Category: Updates

Call Your Member of Congress 

Switch Board for Contacting Your Representative:  (202)-224-3121

1) When you call your Representative’s office, ask to speak to the foreign policy aide. Use the script below in speaking with the aide.  2) If the aide has not seen the bill, ask for the aide’s email address so that you can forward a copy of the bill. 3) If the foreign policy aide is not available, ask to leave a message on their voice mail.  4) Be sure to get the name foreign policy staffer so you can follow up.

Script: “My name is _____. I am a constituent from (your town/city) in (your state). I am calling to ask Rep. _____ to co-sponsor H.R. 1945, The Berta Cáceres Human Rights in Honduras Act calling for a suspension of U.S. security aid to Honduras until human rights violations committed by the Honduran security forces cease. Has Rep. _______ seen this bill? Can I count on him/her to sign on? Please call me this week at (_your phone number_) to let me know if you have seen the letter, and if Rep. _____ will sign it.”    **In your phone conversation, please highlight why this letter is important to you, especially your links or connections to Honduras, Central America or the impact that the caravans have had on you.

Background: The Berta Caceres Human rights in Honduras Act was introduced by Rep. Johnson on March 28, 2019 for the second time. The importance of this bill cannot be understated. Through its passage, the US would suspend security assistance to Honduras from agencies in addition to loans from multilateral development banks that go towards police or military until human rights violations by Honduran security forces cease and their perpetrators are brought to justice.

On July 23rd, there will be a congressional briefing in Washington D.C to inform our members of congress on the root causes of migration and the importance why it’s important to push this bill forward.

Mobilization to Washington D.C is not accessible to everyone, but supporters across the country can be part of this historic event and amplify the conversation by utilizing social media feeds. This document can be used as a guide and resource for information. Hashtags #CaravanRootCauses #BertaCaceresAct #Justice4Migrants #HR1945

Link to the Full Bill: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr1945/text

But the absence of reported raids Sunday did not allow immigrant advocates to lower their guards. The Rev. Deborah Lee, executive director of Oakland’s Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, said leaders at dozens of Bay Area churches were informing their congregations about resources such as immigration hotlines. “In a way, I feel like we’ve been preparing for a raid as soon as the president was elected,” Lee said. “These threats from the president are designed to create panic and fear. If you’re going to raid people, why tell them three weeks in advance? He’s obviously doing this as a strategy to instill fear and put people back into the shadows. It’s a form of repression.”

Read the full article here.