  • Immigration Justice Campaign
  • Immigrant Justice Network
  • Interfaith Immigration Coalition
  • Kids in Need of Defense
  • National Immigrant Justice Center
  • Witness at the Border

News Media:

  • The Border Chronicle

Stats/Economics/Research:

  • CATO Institute
  • Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy
  • National Academy of Sciences
  • Oxfam
  • Partnership for New American Economy
  • Pew Research Center
  • Social Security Administration
  • US Census Bureau

Title 42 Update

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In my last post I told you that “On September 16 federal courts ruled that the government must stop expelling migrants under Title 42. But alas, this ruling does not take effect until October 1.” This morning I learned that an appellate court has issued a stay, temporarily allowing the U.S. to continue expelling people from the border under Title 42, potentially until the end of this calendar year. (https://lat.ms/3kXAJXR) That means that “repatriation” (expulsion) flights to Haiti continue, as will expulsion flights to other countries.

Why does this matter? Seeking asylum is a legally-protected human right, under both U.S. and international law. And the ONLY way for someone to request asylum is to physically enter the U.S. It’s impossible to apply for asylum from outside the U.S. Under Title 42, our government denies asylum seekers their due process rights to apply for asylum, instead expelling them to their country of origin or to Mexico.

The expulsion of asylum seekers also violates the policy of Non-Refoulement. The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner defines non-refoulement as follows:

Under international human rights law, the principle of non-refoulement guarantees that no one should be returned to a country where they would face torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and other irreparable harm. This principle applies to all migrants at all times, irrespective of migration status.

Click to access ThePrincipleNon-RefoulementUnderInternationalHumanRightsLaw.pdf

In many, if not most cases, Title 42 expulsions violate non-refoulement policies. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan “wrote that migrant families subjected to Title 42 ‘face real threats of violence and persecution’ and are deprived of statutory rights to seek protection in the U.S.” (https://lat.ms/3kXAJXR) “This month, former CDC officials and other experts wrote a letter to the Biden administration condemning the current policy as ‘scientifically baseless and politically motivated.’” (https://lat.ms/3kXAJXR)

Click here to learn more from the Catholic Legal Immigration Network about the cruelty and inhumanity of Title 42 expulsions: https://bit.ly/3mfiP2u

I have seen and experienced myself, while working at an immigrant shelter on the border, that all migrants were tested for covid immediately upon their arrival at the shelter. Shelters also offer free covid vaccinations to all immigrants, where we saw a greater than 90% inoculation rate—far greater than among the general public of U.S. citizens.

What can we do? Please sign on to these letters to President Biden asking him to stop deportation flights to Haiti:
https://bit.ly/3EJ5ffV and https://bit.ly/3ABV7mR and https://bit.ly/2XRAtkA

And to this letter from faith leaders and individuals of faith: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HRA6snP1wv1vKLt2SYkILVWdI41qwP7txLmSA8r88BE/edit

Yes, sign them all, and then share them with your friends. We must make our voices heard.

God’s Haitian Children

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Doubtless you’ve seen the news by now. Thousands of Haitians have arrived at Del Rio, Texas on the southern U.S. border in the past week. Estimates place the number around 15,000. They’ve mostly been waiting under the bridge on the Texas side for border patrol agents to process them. Many wade or swim across the river to the town of Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, to buy food, water, and other supplies. Through relationships I have with people on the ground in Texas and Arizona, I know that hundreds of Haitians, primarily families, are being flown to immigrant shelters in Arizona. But in recent days we’ve also seen how some members of border patrol on horseback have mistreated Haitian migrants in Del Rio. Migrants have been rounded up like cattle, yelled at, and forced into the river. More than a thousand Haitians have already been flown back to Haiti on deportation flights. Deportation flights continue today.

