CONGRESS MUST ACT TO PROTECT CHILDREN AT THE BORDER
ACTION ONE: CALL YOUR SENATORS
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
Children should not be dying in federal custody. They should not be psychologically traumatized by our government because of their immigration status. Trump’s recent order to strip funding for education, recreation, and legal aid for minors in federal custody violates the Flores agreement. It also highlights this administration’s disregard for human rights. I am asking the Senator to demand an end to human rights abuses at the border and to demand an alternative to the imprisonment of migrant children. Thank you.
CALL SENATOR MERKLEY
CALL SENATOR WYDEN
ACTION TWO: CALL YOUR HOUSE REPS
Not sure who your U.S. Representative is? Find out here.
SAMPLE SCRIPTS FOR REPRESENTATIVES:
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR ALL BUT WALDEN: Children should not be dying in federal custody. They should not be psychologically traumatized by our government because of their immigration status. Trump’s recent order to strip funding for education, recreation, and legal aid for minors in federal custody violates the Flores agreement. It also highlights this administration’s disregard for human rights. I am asking the Representative to demand an end to human rights abuses at the border and to demand an alternative to the imprisonment of migrant children. Thank you.
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WALDEN: I want to thank the Representative for his recent stand against the separation and mistreatment of children at our border. Children should not be dying in federal custody. They should not be psychologically traumatized by our government because of their immigration status. I am asking the Representative to continue to stand up for children and demand an alternative to the imprisonment of migrant children. And to stand up for their families and demand an end to all human rights abuses at the border. Thank you.
CALL SUZANNE BONAMICI (OR-01)
CALL GREG WALDEN (OR-02)
CALL BLUMENAUER (OR-03)
CALL PETER DEFAZIO (OR-04)
CALL KURT SCHRADER (OR-05)
BACKGROUND:
Profiteering, mismanagement, and this administration’s deliberate actions are responsible for human rights abuses that are traumatizing and killing children in detention facilities. In our country. On our watch.
After long, difficult journeys to the border, migrant children are particularly vulnerable both physically and psychologically.
Thousands of them are being held in overcrowded, unsanitary facilities where they are susceptible to infection and sepsis. They have poor access to medical care and necessary medications are routinely confiscated. An internal memo called the ICE health service “severely dysfunctional.” Six children have died in the last six months.
Simply being incarcerated is known to cause tremendous psychological trauma in children that they may never recover from. They suffer from constant anxiety and emotional isolation. Some have resorted to self harm and some have attempted suicide.
Up until now, at least these children had school and recreational periods, a reprieve of studying English and playing soccer. But the Trump administration has withdrawn all funding for education, recreation, and legal aid for minors in federal custody. This is a violation of the Flores agreement.
These are kids held in prison camp conditions and not allowed to be children. And they cannot advocate for themselves. Congress can.
