Thursday Calls: Immigration and Puerto Rico

****Actions 2/6/2020****

FEDERAL:

Demand the Immediate Release of Aid to Puerto Rico:
[From 5 Calls] Since mid-December 2019, hundreds of earthquakes have rocked the US territory of Puerto Rico, devastating infrastructure and leaving millions without power or safe shelter. The earthquakes are a cruel blow to an island still struggling to recover from two catastrophic and deadly hurricanes in 2017.

Puerto Rico’s slow recovery from the 2017 hurricanes is hardly a surprise given the US government’s ongoing failure to adequately fund disaster relief. While Congress allocated billions in disaster relief funding to Puerto Rico over a year ago, less than half of that money has actually been disbursed, and even less money has been actually spent. Now, the Trump administration has imposed further restrictions on distribution of aid to Puerto Rico. These restrictions, which include a ban on funding fixes to the island’s power grid and suspension of the $15 hourly wage for federal disaster relief work, further ensure Puerto Ricans will not receive the money they need to rebuild.

The Trump administration, consistent with its history of white supremacist policies, is callously ignoring thousands of United States citizens in Puerto Rico. Congress must advocate for immediate disbursement of disaster relief aid to Puerto Rico and oppose the Trump administration’s stringent limitations on aid distribution.

Script:
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from zip code ___________  to urge Rep./Sen. ___________ to oppose the stringent restrictions the Trump administration has applied to disaster relief funding for Puerto Rico. These restrictions ensure fellow Americans will not get the immediate help they need to recover after the series of devastating earthquakes that began in December. Trump's aid restrictions will only make it impossible for the island to fully recover. Thank you.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/

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Demand that Congress Act to End Abuses of Migrant Detainees:
[From 5 Calls] Appalling stories continue to emerge about abuses of immigrants detained at the border. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is currently detaining over 53,000 immigrants in jails nationwide. The record-breaking spike in immigrant detention stems from a Trump administration policy to arrest nearly all undocumented immigrants. The draconian policy has led to dangerous overcrowding at ICE facilities, with one processing facility holding 900 people despite having a maximum capacity of 125. The explosion of detentions has also masked horrifying human rights abuses by immigration enforcement, including the unjustified separation of children from their families, confiscation of immigrants’ necessary medication, the abandonment of 37 children in a van in the Texas heat for 39 hours, and ongoing denial of necessary medical care to detainees—sometimes with deadly consequences. Meanwhile, an 800,000 case backlog in the overloaded, under-resourced immigration court system guarantees immigrants will languish in dangerous conditions for far too long.

Having directly manufactured this humanitarian crisis, the Trump administration continues to expand detention facilities and refuses accountability for ICE and Border Patrol’s abuses. Congress must demand an end to mass detention of all undocumented immigrants, and advocate for sufficient funding for the immigration court system to alleviate overcrowding. The Trump administration’s treatment of desperate immigrants seeking safety in the United States is a crime against humanity, and Congress must treat it as such.

Script:
Hi, my name is ____________ and I'm a constituent from zip code __________. I'm outraged by the reports of abuses of detained immigrants, from massive overcrowding to denial of basic sanitary supplies to children. I urge Rep./Sen. ________ to demand a robust investigation of immigration enforcement practices and detention conditions, and an end of the mass detention of all undocumented immigrants. Thank you.

Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/

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Empty Chair Town Hall for Senator Thom Tillis:

***Please RSVP, so we can promote the event!!****

Indivisible Triangle Daily Call to Action is sponsoring another empty chair town hall for Thom Tillis. When he was campaigning, Senator Tillis promised that he would hold town halls to meet with his voters and hear our concerns. He hasn’t done that. We’ve repeatedly invited him to our town halls. We’ve emailed, called, faxed and hand-delivered invitations. We’ve even considered a singing telegram. And yet, he never shows up. But ALL the other major candidates HAVE confirmed. Democrats Erica Smith and Cal Cunningham have stated they plan to be in attendance, along with Libertarian Shannon Bray.

While all questions are certainly welcome, the primary theme of this town hall will be healthcare. We’d like you to (1) sign up to attend and (2) come prepared with your questions about Tillis’s views on healthcare.

Event details: Empty Chair Town Hall, Thursday, February 20, 6 PM, Youngsville Community Center, 115 E Main St., Youngsville, NC.

Facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/565550154026996/permalink/565550164026995

Swing Left Event Page:
https://swingleft.org/event/register/mobilize:222854?source=%2Fevents&s=u