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US Representatives Press the State Department to do more in Sri Lanka to Protect Civilians March 12th, 2009
Thirty-eight members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to Secretary of State Clinton calling for active leadership to protect civilians in the conflict and to press the GOSL to allow aid workers and journalists into the conflict area to minister to their needs. A similar letter was sent to Susan Rice, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations.
Read the letter to Secretary Clinton (Download PDF)
Read the letter to Ambassador Rice (Download PDF)
Senator Casey Expresses Alarm Over Humanitarian Crisis in Sri Lanka March 11th, 2009
In a letter organized by U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), seven U.S. Senators wrote a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on March 11 with their acute concerns over the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka. As many as 330,000 civilians remain trapped in an area of intense combat between Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
“The situation in Sri Lanka is unacceptable and must be remedied as quickly as possible,” the Senators wrote.
The Senators went on to write, “An enduring peace can be achieved only through a political solution that treats the Tamil minority as equal citizens under the law. Without such an agreement, the violence will only continue.”
Click here to read more »
Legislation to Protect Immigrant Detainees Introduced in the House of Representatives March 10th, 2009
In response to the numerous deaths and cases of abuse in immigrant detention centers across the nation, U.S. Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) has introduced the Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act of 2009 (H.R. 1215). This bill works to “better ensure immigrant detainees receive fair and humane treatment while in detention.”
The Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act seeks to:
- Improve detainees’ access to telephones and medical care, including treatment for survivors of sexual abuse
- Improve mental health care standards, which are critical for persons who have suffered persecution, torture, or other trauma
- Promotes alternatives to detention which enable detainees to be released on their own recognizance, bond, or other non-custodial supervision programs
- Provides protections for unaccompanied children taken into DHS custody.
The Oblate JPIC office supports this proposed legislation. Through a joint letter to Congress, we are joining other faith, human rights, civil liberties, immigrant and community organizations in urging Members to support this bill which would create enforceable and humane treatment standards for immigrants held in detention facilities.
Learn more on detention of immigrants at Detention Watch Network
Pushing for Immigration Reform in 2009 March 10th, 2009
U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) has announced that he will lead a five-week tour across America to raise awareness about the issues facing immigrant communities and to promote “fair and just” immigration reform.
The national tour, already underway to 14 U.S. cities, will document the harm caused to citizens across our nation in the absence of comprehensive immigration reform.
In an unprecedented nationwide campaign, Gutierrez has partnered with local communities and churches to hold rallies for thousands of U.S. citizens whose families have been or risk being torn apart by our broken immigration system. Many members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus are also holding similar events in their districts.
Click here to read more »
March Action Alert: Stop Immigration Raids March 5th, 2009
Sign the Petition to President Obama TODAY!
Work place raids by ICE continue under the new administration, not to mention the separation by deportation of parents from their children, many of who are US citizens. Over 100,000 parents were reportedly deported over the last few years. Even people who have had legal residency in the U.S. are being deported after spending time in jail for crimes that are not all that serious.
Please consider signing the petition given below TODAY, calling for an end to work-place raids. It is being sent to the President on Friday, 6 March.