Obviously I’m upset by the inhumane, cruel way the U.S. is treating these human beings. But I’m also furious with the duality of thinking I’ve witnessed by Americans regarding taking in Afghan migrants vs. Haitians. Yes, these are two very different populations. Nevertheless, this latest incident, to me, reeks of racism. Americans are rightly lining up to welcome and help Afghan migrants, primarily because of a perception that they are good and deserving people because they helped the U.S. in wartime. Hooray! It’s about time white Americans get over their fear of Muslims. But who gets to decide which migrants are “deserving”?

According to the NYTimes:

At least 50,000 Afghans who assisted the United States government or who might be targeted by the Taliban are expected to be admitted into the United States in the coming month, though the full number and the time frame of their arrival remains a work in progress. More than 31,000 Afghans have arrived already.”

(https://nyti.ms/3o2YU9l)

I’ve heard people say that we can’t possibly handle the 15,000 Haitians at our southern border. Really? We’re (rightly) eager to welcome more than 80,000 Afghans, but we have no room for 15,000 Haitians? In 1980 the U.S. accepted for resettlement more than 200,000 refugees, many of them Vietnamese. Could the real reason be that we love to welcome war heroes, but not poor Black people? The U.S. has a long history of racist immigration policies, and this is only the latest example.

The administration is using Title 42—a harmful policy put into place by the previous administration which has endangered thousands of lives—to expel Haitians from our border before they can even enter. On September 16 federal courts ruled that the government must stop expelling migrants under Title 42. But alas, this ruling does not take effect until October 1. The cruelty boggles my mind.

Haitians have recently endured yet another political coup in their country, and yet another massive earthquake. It’s questionable how many of them arriving now would qualify for asylum, but we have no right to deprive them of their due process rights to apply. As with Afghans, current Haitian migrants should receive at least Humanitarian Parole, if not Temporary Protected Status and a pathway to eventual citizenship.

Doctors Without Borders states:

The United States government should suspend its expulsion flights to Haiti on humanitarian grounds. The insecurity that we see today in Port-au-Prince is the worst we have seen in decades. Armed groups have effectively taken over large areas of the capital and their attacks have forced thousands of people to flee their homes. More than half of the patients arriving at our Tabarre hospital in Port-au-Prince have suffered life-threatening gunshot wounds, often from high-powered firearms that have proliferated across the city. Armed clashes in two neighborhoods, Martissant and Cité Soleil, forced us to move longstanding medical programs to other areas of Port-au-Prince this year. Many people who have fled the violence are living in camps within the city in appalling conditions.

It is unconscionable to return migrants against their will to a situation of uncertainty and mortal danger. On top of this, Haiti’s southern region was hit by an earthquake less than six weeks ago, damaging and overwhelming an already overburdened health system. When people are seeking safety in the US, putting them onto planes and forcing them into this context is beyond inhumane.”

(https://bit.ly/2ZicXNT)

Read Catholic Charities’ statement here: https://bit.ly/3zyGRtL

Read the LIRS statement here: https://bit.ly/3zFkNxA

Daniel Foote, the US special envoy to Haiti, today resigned his post. Foote’s letter of resignation states, in part:

I will not be associated with the United States[‘] inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees and illegal immigrants to Haiti, a country where American officials are confined to secure compounds because of the danger posed by armed gangs in control of daily life.

The people of Haiti, mired in poverty, hostage to the terror, kidnappings, robberies and massacres of armed gangs and suffering under a corrupt government with gang alliances, simply cannot support the forced infusion of thousands of returned migrants lacking food, shelter, and money without additional, avoidable human tragedy.”

(https://wapo.st/39wW5ox)

I will remind readers and Mr. Foote that these Haitians are not “illegal immigrants.” Seeking asylum is completely legal under both domestic and international law. And there is no way to apply for asylum from outside the U.S.; one must be physically present within the U.S. to apply for asylum.

Many fleeing Haitians have already found their way somehow from Haiti to South America. South America! How? They’ve since traveled across that continent, through the lawless and deadly Darien Gap on the border of Colombia and Panama, up through Central America and all of Mexico to arrive at our borders. I defy you to breathe a word about these being lazy migrants. These must be some of the bravest, strongest human beings on our planet, simply seeking a safe place to live and work and raise their families. So stop. Just stop.

