No jails, No cages, No shackles: White House executive order is an insult, does not solve family separation.

June 20, 2018

For Immediate Release

Contact: Info@undocublack.org

Washington, DC - The Stephen Miller run White House just announced an executive order to detain families, together, indefinitely.   The order does not reverse recent ‘Zero tolerance’ policy announced by the Department of Homeland Security, nor does it allow asylum seekers to go through the process peacefully.  Instead, the order allows for broader practices of detaining some of the most vulnerable people in the world by opening up the possibilities of suitable “facilities”, jails for loved ones, together.

The White House response comes after mounting pressure to end Trump’s detention and deportation of children and their loved ones while seeking asylum. June 20th is recognized worldwide as ‘World Refugee Day’.

Below is the official statement of the UndocuBlack Network:

“Families belong together, but not in cages.  People have a right to seek refuge; international law prescribes and basic human decency obligates that we allow them to do so in peace.  The U.S. needs to allow people to seek asylum. We reject 45’s executive order to jail families together. Criminalizing those seeking safety while continuing to build upon the prison industrial complex by detaining asylum seeker families together is not what we are demanding.

The Trump administration orchestrated this crisis by enacting the ‘zero tolerance’ policy. Just yesterday, the president referred to immigrants as vermin and an infestation. We understand the true racist, anti-immigrant, white supremacist intentions of Stephen Miller and by extension Donald Trump - this new executive order is is dangerous. They must end the ‘zero tolerance’ policy now, it’s the only solution.”

###

Trump Administration Adds Seventh Country to Deportation List: Ends TPS for Honduras

For Immediate Release

May 4, 2018

Contact: info@undocublack.org, 443-300-6516

Washington, DC - In less than a week, the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielson has callously announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for yet another country, Honduras.  Seemingly in jest, DHS claimed that “Nielsen Carefully Considered Conditions on the Ground” in  Honduras, but several human rights organizations, advocates, TPS holders including the UndocuBlack Network substantiate otherwise.  Honduras has had protection since 1999, DHS made the decision to terminate TPS for the over 50,000 nationals covered, effective January 5, 2020.

“What seems most striking and contradictory about the decision is that the U.S. State department issued travel warnings for Honduras ,which are in effect as of January 10, 2018, at the same time however, Honduras was deemed safe enough to return to for Honduran nationals.  We encourage all allies to join us in raising the very obvious political agenda and racist motivations for ending TPS and DED for so many developing countries which are continually inconsistent with the current country conditions for these territories. ” - Patrice Lawrence, National Policy and Advocacy Director, UndocuBlack Network

Honduras is the seventh country to have their TPS or DED status terminated by the Trump Administration along with Sudan, Haiti, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Liberia and Nepal, just last week. As we fight for justice in immigration, we must commit to fighting for permanent solutions for TPS. The best permanent solutions that TPS holders support are ones that provide full permanent protection for all countries including Guinea and Sierra Leone who lost status in 2017.  

###

Trump Administration Adds Sixth Country to Deportation List: Ends TPS for Nepal

For Immediate Release

April 26, 2018

Contact: info@undocublack.org, 443-300-6516

Washington, DC - In an unpopular decision, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielson announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Nepal today.  The law is clear, it requires DHS to extend TPS if the home country has not recovered from the initial disaster prompting the designation, Nepal has not. Nepal is the sixth country to have their TPS or DED status terminated by the Trump Administration, joining Sudan, Haiti, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Liberia. The decisions for Honduras, Somalia and Yemen are fast approaching.

According to various studies including those by the 2015 earthquake in Nepal destroyed  over 750,000 homes, 900 health care facilities and 7,000 classrooms.  A short 3 years later, the country still suffers from lack of  infrastructural and basic needs including accessible food and water. The 9000 Nepalis covered by TPS presently build and assist their home country while strengthening the U.S.

