Thousands of immigrant children have been separated from their parents at the Southern US border and literally held in cages with tin foil for blankets. President Trump just announced that he will sign an executive order to stop separating families at the border. However, there is still work to be done. Trump's plan only keeps families in jail together- it doesn't give them freedom, humane treatment, or the asylum they deserve. And, no plans have been proposed to reunite families that have already been separated. Here's what you can do to help these children reunite with their families and find asylum in the US.
1. Call Congress
This is a site that tells you who your representatives are and how to call them. The ACLU offers a script to help you find the words to say.
2. Sign the ACLU's petition
The ACLU has created a petition to urge Washington to make changes to stop abusing children at the border.
3. Text Resistbot
Text the word "RESIST" to Resistbot on Telegram, Messenger, Twitter, or 50409 on SMS, and they will find out who your representatives are, and you can tell them what you want to say to your officials.
4. Donate to One of the Following Organizations
There are many organizations that are providing legal, financial, and humanitarian assistant to these children and families. Here are some that you can donate to today:
- Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley is providing humanitarian relief to the families on the border.
- The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights work to assist unaccompanied immigrant children by fighting for their rights in deportation proceedings to promote the best interests of the children.
- KIND: Kids in Need of Defense works to keep children in the US who are seeking asylum.
- The Florence Project provides free legal services to men, women, and unaccompanied children in immigration custody in Arizona.
- Texas Civil Rights Project has been fighting for immigrants' rights and to end family separations, and has several protests planned.
- The ACLU is fighting legally to end the inhumane treatment going on at the border.
- RAICES has a Facebook donation page set up to reunite an immigrant parent with their child. Donations are being matched by several other organizations. Additionally, the #postcards4families campaign on Facebook will donate $5 to RAICES for every postcard kids write to separated children at the border.
- Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project works to prevent the deportation of asylum seekers fleeing violence. They accept donations and have volunteer opportunities.
- South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project is providing free legal services to immigrants detained in South Texas.
- Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso provides legal representation to immigrants who can't afford it. They accept donations and have volunteer opportunities.
- Together Rising is collecting money that will go to various advocacy groups that are working to reunite families.
- Justice for our Neighbors provides free and low-cost legal services to immigrants in Texas.
- Find even more organizations here and here.
