How to Help Those Affected by DACA
St. Francis Community Services, an immigrant and refugee services center in South St. Louis, offers a list of suggestions of how we can help in light of the president’s recent rescindment of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). For a look at what we can do, open the attachment.
What can you do to help?
· Call your members of Congress and ask them to ensure the bipartisan Dream Act 2017 becomes law. The U.S. Capitol switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. Here’s a suggested call text:My name is [NAME] and I am a constituent from [CITY/STATE]. I am deeply disappointed that President Trump announced the end of DACA. I urge you to do everything in your power to protect Dreamers by making sure the bipartisan Dream Act 2017 becomes law. As a [NAME YOUR CONGREGATION], our faith calls us to love our neighbor. DACA recipients are contributing members of our communities. They are Americans in all things but citizenship. They deserve our protection. Will the [SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE] do all she/he can to pass the bipartisan Dream Act 2017, so that DACA recipients gain protection under the law? Thank you for your time.
· Continue to educate yourself on:
o the issues surrounding current immigration law
o why comprehensive reform is necessary
o how our laws affect family unity and the dignity of our neighbors
o the Catholic Church’s call (and Gospel mandate) to welcome the stranger in our midst
· Pray for:
o a compassionate and just approach to immigration reform
o a change in attitude towards migrants and refugees – moving away from fear , defensiveness and indifference toward compassion and understanding
o our immigrant clients and other immigrant neighbors in the community who are fearful of these pending changes in our nation
o our SFCS staff members as they continue to invest extraordinary time and energy, month after month, to help those who we serve cope with the threats to their future