What can we do? Please sign on to these letters to President Biden asking him to stop deportation flights to Haiti:
https://bit.ly/3EJ5ffV and https://bit.ly/3ABV7mR and https://bit.ly/2XRAtkA

And to this letter from faith leaders and individuals of faith: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HRA6snP1wv1vKLt2SYkILVWdI41qwP7txLmSA8r88BE/edit

Yes, sign them all. We must make our voices heard.

WELCOMED Act

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Here’s an update to yesterday’s post, complete with a simple action you can take: Contact your Congressional representative and senators, and tell them you support the WELCOMED Act.

Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) recently introduced the Welcoming Evacuees Coming from Overseas to Mitigate Effects of Displacement Act of 2021, which would give Afghan evacuees with Humanitarian Parole the same benefits refugees receive, including employment authorization, access to medical and mental health care, housing and food assistance, English language classes, and job training.

Church World Service, Jesuit Service/USA, and Human Rights First all support the WELCOMED Act. I hope you will too. Here’s a sign-on letter to make things really simple! https://cwsglobal.org/…/urgent-action-tell-congress-to…/

The Video & Reviews Are In!

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Did you watch the panel discussion about “What’s Really Happening at Our Southern Border?” The reviews are in, and they’re fantastic! Here’s what viewers had to say about the event:

I really enjoyed yesterday’s panel discussion. I learned several new things and I’m glad for that. Thank you.

Great job tonight! Thank you for bringing these people together, I learned a lot.

I was so thankful I was able to hear each of the speakers and their passion for the immigrants. … It’s too bad that what we see on media is often not the real story. 

Thanks for your dedication!

So helpful, thanks.

Thank you so much!

It’s very important to bring awareness to this issue. Thank you Alvaro!

Thank you all.

Thank you for all your work!

Once again, so terrific last night.  Alvaro was stunning.  

 I learned a lot last evening.

EXCELLENT JOB!!!!!  It was awesome and was so well done!

Absolutely great, every one. 

Such true advocacy. 

Great webinar!  Very impactful! 

Thank you for your work.

Thank you! It was great!

Each one was so good and informative.

Great job tonight! It was so interesting to learn about everything from how covid affected the shelters to what it’s like to put up crosses in the desert. Your speakers are such dedicated advocates and practitioners. You put on a wonderful event and should be proud.

Thank you for putting together an excellent webinar.  The panelists are all such dedicated and caring people. Everyone should see the human face of the immigrants and the people who help them—we would soon have a humane immigration policy.

ICYMI, don’t despair: we recorded the event! You can watch it on demand here: https://www.facebook.com/236383033519515/videos/490954278780057. If you need a non-Facebook link, click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xQxkfXBHZ6r4mH-yAdPYnde6MsZMISP9/view

Please feel free to share this video far and wide. When asked what they need most, panelists responded that they need increased awareness—everyone should know what’s really happening on our southern border.

My heartfelt gratitude to each of the panelists: Joe Barron of Holding Institute, Diego Piña Lopez of Casa Alitas, Artist Alvaro Enciso, and Dora Rodriguez of Salvavision. Thanks also to Jerima King and Kim Pettit for the simultaneous interpretation to Spanish, and to Hannah Martin for the tech support.

If you learn(ed) anything from this event or are inspired at all, please generously support immigrants through the important work of our panelists at the border. See the graphic below.

Postcards from the Border: Day 5—Justice & Advocacy

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Tina Schlabach, pastor of Shalom Mennonite church in Tucson, reminded us that our justice work should be seen as reparation, as healing for all of us, rather than as white saviorism. We must both work for harm reduction and join the struggle for liberation, to change oppressive systems and structures. She also reminded us that justice work is God’s mission, in which we are invited to participate. 

