We’re still keeping a full calendar of remote events. Check https://indivisibleyolo.org/calendar/ for the most up-to-date information on actions and events you can join!
This week is our last chance to comment on proposed asylum rule changes that are so restrictive they will make it virtually impossible for anyone to receive asylum in the US. It’s a bundle of rule changes that are intended to deny asylum seekers and also to prevent a future president from reversing the Trump administration’s policies. We have only until 11:59 pm ET (8:59 pm PT) on July 15th to make a comment. There’s little doubt the rule will eventually go into effect. However, the agency is required to consider and respond to every unique public comment, which means that each comment we make delays their ability to use this rule to deny asylum and deport asylum seekers.
They will only consider unique comments (they can filter out and ignore copy-pasted or highly similar comments), but you don’t have to be an expert on asylum law or write a long letter. Just comment in your own words about how you feel about the proposed rule.
Here’s some background information on this proposed rule via Immigrant Women Too: https://www.immigrantwomentoo.org/take-action/. There’s also a short video to explain the proposed rule here: https://youtu.be/XzF2xmMZz_c
“Among its many harmful provisions, the proposed rule will completely change the legal definition of “refugee” in such a way that virtually no applicant will be able to win asylum, including:
- Women and children who have suffered extreme domestic violence
- Children and families targeted by violent gangs for sexual abuse, forced recruitment, or extortion
- LGBTQ people persecuted for their sexual orientation or gender identity”
Remember, we only have until Wednesday evening, July 15th at 8:59 pm PT to make a comment!
Would you like company making calls to representatives or doing the action of the week? Join our Virtual Action Coffee Zoom meeting Monday mornings at 10 am: https://zoom.us/j/721847201. We’ll talk through Indivisible Yolo’s action of the week, call or email our representatives, talk politics, and stay connected to each other and the work in this challenging time.
And as always, you can find up-to-date events on our calendar at https://indivisibleyolo.org/calendar/.
Take care, and take action!
-The Indivisible Yolo Team
It’s time to get in gear for electoral work! Our outreach looks a little different but our enthusiasm is the same.
Did you know Indivisible Yolo and Sister District – CA-3 have FOUR regularly scheduled weekly phone banks? Our Call Team has pairs of experienced phone bank hosts who can get you trained and comfortable talking to voters in your first session.
1. Sundays at 2pm with Betsy and Amy
2. Tuesdays at 3pm with Katherine and Tim
3. Wednesdays at 4pm with Scott and Steve
4. Saturdays at 10am with Kelly and special guests
Details for each session on Facebook or our calendar:
https://indivisibleyolo.org/volunteercentercalendar/
Action: Make a public comment on the proposed rule that guts asylum in the US
- Link for public comment on the rule HERE
- A little more context HERE (via the Tahirih Justice Center) and HERE (via Immigrant Women Too)
The Trump administration is proposing asylum rule changes that would make it practically impossible to get asylum. Per the Tahirih Justice Center, “The rule threatens the safety of survivors of all types of human rights abuses, including gender-based violence such as rape, forced marriage, honor crimes, female genital mutilation/cutting, domestic violence, human trafficking, and punishment because of one’s sexual orientation/gender identity.”
It would also allow immigration judges to deny asylum without even a hearing, and would add other severe barriers to applicants: “By penalizing those without the resources to secure a visa, or expecting all applicants to travel by direct flight, or demanding that they forgo working to feed their families (asylum applicants must wait 150 days before they can seek employment authorization), the Trump administration is creating a system that is actively hostile to the lived realities of most asylum seekers.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/06/19/we-cannot-let-trump-administration-turn-this-countrys-back-asylum-seekers/
Please make a public comment against these proposed changes, which are so severe they would essentially end asylum.
