Protect vulnerable, unaccompanied children

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is asking Catholics to urge their senators and representatives to oppose legislative efforts to strip protection away from unaccompanied children who are fleeing from violence in Central America and seeking refuge in the United States. Urge them to pass a supplemental that provides for the care and protection of vulnerable children, ensures that their due process rights are preserved, and addresses the root causes of their flight, particularly violence in their home countries.

Also, urge your senator and representative to use part of the supplemental to fully restore the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) FY 2014 funding for refugees and all the other vulnerable populations under the care of ORR. You can reach senators and representatives by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 1-202-224-3121. Included here is alternative contact information and talking points for our parishioners.

Senator Edward J. Markey – (D-MA)

218 Russell Senate Office Building • Washington DC  20510 • (202) 224-2742

www.markey.senate.gov/contact

Senator Elizabeth Warren – (D-MA)

317 Hart Senate Office Building •  Washington DC  20510 • (202) 224-4543

www.warren.senate.gov/?p=email_senator

Congressman Michael Capuano

1-202-225-5111 • juliet.albin@mail.house.gov

Some talking points

• I’m your constituent from (city, state) and I care about refugees, unaccompanied children, and other vulnerable populations.

• I urge you to oppose statutory changes that would strip protections from vulnerable, unaccompanied refugee children and send them back to danger in their home countries.

• The children deserve and need the protections as children seeking refuge from violence. The protections help keep them from harm in this country and their home countries.

• I urge you to support supplemental funding that provides for the care and protection of vulnerable unaccompanied children, ensures that their due process rights are preserved, and addresses the root causes of the flight, particularly violence in their home countries.

• Without these increases, ORR will not have sufficient funds to serve refugees, unaccompanied children, and other vulnerable groups under its care and will be forced to continue cutting services to refugees and other vulnerable populations.

• I urge that you also use part of the supplemental to fully restore critical ORR FY2014 funding for refugees and all vulnerable populations under ORR’s care.

• These critical services help refugees and other vulnerable populations learn English and find jobs so they can support themselves and their families and better contribute to their new communities.

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Pictures from CPB

Photo: Eduardo Perez/U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cpb.gov)