Schlabach has led church members in visitation and letter writing to immigrants in detention, through the Casa Mariposa Detention Visitation Program. CMDVP provides support, friendship and encouragement to immigrants in detention in hopes of breaking the cycle of isolation. 

The Shalom congregation is inclusive and intercultural, incorporating three languages in their worship and life together. Members are actively involved in community and migrant justice work. 

Finally, Schlabach led us in physical healing exercises connecting body, mind, and spirit for justice work. Capacitar seeks to empower people to heal and transform themselves in order to heal injustice and build peace in the world. 

Our virtual learning tour ended with a discussion on how to advocate effectively for change, led by MCC staff.

With this virtual tour, I was happy to reconnect with some people and agencies I already knew. A refresher and update on the facts is always good too. But most of all I was encouraged to see the good work of people and agencies about whom I previously knew very little. There is a network of good being done at the border and beyond; many of the individuals and agencies are working together. I was likewise encouraged by my cohorts on the tour and the good work they are doing across the country.

If you enjoyed this series and want to learn more, I encourage you to read some books about immigration, starting with The House that Love Built, by Sarah Jackson. Watch some films. Participate in some classes and webinars—there are many available! And consider taking a border learning tour yourself, virtually or in person—it just might change your life. 

Learn more about Casa Mariposa here: https://donorbox.org/cmvisitation

Check out Capacitar here: https://capacitar.org

Learn more about MCC’s advocacy work here: https://mcc.org/get-involved/advocacy

Love in the Time of Coronavirus (reprise)

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Happy New Year! I recently received another stimulus payment in my bank account, which means it’s time for a reprise of my most read blog post ever. If you don’t strictly need that extra $600, please consider sharing it with people that do. Read on to discover a plethora of organizations that support precisely those people.

Like me, many of you have likely received a boost in your bank account recently, thanks to the CARES Act. Often referred to as stimulus money, CARES actually stands for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security.

Did you know that undocumented immigrants—people who pay sales tax, property tax, and often even income tax (using an ITIN or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number rather than a social security number) don’t receive any of the CARES money? These are people that often work in housekeeping, food service, construction, landscaping, and other vulnerable fields. Many of them have lost their jobs and their incomes because of the corona virus, and are precisely the people that need economic aid, relief, and security. In 2017 undocumented immigrants paid an estimated $27.2 billion in taxes! (https://americasvoice.org/blog/immigration-101-immigrant-taxes/) But they’re not eligible to ever receive Social Security, unemployment benefits, Medicaid, or CARES relief. So what does loving my neighbor in this time look like?

Though my husband and I have not left our house in several weeks except for walks through our own neighborhood, we’re doing fine. He still has an income, and we’re able to buy food and supplies online for home delivery or curbside pickup. If you, like me, continue to have a reliable source of income, please consider donating some or all of your CARES money to the people who need it most, to feed their families and pay rent and utilities. I offer here several suggestions of organizations that would be grateful to steward your gift in order to help those who need it most, regardless of immigration status. The organizations are listed by geographical region and by services offered. If you know of other organizations that I should add, please mention them in the comments or contact me directly.

Rest assured that donating your CARES money to undocumented immigrants and others in need will have a direct positive effect on the economy, as these neighbors spend the money locally on necessities such as groceries, utilities, and rent. What is aid, relief, and security to these friends quickly becomes stimulus to the economy for all of us. Please, give generously and share widely.

Colorado

Border States (CA, AZ, TX)

Other Regions

Nationwide

Emergency Relief / Direct Humanitarian Aid / Social Services

Legal services

Bond funds

END MPP

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I’m sure you all know by now or have heard what a disgraceful, dysfunctional, and dangerous situation known as MPP or Remain in Mexico is in place just south of our nation’s border. The New York Times covered the migrant camp in Matamoros, on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, across from Brownsville, TX here:  https://nyti.ms/32ta3EJ


Hundreds of asylum seekers are stuck in this camp (and others) as they wait for their turn to present themselves at the U.S. border. Some have been there for close to two years, since MPP went into effect. Since March, the border has been completely closed, leaving our neighbors in these camps in limbo until at least sometime next year. There is very little sanitary infrastructure in these border camps; the migrants are easy targets for cartels, and it’s impossible for them to socially distance or wash their hands frequently. 


