Faith-Based Organization Resources: Refugees

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THE EXECUTIVE ORDER

• Executive Order: “Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements”
• Summary and legal analysis by AILA and the American Immigration Council
  

Many FBOs work with refugee populations. Of on-going concern is President Donald Trump's second EO banning immigration from six Muslim-majority countries.

Notably dropping Iraq from January's previous order, this ban covers Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

The new ban exempts people who hold current visas and drops an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees, reducing it to 120 days. Lawful permanent residents are also excluded.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

LEGAL:

• The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) is seeking attorneys to volunteer for their Emergency Legal Response Team. If you’re interested, please fill out their survey here.

INTERPRETERS:

• Farsi and Arabic speakers in Los Angeles interested in volunteering as translators for detainees at LAX and others affected by the EO can contact the Immigrant Defenders Law Center or Access California Services through Facebook messages.

Photo: Rabbi Ari Hart

Photo: Rabbi Ari Hart

TALKING POINTS AND MESSAGING: WHAT WORKS

Talking points are designed to empower your base to speak with confidence. The following talking points are culled from numerous resources, secular and faith-based. Not all talking points will resonate with every organization, spokesperson or audience. A religious freedom argument, for example, may resonate more with a religious audience than one specific to Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) programs. Use what’s most effective for you.

Aspirational messaging emphasizes the world in which we want to live and the values by which we live our lives, and then rejects that which fails to live up to those values. Solely emphasizing the problem (discrimination, persecution) will not help as much as reaffirming American values, commonly held faith values, and naming solutions.

Framing that works:

• Establish American values and other commonly held values, depending on who you are appealing to: Christians, Muslims, immigrants, young people
• Remind the audience what it means to stand by those values
• Reassure the audience that these values will ultimately guide our nation to success
• Reassure a fearful audience that we are not forgetting their national security concerns, but that discrimination will fail to keep this country safer
  

TALKING POINTS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND USE:

The Immigration/Refugee Ban Violates our Faith Values.

• The Bible is clear that “Welcoming the stranger” is a core value.  See Deuteronomy 10:19, Leviticus 19:34.
• The United States, like other nations, will be judged by how we treat the most vulnerable: the widow, the orphan, and the refugee, during trying times. The refugee resettlement program was started by faith communities in the U.S., and this announcement flies in the face of the tenants to welcome the stranger and treat the sojourner as we would our own citizens.
• Latin Americans should have the freedom to walk down the street without fear of being stopped based on the color of their skin or the language they speak.
• Muslims should feel safe practicing their faith on U.S. soil. This Executive Order is the first in a series of attacks we anticipate against the freedom of minority groups to exist in America, by limiting the people who we allow into our country based on their nation of origin and/or their faith, an increasing fear for those living in America.
• We are our sisters’ keepers and our brothers’ keepers and we know that our Muslim friends here see us as their hope for their community under siege.
• We are the conscience of this country. We are this nation’s moral compass. This Executive Order will make us weaker in the eyes of the world and in our own consciences.
  

Photo: AFP

Photo: Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group

The Immigration/Refugee Ban Violates American Values.

• This Executive Order takes a wrecking ball to the Statue of Liberty, which serves as a symbol welcoming people from around the world who seek refuge.
• E Pluribus Unum, or ‘Out of Many, One’ is printed on our currency: We should never turn our backs on our own best traditions.
• Our nation is stronger when we stand united against hate, and when we are united under our common values. These values include the freedom to practice our faith or to simply exist without fear, intimidation, or threat of physical violence.
• The US Constitution expressly protects against bigotry based on faith, nation of origin, and/or skin color.
• The beauty of American law is it treats people equally. We do not ban, register or deport people based on religion, country of origin, or skin color. This ban is a clear case of discrimination based on religion and nationality and must be decried as such.
• All of us have refugee or immigrant ancestors, and we feel strongly compelled by our families and our faith to welcome refugee families.
• This Executive Order is state-sanctioned bigotry and a dramatic departure from our American values that flies in the face of the American values every citizen holds dear.
  

The Immigration/Refugee Ban Violates Freedom of Religion.

• As a nation founded by immigrants fleeing religious persecution by its government, a federal policy banning anyone from the U.S. based on their faith is contrary to our country's most fundamental values.
• Religious freedom is a key tenet in our Constitution, and the persecution of one faith threatens the protection of all faiths.
  

Photo: AP

Photo: Reuters

The Immigration/Refugee Ban Harms Families.  

