65 people gathered on Friday evening to watch the film “The Last Dream.” It is a documentary about a group of youth in Baltimore whose parents are Temporary Protected Status recipients. With the TPS program under threat and caught in legal battles, the children, most of whom are US citizens, are also caught in the middle. If there parents were forced to leave the US, after being for over 20 years, raising families, doing good work, owning homes, etc, their children would be left with much less support. Many would move in with other family or older siblings would take custody. It is too dangerous for families to take their kids with them to El Salvador, as the young people are most at risk for being forcefully recruited to gangs.

The film highlights these kids stories, and their journey to perform a play about their experiences. They have been able to perform all over Maryland, and even performed in Congress! The documentary has now been released for broader viewing around the country.
On Friday night, the Omaha community watched the film, met some of the families involved with its creation, and received a call to act- call Nebraska Senators so that a bill can go through the Senate for legal protection for TPS recipients with a path to citizenship. No more families should be separated.

 

But What Can I Do?

  1. Attend “The Last Dream” a short video about the fear and loss U.S. citizen children of immigrants face as they anticipate their parents being deported this Friday, November 22nd 5:30 – 7pm, Augustana Lutheran Church, Basement Fellowship Hall, 3647 Lafayette.  Meet some of the young people who made this film! Hear from local families with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), eat papusas and help to support upcoming trips to D.C.
  1. Call your Congressional representatives – call often, give name and address and leave messages!

Congressman Don Bacon WASHINGTON: (202) 225-4155 Toll-Free: (888) 221-7452 OMAHA: (402) 938-0300
Senator Ben Sasse   OMAHA (402) 476-1400 WASHINGTON: (202) 224-4224
Senator Deb Fischer OMAHA: (402) 441-4600 WASHINGTON: (202) 224-6551

Talking points:


Climate change is fueling migration to the U.S. and must be addressed!

We need comprehensive immigration reform that includes these priorities:                          

Humane treatment of all immigrants – no children in detention!

Family unification – no more separating children from their families!

Respect for US laws governing asylum

Pathway to citizenship for immigrants including Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status holders

  1. Mothers and Others for Detained Migrant Children:  Gather every Thursday morning at 72nd and Hickory Streets (near Mercy Villa) a public witness 8 – 9 am.
  1. Omaha Together One Community (OTOC) Immigration and Refugee Action Team

Help Educate Our Community: Are you a member of a civic group or community organization?  We want to do “Who is My Neighbor?” presentations!  Contact [email protected] or [email protected].

Attend our next meeting Monday, November 25th at 6 pm at Augustana Lutheran Church (3647 Lafayette Ave)

Contacts Jeanne Schuler ([email protected]) and Kathleen Grant ([email protected])

  1. Refugee Empowerment Center needs volunteers to help set up apartments for newly arrived refugees and take them to their various appointments. Please call (402) 554-0759.
  1. Protect Refugee Resettlement

Trump Administration lowered number of refugees allowed to be admitted to US (2020) to 18,000 refugees (all-time-lowest number in the history of resettlement). There are 26 million refugees worldwide with 1.4 million needing resettlement.

Contact: President Trump https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/  or 202-456-1111

Congressman Don Bacon WASHINGTON: (202) 225-4155 Toll-Free: (888) 221-7452 OMAHA: (402) 938-0300

Senator Ben Sasse   OMAHA (402) 476-1400 WASHINGTON: (202) 224-4224

Senator Deb Fischer OMAHA: (402) 441-4600 WASHINGTON: (202) 224-6551

Message: We are committed to supporting people seeking refuge in our country.  The U.S. has welcomed over 100,000 refugees per year in recent years. We can continue in this generous spirit! It is essential that the U.S. continues providing protection and safety for refugees.

  1. Donations:

Kino Border Initiative

The Kino Border Initiative (KBI) is a binational organization that works in the area of migration and is located in Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.   Its mission is to promote US/Mexico border and immigration policies that affirm the dignity of the human person and a spirit of bi-national solidarity through:

  • Direct humanitarian assistance and accompaniment with migrants;
  • Social and pastoral education with communities on both sides of the border;
  • Participation in collaborative networks that engage in research and advocacy to transform local, regional, and national immigration policies

Donations: https://www.kinoborderinitiative.org/give/  or by mail PO Box 159, Nogales, AZ 85628-0159

Annunciation House

Supports immigrants in need in the El Paso, Texas area.  Financial Donations:  mail checks to 1003 E. San Antonio Ave, El Paso TX 79901 (make out to Annunciation House).

Columban Fathers

Donations support those asylum-seekers who are now required to remain in Mexico:  Columban Mission Center  (please note on the memo line, Migrant Ministry) Columban Mission Center, 816 Magoffin Ave,  El Paso, TX 79901

 

Take Action with Omaha Together One Community!


We are asking that you call your congressional representatives now and often. Sample script below.

Senator Fischer/Sasse,

My name is:_________________________   I live at:________________________

As you know the House passed H.R. 6 which includes a path to citizenship for DACA recipients and Temporary Protected Status holders with Congressman Bacon’s support.  As a person of faith, I stand with many faith leaders when I call upon you to pass similar legislation in the Senate.

I call upon you to support the “Dream Act of 2019.” The young people protected by this bipartisan bill contribute to Nebraska’s economy, serve in our military, are academic standouts in our universities, and leaders in our parishes and communities.

I also call upon you to support the almost 2,000 Nebraskans with Temporary Protected Status. They have worked lawfully in our state for as long as 20 years.  They have citizen children and grandchildren.  They own their homes and are supervisors in the meatpacking and construction industries. They and their families need legislation that will provide a safe and certain future. 

Thus, I urge you to:

    Support and co-sponsor S. 874, the Dream Act of 2019; and
    Co-sponsor and support the S.879 the SECURE Act.

Thank you.

Sen. Fischer:  202-224-6551 & 402-441-4600
Sen. Sasse: 202-224-4224 & 402-476-1400