I am part of a binational coalition along with migrants and volunteers in the Matamoros camp organizing a postcard drive to President-elect Biden, Dr. Jill Biden, and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The incoming administration has already pledged to end MPP within the first 100 days of their administration. That’s GREAT news! However, the U.S. is not prepared with the infrastructure necessary to compassionately process all the asylum seekers that have been waiting, or those who will soon arrive.


Please take the time to write a postcard to the incoming administration, thanking them for their commitment to END MPP and urging them to immediately invest in the necessary infrastructure to compassionately welcome and process asylum seekers. 


Here are the instructions:


1. • Print a postcard (on heavy cardstock) from this link: http://bit.ly/ENDMPP. Choose EITHER the postcard representing the state where you live, OR the postcard, labeled “aa NEW POSTCARD.pdf” OR…

• Find any postcard you happen to have around the house, preferably from your own state OR…

• Skip the postcard and type or handwrite (or even copy & paste!) your message on a sheet of paper OR…

• Email your message (see below).


2. Write your message. Your message should include four parts: 

• Congratulations on your successful election

• Thank you for your commitment to END MPP

• Now we need to invest in infrastructure (courts, immigration judges, access to attorneys, shelters, sponsors, etc.)

• I am echoing the voices of migrants at the border; I stand in solidarity with them. (Hundreds of migrants have already sent postcards.)


Here is a sample script; feel free to copy & paste or personalize this:

Dear President Elect Biden/Dr. Jill Biden/VP Elect Kamala Harris: Congratulations on your election. We look forward to a new American administration on January 20th, 2021 – An administration that encompasses compassion and honors the American dream for ALL. 

Ending MPP will save migrant lives – but this new administration must also prioritize the bulking up on infrastructure, personnel, and ability to compassionately, fairly, and quickly process those who have been affected by the “Remain in Mexico” policy for nearly 2 years. 

We have created a coalition with asylum seekers, migrants, and other American voters who are watching this administration’s actions. We are waiting with open arms to greet our migrant brother and sisters. We did our job to get you elected, now it is YOUR turn to help us save migrant lives. With their help, the help of a new compassionate administration, and the resilience of our people, we are more hopeful than ever to be able to partake in the American dream.

Also consider including language that encourages the incoming administration to think outside the box of previous ways to manage immigration: what could this process look like if we treated migration as a human right?

“A process that de-militarizes borders and partners with foreign countries and NGOs to enable safe migratory routes. One that welcomes migrants with dignity and a frictionless and rapid process at the border; one that eliminates detention. One that partners with NGOs to support and transition migrants into our communities. And, finally one that provides legal and case management support under a fair and compassionate adjudication process with a bent for inclusion, not exclusion. Make this work an example to the world of what is possible.”

(https://bit.ly/3nUtpLM)

3. Mail your postcard or letter to:

Mark McDonald
1163 1/2 State St.
Raton, NM 87740

OR…
email your message to Mark @ endmpp@gmail.com Be sure to include your name, city, and state on your postcard/letter/email.
DEADLINE: Please write and send your message ASAP. We want them all to be delivered to Mark by January 20th for hand delivery to the Bidens the following week, the first week of their administration.

4. Please SHARE with your trusted friends and networks. The more messages, the better. 

MIL GRACIAS! Thank you very much!

Love in Action!

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Love your neighbor. The concept is taught in all major religions, and is pretty much the basic rule of being a good human. Some would argue that loving others is humanity’s reason for being here. Some would say that we love God by or through loving our neighbors.

Are you looking for some practical ideas how you can love your immigrant neighbors? Look no further! There are ideas below to fit any budget.

