WHAT YOU CAN DO TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF ASYLUM SEEKERS AND IMMIGRANTS:
Donna Smith, clerk PYM’s Latin American Concerns Committee, encouraged Friends to take the following actions:
- Visit detention centers.
Speak to Edie or Arthur regarding this. We coordinate with Freedom for Immigrants to arrange our group visits. - Be a witness in immigration hearings.
- Accompany an asylum seeker through the court process.
Matthew 25 is an evangelical immigration support organization that accompanies immigrants to their hearings, as “Guardian Angels,” among other things:
https://www.matthew25socal.org/
Some Freedom for Immigrants detention visitation volunteers are also getting involved in court accompaniment.
- Become a sanctuary or support sanctuaries in your area.
https://www.afsc.org/sanctuaryeverywhere
https://www.afsc.org/audio/call-spirited-action-sanctuaryeverywhere - Sponsor an immigrant or support sponsors in your area.
https://www.freedomforimmigrants.org/sponsor-freedom/
Our additional suggestions include:
- Become and stay informed regarding immigration issues on a city, state, and national level.
You can use Google Alerts to stay informed of current developments. - Become a Pen Pal for an immigrant in detention.
(Submit volunteer application listed in the following Freedom for Immigrants hot line section) - Help staff the Hot Line for Freedom for Immigrants https://www.freedomforimmigrants.org/hotline/
Please email Cynthia Galaz at CGalaz@freedomforimmigrants.orgor call 510-806-1430 to learn more.Freedom for Immigrants Volunteer Interest Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOzudX36tj_DMkZLpF0-eKt1D2C2qhA4WchIj-OuXcYxKKQg/viewform - Help raise bail funds.
CLUE and Freedom for Immigrants both have bail funds.
https://www.cluejustice.org/julio_barahona_exodus_fund
https://www.freedomforimmigrants.org/national-bond-fund/
A list of some more bond fund-related organizations: https://groups.google.com/forum/ – !topic/pasadena-social-change-ministry-resource-list/fuDzYY7De7Y - Assist immigrants released from detention with transportation and relocation.
We have an inter-faith network of people helping with this; Quakers from Santa Monica and Orange County are arranging rides for those released. Volunteers work with both CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice) and Freedom for Immigrants. - Offer financial or volunteer support to organizations involved in immigrant advocacy or support work.
CHIRLA, NDLON, CLUE, Carecen, Orange County Justice Fund, Esperenza all are good choices. - Advocate for immigration reform in person or through correspondence with elected representatives.
Our FCNL Advocacy teams can include you in future visits: speak to Edie or Anthony - Publicize human civil rights violations on your blog, in letters to editors, on social media and any venue that you have access to.
https://www.latimes.com/dp-submitletter-htmlstory.html - Participate in demonstrations responding to human rights violations.
ACLU, AFSC, and Indivisible are all good resources for keeping abreast of demonstrations. - Become a BIA Certified Representative and assist immigrants with their legal cases.
This requires sponsorship from an affiliated organization: some have been sponsored by Catholic Charities.
For further information on how to make a difference please contact the clerk of our Peace and Social Concerns Committee (email info@ogmm.org and request that it be forwarded to the P&SC clerk) or UU/Quaker Social Change Ministry. at
pasadena-social-change-ministry@googlegroups.com.