How You Can Help Migrant Families
If you’ve been following the news, then you probably know about the migrant crisis at the US/ Mexican border. If you don’t know about the crisis, this article will include a brief synopsis of the situation, and then explore different ways you can help. These ways include making donations to appropriate organizations, contacting your senator/ congressperson, and by joining Birmingham’s protest on June 30 at 4:00 PM at Kelly Ingram Park.
A BRIEF SYNOPSIS: WHAT EXACTLY IS HAPPENING?
Migrant families are being separated upon entering the US. According to The Independent and as of June 15, 2018, almost 2,000 children have been separated from their families since the Trump administration instituted its “zero tolerance” policy. The “zero tolerance” policy refers to the Trump administration’s efforts to, “seek criminal prosecution of every person caught trying to enter the US illegally … which the government hopes will act as a deterrent [to future migrants]” (Buncombe.) We know that the detention centers keeping these children have already been accused of child abuse, including forcibly injecting them with drugs (Smith & Bogada.)
Then, on June 20, 2018, Trump signed an executive order aimed at ending family separations by detaining families together (CBS NEWS.)
Trump’s executive order doesn’t even come close to fixing things and according to The Washington Post, Senator Elizabeth Warren visited a detention center and reported that no children are being reunited with their families.
These families need your help. So how can you help them? Well, one way would be by donating money to organizations aimed at helping the cause. Be sure to read up on each organization and see how it uses it money. Always research an organization before you donate to make sure your money will be well used.
WHERE TO DONATE
ActBlue Charities: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/kidsattheborder
The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/kidsattheborder
ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/donate-aclu
Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project: https://asylumadvocacy.org/donate
We Belong Together: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/support-a-brighter-future-for-immigrant-women
Human Rights First: https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/donate
Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights: https://www.theyoungcenter.org/donate-to-the-young-center
Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center: http://las-americas.org/get-involved-2/donate/
Detained Migrant Solidarity Committee: https://www.fianzafund.org/donate.html
The Florence Project: https://firrp.org/donate/
Kids In Need of Defense (KIND): https://supportkind.org/donate/
Women’s Refugee Mission: https://www.womensrefugeecommission.org/donate-now
CALL YOUR SENATOR/ CONGRESSPERSON
Another way you can help is by calling your senator/ congressperson, which the ACLU has a perfect resource for:
https://www.aclu.org/issues/stop-speaker-ryans-anti-immigrant-bill?redirect=node/68167
You simply put in your phone number, email address, and zip code, and your call will be routed to a government representative near you. Once connected, introduce yourself and say,
“Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and my zip code is [YOUR ZIP]. I’m urging the Senator to denounce Trump’s family separation policy and use all of Congress’ authority to stop it.”
Contacting your senator/ congressperson is a good way to help if you can’t afford to donate any money.
PROTEST
The Families Belong Together organization will be hosting nationwide protests. Birmingham hosted one in Kelly Ingram Park at 4:00 PM on June 30, 2018. If you want a more concrete way of showing your dissatisfaction, then show up to the protest to make your voice heard. Read more about the protest here: https://act.moveon.org/event/families-belong-together_attend1/search/
Additionally, peaceful protesting is another good way to make your views known if you are unable to donate any money personally.
SOURCES:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/children-separated-trump-immigration-policy-zero-tolerance-parents-border-a8401526.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/border-wall-mexico-migration-deterrent-kirstjen-nielsen-donald-trump-jeff-sessions-a8340456.html
https://www.revealnews.org/blog/immigrant-children-forcibly-injected-with-drugs-lawsuit-claims/amp/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-executive-end-family-separation-at-border-immigration-today-2018-06-20/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/immigration/desperate-to-get-children-back-migrants-are-willing-to-give-up-asylum-claims-lawyers-say/2018/06/24/c7fab87c-77e2-11e8-80be-6d32e182a3bc_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.bfb3ce2de756
https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a21623492/children-separated-from-families-border-how-to-help/
