Advocacy Round-Up: September/October 2020
Are you interested in advocating for immigrants, but don’t know where to start? Check out our resources on how to advocate for immigrants’ rights in the United States.
New DHS Proposed Rule Would Store Private Biometric Data Indefinitely
What’s happening: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a proposed rule that will massively expand the collection of private information and biometric data the Department collects on immigrants and U.S. citizens.
What you can do: Write a comment opposing this proposed rule. Comments are due by 11:59PM on October 12th. Stay tuned for comment-writing party information.
USCIS Naturalization Delays Prevent Thousands of Would-Be Citizens from Voting on November 3rd
What’s happening: Delays in the citizenship process and postponed naturalization oath ceremonies due to the pandemic and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) slowdown and huge backlog of applications could mean thousands of would-be citizens will be denied the right to vote in the November 3rd election.
What you can do: Watch our Facebook Live Ask Me Anything: Naturalization and Voting for New Americans from Wednesday, September 16th, to learn more.
Current Administration Proposes Suspending Refugee Program for FY2021
What’s happening: The current Administration is – instead of establishing a new refugee admissions cap – considering suspending the refugee program. The cap for fiscal year 2020 was 18,000 refugees; in 2016, the cap was 85,000 refugees.
What you can do: Sign this petition from the International Rescue Committee asking for the Administration to set the cap to 95,000.
“Public Charge” Rule Keeps Hundreds of Thousands of Immigrants from Public Benefits
What’s happening: The injunction against the “Public Charge” rule now only applies to immigrants within New York, Connecticut, and Vermont, preventing hundreds of thousands of immigrants from applying for benefits such as unemployment and housing relief.
What you can do: Ask Congress to include ALL immigrants in the next stimulus bill.
Children are Being Held at the Border and Deported Without Families’ Knowledge
What’s happening: Under Title 42, children are being held in hotels at the border and deported without due process or alerting their families.
What you can do: Share HIAS Pennsylvania’s Title 42 Flier – Spanish and Title 42 Flier – English to help families know what to do if their children are in this situation.
Asylum-seekers are Being Prevented from Applying for Work Authorization
What’s happening: There are two new rules in place affecting asylum-seekers’ ability to apply for work authorization, leaving those individuals unable to support themselves as they await decision on their asylum claims.
What you can do: Contact your legislator and ask them to support asylum-seekers’ rights.
What else should I know?
- HIAS Pennsylvania has signed onto the 2021 Immigrant Action Plan to restore fair and just immigration policy to the United States.
- Justice for all of us is on the ballot this November 3rd. Make a plan and don’t forget to vote!
- Complete the census today!