“Nepal TPS extension should have been a fairly easy one to make, the need is clear.It is dumbfounding how this Administration does not care to hide their bias and their fundamental problem of racism.  Yet again, Secretary Nielson has made a decision to end protection for a vulnerable country based on feelings of entitlement instead of facts. It is unoriginal and follows the pattern of her two predecessors in just this short 15 catastrophic months since the Trump Administration took power:  Acting Secretary Elaine Duke and Secretary Kelly. If ever we beckon to the need for the other branch of government to rise up, Congress, it is now. The list of instances of disregard for human rights and dignity just keeps getting longer and longer.”

- Patrice Lawrence, National Policy & Advocacy Director, UndocuBlack Network

###

Where is the spine of our leaders?: The decision to end #TrumpShutdown without a bipartisan deal leaves the American public, Immigrants, parents and their children wondering.

For Immediate Release

January 22, 2018

Contact: info@undocublack.org, 443-300-6516

Washington, DC - The Senate has just voted to reopen the government without any consequential or long-term bipartisan agreement on the nation’s pressing issues: Disaster relief for U.S. states including Puerto Rico, budget caps and the DREAM Act. Dubbed the #TrumpShutdown, the federal government was closed for a little over two and a half days beginning Friday, January 19th because the leaders on both sides were unwilling to come to agreement on the nation’s spending bill and its amendments. The motion in the Senate today was the same as what was agreed to in the House prior to the shutdown, except it comes with a loose commitment to revisit immigration talks ahead of the next funding vote on February 8, 2018.  

“It seems as if Donald Trump is not the only one who does not understand the art of a deal; in reopening the government, Democrats have displayed the same. It is dangerous for Democrats to cave while Mitch McConnell still refers to undocumented immigrants with derogatory slurs spewing lies, misrepresenting the wishes of the American public. The reality is that over 75% of Americans demand a DREAM Act and are desperate for a permanent solution for immigrant youth and their families.

Patrice Lawrence, Policy Director, UndocuBlack Network - We imagine that in the coming weeks, Congress should brace for the outrage of immigration and children’s advocates, undocumented immigrants including DACA recipients, TPS and DED  holders, their families, friends and our allies who are steadfast in their commitment to the most vulnerable.  Congress has one more chance to make this right, and that is before the end of the next C.R. on Thursday, February 8th.  Best believe, we will be present and vigilant. 

Jonathan Jayes-Green, co-founder and Director, UndocuBlack Network - “This is a disgraceful day for our country. The Democratic Party and its leaders sent a message today, and it was loud and clear: they allegedly care about the immigrant community but are willing to put our fates in the hands of those who have been unwilling to protect us. Every deportation from here on out, every immigrant detention, every person losing their DACA and TPS status lies partly in the hands of Democratic leadership, not just Trump. We will never forget this day.”

###

Trump’s incompetence puts the country and immigrants at further risk #TrumpShutdown

For Immediate Release
January 19, 2018
Contact: info@undocublack.org, 443-300-6516

Washington, DC - Tonight, Republicans made history as the first political party to lead the country to shut down while in control of both chambers of Congress and the White House.The partial shutdown will mean that the federal government will not be funded until Congress can come to a resolution on a variety of issues including CHIP, Disaster Relief and the DREAM Act.

“The basic function of Congress is to legislate on behalf of all their constituents, not based on their personal, misguided, racist views or those of their misaligned President.  We now have a shutdown, how long it lasts is up to Republicans.  It is important to note that during this time, ICE is still open, so the immigrant youth remain at risk for detention and deportation - this is urgent.  Donald Trump does not want a deal on immigration despite him being the engineer of our current crisis - he killed DACA." - Patrice Lawrence, National Policy & Advocacy Director, UndocuBlack Network

“This Trump shutdown is another example of the colossal failure that Republican leadership is for this country. Their inability to keep the government funded and follow the lead of the American public in passing a clean Dream Act is disgraceful.”- Jonathan Jayes-Green, Co-Founder and Director, UndocuBlack Network

