ACT Now!

REFUGEE ADVOCACY

Your Voice is Urgently Needed!

Contact Congress today in support of HR 5918!

Immediate action is needed in response to legislation that has unfairly denied thousands of vulnerable refugees and asylees admission to the United States.

Background to the Problem:
Both international and U.S. law prohibit granting refugee status to anyone who is a terrorist or supports terrorist activity. The underlying reasoning behind this is that such a person is undeserving of protection and/or poses a threat to national security. However, legislation that defines a terrorist organization and what constitutes “material support” to terrorists is outlined so broadly by the U.S. Patriot Act and 2005 Real ID Act that even the United States Military is considered a terrorist group any time it enters another country uninvited.

“Material Support” could be anything from food, water, shelter or advice given to terrorists. Current law makes no distinction between material support that is voluntarily provided and that, which is forced under threat of death or serious bodily harm by armed rebels!

As a result, refugees and asylum seekers from all parts of the world have become unintended victims of this ambiguously described, overly broad application of the “Material Support” bar. Furthermore, groups that support the U.S. and groups that the U.S. supports are unjustly deemed terrorist organizations.

Who is Being Denied Protection?

  • Burmese persecuted by their own government.
  • Colombians coerced to make payments to armed groups such as the FARC.
  • Cubans who opposed the Castro regime.
  • Hmong and Vietnamese Montagnards who supported the U.S. during the Vietnam War.
  • Liberians, Sudanese…

The Solution: HR 5918
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA), HR 5918 recognizes the importance of combating terrorism but amends the problematic language of the Immigration and Nationality Act. HR 5918 protects victims of terrorism who are being barred unfairly such as those forced to provide services to terrorists as a result of undue coercion and duress. This new bill differentiates between “material support” that is voluntarily and willingly given and that which is compulsory. HR 5918 offers much-needed clarity in defining a terrorist organization, and in doing so, protects groups that support the U.S. as well as groups that the U.S. supports.

Learn more about HR 5918 (enter the bill # in search field)

How You Can Help:
Call and e-mail Congress Members and urge them to support HR 5918 in an effort to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act.The Capitol operator can be reached by phone at 202-224-3121; simply ask for your Congressperson. Although the bill is currently in the House, members of the Senate should be contacted too! If you do not know who your Congressperson is, you may find him/her at the United States Congress website. A sample letter is provided on the Church World Service website, which you can then e-mail directly to Members of Congress by typing in your zip code.

Members of Congress pay significant attention to the responses they receive through letters, phone calls and e-mails.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Help to ensure that vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers are not unfairly denied the chance to re-build their lives in the U.S. due to the inadequately defined, overly broad application of the “Material Support” provision.

ACT NOW!