• Becoming a refugee is the hardest decision a person can make. Most refugees leave family behind, either in their home countries or in countries where they land after fleeing.
• Refugee parents, just like us, are looking to provide for their children and give them a future where they can go to school and grow up without fear. They have lost everything, but have been given the incredible chance to create a new life here – the home of freedom and opportunity.
• This immigration ban could mean that some families, including families of U.S. citizens, will be separated forever. Who among us should be forced to never again see our loved ones -- especially when they live in danger? Family values means caring for the immigrant.
  

Check out FIA's Spotlight on Refugees for more information here

The Immigration/Refugee Ban is Deadly Policy.

• Refugee resettlement saves hundreds of lives every day. Stopping it will have profound and detrimental consequences. Lives will be lost.
• Pausing the processing will mean that refugees who have have left behind businesses, homes and all their belongings will be pulled off of planes to be sent to places worse off than where they left. Families who are anticipating their loved ones will be devastated. Communities that have opened their arms to refugees will be furious.
• Refugee resettlement is time-sensitive and disrupting the process will force refugees who were set to arrive in the U.S. today to wait months -- and even years -- only to go through fingerprinting, interviews, health screenings, and multiple security screenings yet again, all while their lives are in danger.
  

The Immigration/Refugee Ban Harms National Security.

• The President has halted resettlement of refugees based on the false fear and political notion that it is not safe to bring certain people to this country. 750,000 refugees have come to the US since 9/11 and not one has committed an act of terrorism.
• The vetting process works. Our history has proven we are stronger when we embrace others into our American melting pot as one nation, indivisible.
• Banning refugees based on fear actually cedes power to terrorists who have terrorized the people that our country now shuns. We must address terrorist acts based on evidence, and never single out any group of people based on their faith, their country of origin, or their skin color. Not only is it the right thing to do, it is the way to keep us safe.
• A safe America also stands by its Constitution. That, too, makes us strong. National security and foreign policy experts continue to say that bringing refugee families to the U.S. actually makes this country safer.
• By helping relieve pressure on host countries with vastly greater refugees and showing that people of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome, the U.S. helps foster regional stability and reinforces that everyone has the right to pray as they choose, wherever they live.
  

Economic Contributions Will Be Lost.

• The vast majority of refugee families are working and paying taxes within a few short months. Refugees are creating businesses and jobs, buying homes and cars, and renewing neighborhoods.
• Businesses big and small are eager to work with refugee families because they do not take the opportunity for a new life here for granted – they work hard and they stay. This ban will hurt local economies.
  

This Ban is the New Witch Hunt.

• "Countering Violent Extremism" is being renamed "Countering Violent Islamic Extremism". The FBI has not determined what factors make an individual most likely to turn to violence, whether the perpetrator is Dylann Roof, a white extremist, or Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the Boston Marathon bomber.
• By targeting one religion, this program will very quickly turn into a faith-based witch hunt focused on Muslim, Arab and South Asian Americans.

The Immigration/Refugee Ban Dishonors Military Service

• Some of the men and women who will be shut out as a result of this immigration ban bravely served the U.S. military and government in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some face persecution due to their service alongside U.S. troops and are seeking a safe place for their families.
• Veterans across the U.S. have rallied to ensure refugees are brought here to live in safety.
  

Will This Immigration/Refugee Ban Define the Trump-Era?

• The Executive Order ban on travelers from Muslim-majority and Middle Eastern nations, as well as the Executive Order to build a wall on America's border with Mexico, are the first steps in a Trump-era agenda that criminalizes “the other” – other faiths, nationalities, people of color, gender. This legislation confirms fears that the divisive and bigoted rhetoric America witnessed during the presidential campaign is already leading to devastating policies.
• This Executive Order takes a wrecking ball to the Statue of Liberty, and sends this nation in a downward spiral, dishonoring our best values, and disgracing U.S. leadership abroad.
  

Congress Must Be -- and Remain -- in Touch with Voters.

• Congress is elected to represent the people.
• Opposition to refugee resettlement by politicians is way out of touch with what we see every day in our communities – support for refugee families.
• It’s a decision is completely unaligned with American values and out of touch with what constituents want. It is time for our elected officials to actually do the will of mainstream America.
• Urge your elected city, county, state, and federal representatives to speak out publicly -- and contact the President and urge him to change his position.
• As Congress makes funding decisions, urge them to maintain funding for refugee resettlement and integration programs. History will judge this Congress harshly if it allows this decision to move forward.
  

CONTACTING CONGRESS

Many FBOs are asking members to phone Congress (daily if you can) and tell your representative why you care:

• MAIN #: 202-224-3121. 
• This very useful tool from the International Rescue Committee’s identifies Congressional reps and provides scripts 
• This living document has the names of U.S. Senators and their stance on the immigration orders.
  

WRITE AN OP-ED
 
Consider writing an op-ed (around 700 words) from your faith and moral perspective and submit it to your local paper. The faith voice and lens has important community impact and influence in-district and on Capitol Hill.
 