Shoeboxes of Support

You may have heard about the makeshift immigrant camp in Matamoros, Mexico, on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, across from Brownsville, Texas. The New York Times recently published an article about it here: https://nyti.ms/32ta3EJ. Hundreds of asylum seekers are stuck in this camp as they wait for their turn to present themselves at the U.S. border. Some have been there for over a year, since MPP (Remain in Mexico) went into effect. Since March, the border has been completely closed, leaving our neighbors in this camp in limbo until at least sometime next year. Now you have the opportunity to send a shoebox of hope and support to an asylum-seeking child in Matamoros! Follow the simple directions below.

1) Find a (large) shoebox!

2) Fill your shoebox with a pair of brand new children’s pjs, socks, underwear, gloves, beanie hat, and a children’s flashlight including batteries.

3) Leave tags and packaging on clothing when possible for easier passage from U.S. to Mexico.

4) Say a little prayer for the child who will receive your shoebox.

5) Contact me directly for the mailing address.

Artwork by Asylum Seekers

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Maybe you’re looking for a little something special for yourself? The Sidewalk School at the tent encampment in Matamoros is selling artwork made by asylum seekers, including gorgeous masks, prints, greeting cards, and more. Proceeds go back to the artists. Check it out here: https://etsy.me/3laLWSG

Playground for Immigrant Camp

Volunteer engineers have been working in the Matamoros immigrant camp over the past year. Now they’ve designed a playground for the kids and have been given permission by the Mexican authorities to build it. You can help them fund the playground!

This go-fund-me is specifically to fund the playground in the Matamoros encampment.  It will bring some joy and happiness to kids who have lost so much of their childhood living in the camp.

https://bit.ly/3ptXRh4

Holiday Cards & Gifts

This is a great activity to do with children you might be homeschooling, or as a fun holiday project with any children in your life. But it’s not just for children!

Every year, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services delivers holiday cards and gifts to immigrants in detention and at shelters along the border. The card you send will likely be the only holiday card these neighbors receive, so you have permission—encouragement, even—to go a little crazy. If your budget is limited, use those free cards you get in the mail and add your own message and artwork, or make your own cards. Cards with stickers, glitter/glue, sequins, staples, or tape will not be accepted, but you can still get creative with your colored pens, pencils, pastels, and paints. Feel free to include greetings in Spanish! Samples are available at the link below. Do not include individual envelopes, and mail your cards before December 11.

Get all the details and the shipping address here: https://www.lirs.org/take-action/hope-for-the-holidays/. There’s a whole toolkit available, including a petition you can sign toward ending the detention of children and families, and an easy way to donate so that LIRS can also deliver gifts to children in detention and shelters this Christmas.

Kidney Transplant

Back in February I visited the Casa Alitas immigrant shelter in Tucson, where I met the lovely family pictured below. They had planned to go to California where a relative was going to sponsor them, but that relative ultimately was unable to take in the family of five. So they spent several weeks at the shelter, hoping to find a new sponsor.

At the same time, friends of mine in Colorado (some of whom I didn’t even know yet) were hoping to sponsor a family! I had the awesome honor to connect everyone via Skype. There’s nothing quite like being in the room when a family is invited by a stranger to come live in their town. Later that month, we met the family at the bus station in a snow storm. Welcome to Colorado!

The family’s mom, Nora, has a twin brother in Mexico who was recently diagnosed with kidney failure. He’s getting dialysis, which he can barely afford at $150 USD/week, but he ultimately needs a kidney transplant, at a cost of $20,000.

Please support the family’s GoFundMe campaign (link below) with any amount you can. You know how these fundraisers work: it takes a village of people who each donate a small amount, combining to make impossible things possible. If you can give five or ten dollars, please do. And if you can give more, please do. It takes every drop to fill the bucket. Thank you for your generosity and LOVE IN ACTION.

https://bit.ly/3iVrjJ8