IWC in the News
Only God’s hand has kept us safe
Asylum seekers living in Nuevo Laredo wrote heartbreaking letters telling of kidnapping and death. The envelopes are handmade. (Rosa Flores, CNN) Maximo, an asylum seeker, fled his native Honduras with his son to seek a new life in the United States. But while waiting for their cases to be heard he says they have…
WATCH: Horror stories at the U.S. southern border
IWC Volunteers, consider this your homework before your next shift! This mini-series gives us a better understanding of how much trauma our asylum seekers have gone through. Series made by Anne Lewis and stories are told by Jennifer Harbury, who recounts her encounters with asylum seekers and border patrol. Anne Lewis, the documentarian,…
San Antonio Officials: Migrants From Congo With Ebola Were Not Sent to City
“San Antonio officials were forced to hold a press conference on June 11 to dispel false reports from right-wing figures and conspiracy theory websites that migrants from Congo with Ebola had been sent to the Texas city. San Antonio has seen an influx of Congolese immigrants seeking asylum in recent weeks, and officials did put…
Trump Dumped Thousands of Immigrants in San Antonio. The City’s Response Was a Lesson in Kindness.
“When it’s up close and personal, people do a better job separating the politics from the people.” “Catholic Charities USA and Interfaith Welcome Coalition had been assisting migrants at an average of about 50 a day. This was different. “We had surges of 150, then 250 and 300 people coming in one day,” Bridger said, “and (the…
Network of local churches opening home shelters to support migrants
“A network of local churches that make up the Interfaith Welcome Coalition are helping shelter the influx of migrants traveling through San Antonio. We spoke with a woman from Honduras who used to make and sell her own tortillas. We’re not revealing her identity to protect her safety. She says business was going well, when…
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Town in Guatemala is suffering economically now that barely any migrants pass through.
IWC Committee Coordinators, please forward to your list of volunteers and friends
The Advocacy Committee of the Interfaith Welcome Coalition is continuing our campaign to inform our US Senators. This December is a holiday month so our working days are few, but we will be writing and visiting Senator Ted Cruz.
DATES OF IMPORTANCE:
Tuesday, Dec 17, drop your handwritten letter in the mailbox
Thursday, Dec 19, Rally and Visit Senator Cruz, 12 noon to 1:30 pm.
1. Please write a personalized handwritten letter on your stationery to US Senator Ted Cruz, 9901 IH-10W, Ste 950, San Antonio, Tx 78230. We would like to hear those letters drop on the Senator’s desk like a “thunderclap”. To hear the noisy thunderclap, please drop it in your mailbox on Tues, Dec 17. The letters should arrive at his office in San Antonio 2 days later.
2. We want to see the effect the letters have on the Senator, so on Thursday, Dec 19, join a large group of us at a rally and then visit his office. The rally will be on Thursday, Dec 19, from 12 noon to 1:30 pm facing Wurzbach at the corner of Wurzbach and IH-10. His offices are in a bank in that mall, the Colonnade. At about 1 pm, we will visit Senator Cruz’ office. Please bring any signs you may have for the demonstration.
Click on this link and fill out your commitment form:
3. Template for your letter, (choose one or all of the topics) and refer to attached background information for details:
Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) or remain-in-Mexico and Metering. MPP limits the number of asylum seekers that are processed each day and returns them to Mexico to wait for their court hearings. Of those returned to Mexico, only 35% reappear for their tent court hearings, and only 1% have legal representation at their hearings. (See Attachment 1 and 2)
There is no access to Legal Counsel: Immigrant legal services are limited and expensive, and American lawyers are unwilling to cross into Mexico to meet with clients. Immigrants then must defend themselves. Asylum law is one of the most complicated branches of the law.
4. VISIT TO SENATOR CRUZ’ OFFICE:
forms.gle/jQkE5iHFNJdgJAYC9
The Destruction of the Asylum System by 1000 Cuts, December Action-Sen. Cruz
forms.gle
Interfaith Welcome Coalition of San Antonio: IWC Committee Coordinators, please forward to your volu...US citizens arrested by the military.
Doctors with flu shots for migrant children turned away from Calif. facility; 6 arrested
www.cleveland19.com
Protesters say they were spreading the message that basic healthcare and hygiene is a human right.Forcing families to return to Guatemala despite there being no asylum program there and almost 200,000 people have come to the US this year seeking asylum FROM Guatemala.
In a first, U.S. starts pushing Central American families seeking asylum to Guatemala
www.latimes.com
For the first time, U.S. officials have begun pushing even asylum-seeking families who are not from ...Granted asylum by the judge YET sent back into Mexico anyway!!
#ImmigrantJusticeNow
US Border Officials Are Issuing Fake Court Notices To Keep Out Immigrants Who Have Won Asylum
www.buzzfeednews.com
In recent weeks, at least four people have been sent back to Mexico after being granted asylum, an a...