ACTION: Tell Congress, “No Ban On Refugees!”

Tell Congress, “No Ban On Refugees!”
Donald Trump’s executive order suspends the refugee program for 120 days, it also cuts in half the number of all refugees allowed into the country for 2017! Burmese refugees to the US were the third largest entree in 2016 (12,347).

A majority of refugees from Burma are from Christian ethnic communities such as the Kachin and Karen peoples fleeing war however it is likely that Rohingya will also be affected by this measure as the policy aim is  to exclude Muslims.

Burmese Muslim lawyer and Rohingya advocate murdered at airport

A prominent Burmese lawyer who worked on human rights cases related to Myanmar’s Muslims was murdered at Yangon Airport on Sunday. U Ko Ni was standing in the airport while holding his grandson when he was shot twice by a 53-year-old assailant. A taxi driver was also shot dead while pursuing the gunman – who was later arrested – while another seven people are reported injured. Ko Ni, a rare public voice in favour of the country’s Muslim population, was a Muslim legal advisor to the governing party of Burma, the National League for Democracy.   See the full article here >>

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh face relocation to island

The Bangladesh government is moving to relocate tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees to a vulnerable island in the Bay of Bengal. A government directive said they would be transferred to Thengar Char before being repatriated to Myanmar. Rights groups have raised strong objections to the plan, saying it amounts to a forced relocation. Thengar Char is engulfed by several feet of water at high tide, and has no roads or flood defences.  See the full article here >>

Former Human Rights Watch Researcher Mathieson Discredits Rohingya Journalists and Activists

Former Human Rights Watch Senior Researcher David Scott Mathieson wrote an insidious Op-ed in The New York Times that seeks to discredit Rohingya journalists and activists. Mathieson claims to provide nuance, parse Burma’s complexities and highlight Suu Kyi’s challenges in governing but instead obfuscates a number of basic and critical issues.  See the full article here >>

Action Alert: Call Your Senator

PLEASE CALL these selected senators. They need to hear from us all:

Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.): 202-225-6411
Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.): 202-225-3831
Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA): 202-225-5816
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY): 202-225-4611
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA): 202-225-4276
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL): 202-225-3931
Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL): 202-225-2778
Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA): 202-225-5136
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.): (202) 224-4224
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME): (202) 224-2523
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.): (202) 224-4521
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz): (202) 224-2235
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): (202) 224-5972
Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) (202) 224-3353
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) (202) 224-5251
Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN): (202) 224-3344

Talking Points

• Please oppose a freeze in admitting refugees whatever country they may be from.
• Refugees are already put through a thorough and lengthy vetting system, so religion should not be a basis for exclusion or preference.
• The firing of top professionals from the Justice Department who find the refugee and muslim bans unconstitutional show that executive orders are being too hastily put in place, without proper consultation with other agencies;
• Security arguments are being used to force through an anti Muslim platform. But scapegoating minorities is contrary to American principles;
• Refugees have already been put through trauma and should be treated with full respect;
• Please support Senate Bill S 248 to block implementation of the Executive Order that restricts individuals from certain countries from entering the United States.
• In the House please support The No Funds for Unconstitutional Executive Orders Act