For help with possible placement in national publications, contact: mailto:susankbarnett@gmail.com

POPULAR HASHTAGS AND SAMPLE TWEETS:

Hashtags:
#NoBanNoWall #OurCitiesStandTall  #MoralResistance  #RevolutionaryLove
 
Sample tweets:

• Exec orders targeting immigrants violates our core American values: freedom of religion, compassion, justice. #NoBanNoWall
• We stand with all Muslims, immigrants, refugees in face of policies that separate families & breed fear. #RevolutionaryLove
  
• Walls, division, bans don’t have a place in America. #NoBanNoWall #OurCitiesStandTall #MoralResistance
• In response to exec orders, see this rapid response guide for #moralresistance: https://docs.google.com/document/d/142a1jq4JKN3G3mognT05sEUafnaXBGMs4sHFOQjykT8/edit# #NoBanNoWall
  
• Closing the doors on Syrian refugees during a global refugee crisis undermines American tradition http://ampr.gs/2jFgqMR #refugeeswelcome
• Communities across the US are already working hard to integrate 1000s of Syrian refugees http://ampr.gs/2jFgqMR #refugeeswelcome
• Now is not the time to shut the doors on “your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” http://ampr.gs/2jFgqMR #refugeeswelcome
• America should remain a beacon of hope for Syrian & other refugees, not turn them away http://ampr.gs/2jFgqMR #refugeeswelcome
• On Holocaust Remembrance Day, a reminder that the US should embrace, not reject, refugees http://ampr.gs/2jFgqMR #refugeeswelcome

 
Follow this link for more sample content being compiled on an on-going basis

REACH OUT TO YOUR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS

These gestures are not meant to be an endpoint, but the beginning of ongoing relationships of friendship and solidarity.

Send a note of encouragement

• You can mail them or hand deliver. This makes a great Sunday School project. Google will help you find a local Islamic Center if you don’t already have a relationship) There have been numerous beautiful examples of this kind of outreach over the last several months, from notes and flowers delivered to mosques in Washington state, Chicago, Georgia and elsewhere, to messages of love written in chalk outside Islamic Centers in Nashville, Virginia and numerous other locations.  

Join Friday prayers

• Reach out in advance to make sure that the community is prepared to have visitors. If you don’t already have a relationship with someone with whom you can have this conversation, call up a local Islamic Center and simply ask (again, Google will help you find one). Here are some tips to know before you go, especially if you have never visited a mosque before.  

Break Bread together

• Share traditions and traditional foods. There may be nothing more powerful than simply sharing a meal together.

MORE USEFUL RESOURCES (factsheets, toolkits, legal help clergy resources etc):

• CWS Global Refugee Advocacy Kit

• Muslim Advocates Fact Sheet prepared by the Penn State Law Center for Immigrants' Rights Clinic and Muslim Advocates, Jan. 27, 2017.
• Summary prepared by the Penn State Law Center for Immigrants' Rights, Jan. 27, 2017
• Toolkit on Immigrant and Muslim ban, prepared by American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Jan 27, 2017.

• 2016 ADC UN Report on Human Rights while Countering Terrorism and Extremism
• AAI/Penn St. Center for Immigrant Rights NSEERS Report
• ILRC’s Guide to Immigrant Rights Under a Trump Administration: English  Español
• MALDEF’s Guide to Immigrant Rights Under a Trump Presidency
  English/Español Bilingual
• For Clergy and communities: http://www.faithforinternationalassistance.org/clergy-resources.html
  

False Rumor:  Nonprofit organizations cannot criticize President Trump because he filed a "Statement of Candidacy" form with the Federal Election Commission regarding the 2020 election.
 
True:  Organizations with 501(c)(3) status cannot take a position on who should win an election, such as the 2020 Presidential election.  But all public charities can: 

• Criticize or praise sitting public officials, including the President, for actions that they take while in office.
• Take a position on issues, such as environment, refugees, or school reform.
• Take a position on specific government actions, including Executive Orders, and proposed laws and regulations. 
  

Taking such a position may count towards a public charity's limit on lobbying activity, and if the charity spends more than a minimal amount of money on this activity it may be required to register as a lobbyist, but only if it asks a public official to act or asks members of the public to contact a public official.

Lawyers Alliance staff are available to help qualified nonprofits review their policies and procedures to ensure compliance with their tax obligations and with New York lobbying disclosure laws.  Please contact Senior Policy Counsel Laura Abel atlabel@lawyersalliance.org, (212) 219-1800 ext. 283, www.lawyersalliance.org for further information.

[This alert is meant to provide general information only, not legal advice.]