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Write Here! Write Now! Online Letter-Writing Platform
(Your Individual Typed Letter)
Write A Personalized Message Witnessing For Your Individual or Community Stories On The Matter!
We seek access to pathways to citizenship for immigrant essential workers and their families.
SUPPORT CITIZENSHIP FOR IMMIGRANT ESSENTIAL WORKERS
Please ask your Senators to support pathways to citizenship for essential workers and their families. Encourage them to support S.264 – DREAM Act (sponsors Durbin and Graham), S.306 SECURE Act (for TPS holders – sponsors Van Hollen and Cardin), and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act sent to the Senate as (H.R.1603), and to go beyond that by finding ways to incorporate citizenship for essential workers and their families in must-pass legislation.
An estimated 5 million undocumented individuals—nearly 3 in 4 of all undocumented immigrants in the workforce—are working every day alongside other Americans in essential roles as doctors, nurses, and home health aides, custodians, food servers, and administrative workers. They protect the nation’s food security in farms, food processing facilities, grocery stores, and restaurants. They are first responders and teachers. These workers have stepped up for our country and put their lives—and the lives of their loved ones—on the line when we needed them most. They will play an equally critical role in rebuilding our economy and our country in the years ahead. But even as they have continued to perform essential work, they have often been left out of the relief packages and treated as an afterthought in vaccine programs.
UU Grounding
Our UU faith affirms the worth and dignity of all people and calls for justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. UUs have long advocated for fair and humane immigration reform of our nation’s laws.
Suggested Talking Points
(use your own examples, tell your story, and/or draw on some of these suggested points)
- These undocumented immigrants are contributing members of our community, living and working here, adding to our diversity, paying billions in taxes, putting billions in our economy.
- Many have family members -- spouses and children -- who are US citizens. The uncertainty with which they live and the inequitable treatment (lack of access to services and education) they suffer is unjust. The risk of family separation through deportation is cruel.
- It is past time to recognize their critical role in keeping America healthy, fed, housed, and educated during the pandemic -- at risk to themselves and their families -- by offering lawful permanent residence and citizenship if they meet basic, fair criteria.
Sample Letter to Your Senators
[Use your own words. Speak from your heart -- this is only a sample letter. Follow the link below to see if your senators are co-sponsors of any of the bills, if yes thank the senator.]
Dear Senator ______________, [write to both of your Senators]
I’m a Unitarian Universalist and supporter of the Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice. A fundamental principle of our faith is respect for the worth and dignity of all persons and justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.
I urge you to take action to pass legislation enabling essential workers, Dreamers, and Temporary Protected Status holders to earn lawful permanent residence and eventually citizenship.
As the Senate considers the upcoming infrastructure and jobs package, please include relief that recognizes the contribution of undocumented essential workers including offering a roadmap to citizenship.
I look forward to hearing about your plans to enable Dreamers, TPS holders and essential workers to gain equitable, compassionate treatment through pathways to lawful status.
SUPPORT CITIZENSHIP FOR IMMIGRANT ESSENTIAL WORKERS
Please ask your Senators to support pathways to citizenship for essential workers and their families. Encourage them to support S.264 – DREAM Act (sponsors Durbin and Graham), S.306 SECURE Act (for TPS holders – sponsors Van Hollen and Cardin), and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act sent to the Senate as (H.R.1603), and to go beyond that by finding ways to incorporate citizenship for essential workers and their families in must-pass legislation.
Sorry, we're not targeting any Members of Congress in your district or State.
Sympathies to residents of D.C. and the U.S. Territories without representation in the Senate
Become a Member!
UUSJ has been the leader for a national UU advocacy movement in Washington, DC., and will continue our efforts, acting from:
- Our conviction that Black Lives Matter
- Our belief that No Human Being is Illegal
- Our care for the planet which sustains us all and merits respect
- Our commitment to a people-centered sustainable economy
- Our stance that this democracy should be inclusive
Thank You!
Our advocacy effort with Side With Love is an "echo action"
Part of the larger We Are Home Campaign, #WeAreEssential Fast For Freedom action
Please Consider:
A) Signing up, to become a formal Fast for Freedom participant starting June 9th.
B) Alternatively, you can select an echo action for you or your congregation.
C) Congregations are asked to consider organizing one-day fasts as a solidarity echo action.
Thank You! We appreciate your action!
Please share with anyone else who might be interested in the work we do.
Other ways to help! You can:
- Donate to support our work!
- Volunteer with a policy team!
- Become a regular participant in our Write Here! Write Now! letter-writing program!
- Help with back-end, admin. or technical know-how!
- Provide pro-bono expertise!
- You can connect your congregation to UUSJ!
Email info@uusj.org for more info about any of these possibilities.
Become a Member!
UUSJ has been the leader for a national UU advocacy movement in Washington, DC., and will continue our efforts, acting from:
- Our conviction that Black Lives Matter
- Our belief that No Human Being is Illegal
- Our care for the planet which sustains us all and merits respect
- Our commitment to a people-centered sustainable economy
- Our stance that this democracy should be inclusive