“I want to give a message to all undocumented people, especially undocumented youth and TPS holders: The Trump shut down solidifies just how they see people; they are not seeing people for their humanity, they are seeing people as pawns, for their contributions, for their assigned worth. We need to look at this for what it is. We need to keep up the pressure. But remember your worth is not in the value you provide to someone, it is not based on what you can contribute. You may feel compelled to want to prove your worthiness and deservingness. You are deserving and inherently worthy.” - Gabrielle Jackson, Mental Wellness Coordinator, UndocuBlack Network

Republicans and Democrats support the DREAM Act along with over 75% of the American public. We hope the members of Congress push through this chaos and bring to a vote a deal that is conscionable and honest,  quickly.  This means that family-based immigration system and diversity visas must be preserved.  This means that Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure must be protected during these discussions.  Do the right thing.

###

UndocuBlack Network opposes Trump's Family Ban; It has everything to do with white supremacist agenda and nothing to do DACA

Washington, DC -   As support for the DREAM Act increases, Trump held a meeting with bipartisan legislators today where he reiterated the ‘family ban’ along with a list of poison  pills as part of a “DACA deal”.  The UndocuBlack Network reaffirms its opposition to this latest call for the end of the Diversity Visa program, a part of the family ban.

“The family ban is any and all attacks on the family-based visa immigration system and the diversity of this country as provided by the  Diversity Visa program.  

 What does the family ban have to do with DACA?  Absolutely nothing.  What does it have to do with a racist, xenophobic presidency and advancing a white supremacist agenda? Absolutely everything.  

We stand with and for the DREAM Act and support its passage for immigrant youth in all of our communities.   What we do not stand for is any compromises to our immigration system especially the Diversity Visa program which ensures that individuals from low admission countries in other visa categories, have an equitable opportunity to migrate freely.

We are adamantly against ending the Diversity Visa program and family-based visa immigration system.  Any friend of immigrants must be too.”

Patrice Lawrence, Policy and Advocacy Director, UndocuBlack Network

The Trump Administration adds 200,000 Salvadorans to their deportation list

For Immediate Release
January 8, 2018
Contact: info@undocublack.org

Washington, DC - In a continuation of the repulsive Trump Administration agenda to evict immigrants,  Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador has been terminated as of this morning by the Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Kristjen Nielson.

“This was Nielson’s first test of humanity for TPS holders and she has disgracefully failed. There are over 200,000 Salvadorans with TPS and ending their legal protection is cruel and inhumane.  The 18 month extension is no solace as asking these individuals to stop their lives, that of their children and family is preposterous. All roads now lead to a legislative solution immediately.” - Patrice Lawrence, National Policy and Advocacy Director, UndocuBlack Network.

The UndocuBlack Network understands that the administrative arm of government is blind to facts.  Salvadorans live and work across the country with heavy populations in Texas, Florida, California, Maryland and Nevada.  There are currently two bills in the House and one in the Senate with the purpose of a permanent solution for the over 320,000 individuals with Temporary Protected Status in the U.S.

The clock is ticking.

###

Congress, attach the DREAM Act to the spending bills and it will pass before the holidays. “My mom shouldn’t have to worry over the upcoming holidays”

December 21, 2017

For Immediate Release

Contact: Info@undocublack.org

Washington, DC - Congress has two days left and no more to pass the DREAM Act before the end of the year and we are counting on them to do so.  It is the responsibility of the government to listen to the people and we have spoken, loudly.  The message is crystal clear, DREAM Act now for the holidays.  

“The DREAM Act must be passed before congress goes home in two days.  We’ve heard enough speeches, the time to act is now.” Jonathan Jayes-Green, co-founder of UndocuBlack Network continued, “Congress has had 17 years to debate this bill.  Time has run out.”

“This is life or death for us. I can’t plan for my future without knowing where I stand. I need to know that in the new year I can help support my family. My mom shouldn’t have to worry over the upcoming holidays.” Ronnie James, DACA Recipient, NYC Co-lead in UndocuBlack Network.

The DREAM Act is a multi-ethnic, multi-generational, multi-cultural issue, and yes, a Black issue.  We don’t have time to play politics knowing 12,000 individuals have lost their status already. Two days Congress, you’ve got two days.