Fight the Immigration Ban
Unless you have been taking a serious news and social media detox, youâve heard about the executive order that bans travel from 7 primarily Muslim countries for 90 days, and refugee admission for 120 days. There has been enormous outcry about this executive order, with many people (including myself) perceiving it as a de facto Muslim ban. If you feel as I do that this order is unethical, unconstitutional, and morally reprehensible, here are some resources for you to fight back.
GET EDUCATED
The first step in pushing back on this executive order is to understand it:
* Here is the order itself - itâs dense, but itâs good to look at the actual source * Here is a CNN overview that breaks down the facts of the executive order * This BBC overview explains who is affected by the ban and why people are critical of it
CALL YOUR REPS
Yes, itâs another chance to get cozy with your elected officialsâ staff. The Shy Personâs Guide to Calling Representatives is here for you if you need it.
* First determine where your Senator stands on the issue. Here is a google doc that compiles Senatorsâ statements about the ban. This list from Vox only includes Republicans, but it has House reps in addition to senators.
* If your representative has issued a statement in opposition, give them a call to thank them. Here is a quick script:
Hello, I am a constituent in [CITY] calling to thank Senator/Representative [NAME] for opposing the travel and immigration ban. I appreciate that the senator/representative is is representing the interests of all of their constituents. I hope that going forward they continue to speak out about unconstitutional and unethical presidential actions.
Feel free to add a request for your representative - perhaps asking them to introduce or support legislation in opposition to the ban.
* If your representative has issued a statement in support, call them to express your disapproval. Here is a quick script:
Hello, I am a constituent in [CITY] calling about a concern I have. I was disappointed to see that Senator/Representative [NAME] had issued a statement of support for the travel and immigration ban. I believe that this executive order is unconstitutional and does not represent American values. I urge the senator/representative to reconsider their statement in support of the ban.
* If your representative has not issued a statement, call them to urge them to do so. Here is a quick script:
Hello, I am a constituent in [CITY] calling about a concern I have. I was disappointed to see that Senator/Representative [NAME] had not issued a statement in regard to the travel and immigration ban. I believe that this executive order is unconstitutional and does not represent American values. I urge the senator/representative to issue a statement to that effect and support legislation that opposes the ban.
WHERE TO DONATE
If you have some spare cash, this is a fantastic time to donate. The ACLU has been on the forefront of the legal fight against the executive order, and they are a wonderful place to donate. They have, however, seen a record spike in donations over the past week, and there are other organization that need support. Consider a few options and throw what you can their way:
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees National Immigration Law Center International Rescue Committee Council on American-Islamic Relations International Refugee Assistance Project
Also consider local organizations that are assisting refugees and immigrants in your community. Your money has the potential to go further in smaller organizations that donât have the resources for nationwide campaigns.
FIND A PROTEST
The national outcry over this executive order has taken the form of dozens of protests across the country. Protests are a great way of rallying support, expressing disapproval, and showing the world at large that we do not support the actions of the president. Here is an extensive list of protests across the country. Many have already happened, but there are some today and over this weekend. I have used Facebook events to find most of the protests Iâve attended. You can also get in touch with your local Indivisible group to find an upcoming protest.
SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
If you are a lawyer or law student, or if you can offer interpretation services in Arabic, Farsi, Somali, or Spanish, consider signing up to volunteer.
STAY AWARE
Iâve seen several articles/opinion pieces circulating arguing that the immigration ban is a distraction, either for his supporters or for his opposition. I am of the opinion that we can all hold more than one thought at once - that we can be appalled by this executive order and also disturbed at the degradation of our system of checks and balances. I also believe that we can care about this and not forget about other important issues, such as the presidentâs unqualified cabinet picks. So in addition to this weeks action, I urge you to stay aware of distraction tactics that might be in play, and keep pushing back.














