May’s advocacy letter continues to call on elected officials to protect migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- A sample letter is included below.
- Please send a letter to each of our US Senators, Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, and your Congress Member.
- Due to the time-sensitive nature of the Coronavirus affecting conditions along the border, please mail your letters as soon as possible.
- For context and additional background to inform your letter, check out IWC’s Facebook page. We post border updates from partners on the ground, key news updates, and original content daily. Like and follow us so you never miss an update!
Thank you for advocating on behalf of asylum seekers and vulnerable immigrants. Together we can- and do- make a difference.
Sample Letter:
Legislator’s Name
Legislator’s Address
May 18, 2020
Dear _________:
I am your constituent, and I am a member of Interfaith Welcome Coalition (and ________ faith community) in San Antonio. I am writing to urge you to consider my concerns for asylum seekers and refugees who are living within our border communities during this global health crisis. In Texas, we live in bi-national communities; our economies and the health and well-being of our people are interconnected. We must work together to promote public health and protect the most vulnerable, particularly migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.
I urge you, as my elected leader, to protect migrants during the Coronavirus pandemic by taking the following actions:
Call for the rapid, safe, and orderly release of migrants and asylum seekers from detention after medical screening;
Take immediate steps to slow the spread of the virus in refugee camps, migrant shelters, and detention centers along the Texas-Mexico border;
Provide migrants and refugees equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment, and emergency support in this time of the pandemic;
Guarantee immigrants the right to request asylum;
Make immediate, large-scale investments in public health systems and food and income support for vulnerable families;
End the deportation of migrants to countries that are not equipped to handle these health issues.
This unaddressed public health crisis affecting migrants on the Texas-Mexico border is a life-or-death sentence for the men, women and children who are living in overcrowded shelters, camps and detention centers where conditions cause serious alarm. Failure to address this threat to migrants’ health fosters conditions that are likely to further the spread of the pandemic. Hazardous conditions in detention centers and refugee camps will not only impact migrants; they will also impact the health and safety of ICE officers, detention center workers, their families, and ultimately our communities.
Please take action to promote public health and protect everyone living in our interconnected border communities.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
Contact information for your Texas legislators:
Texas U.S. Senators:
Senator John Cornyn
600 Navarro, Ste 210, San Antonio, Tx 78205
517 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
San Antonio Office: (210) 224-7584
Other Offices: (202) 224-2934, (877) 345-4024, (972) 239-1310
http://cornyn.senate.gov/
Contact: www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact
Twitter: @JohnCorny
Senator Ted Cruz
9901 IH 10-West, Ste 950, San Antonio, Tx 78230
404 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510
San Antonio Office: (210) 340-2885
Other Offices: (202) 224-5922, (877) 398-0043, (214) 599-8749
http://cruz.senate.gov/
Contact: www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=email_senator
Facebook: Senator Ted Cruz
Twitter: @tedcruz
Find Your Representative:
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
