The news about immigrant children – regardless of age and ability – being separated at the border, detained without adequate information on recourse, and without the right to counsel, has deeply cut into the hearts and minds of most Americans. As the daughter of an immigrant - my father came to this country in June 1939, a Jewish refugee from a hostile Eastern Europe - this has affected me deeply and personally.The National PTA has issued a Statement on Family Separation, which in part calls on the U.S. Congress and the administration to take the necessary steps to immediately stop any zero-tolerance policy that may result in harmful separation of undocumented children from their parents or family members. National PTA also seeks the immediate reunification of families presently separated under current enforcement policy.
What can you do now?
Marches throughout the country, including at least 20 in Illinois are planned for this weekend. For more information on these public protests, Click on the nearest Illinois city to you for information on the planned protests for June 30th: Arlington Heights, Aurora, Barrington, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago, Downers Grove, Elgin, Frankfort, Glenview, Highland Park, Joliet, Macomb, Ottawa, Peoria, Quincy, Rockford, Saint Charles, Springfield. There is at least one rally planned for July 1st: Round Lake Beach. According to Angilberto Tamayo, Family Immigration Law Attorney who spoke at this week’s panel discussion on U.S. Immigration Policy and Reform at the Illinois Holocaust Museum, many immigrants are afraid to leave their homes, even to renew their status, or to send their children to school or outside to play; joining in public protests will let them know that there is support for them and their current plight in this country.
Contact your legislators. Watch for calls to action on this and other issues in the days and weeks ahead. To sign up for Illinois PTA Action alerts, go to https://illinoispta.org/take-action/.
In schools, teachers can create and utilize lesson plans to emphasize the rich history of immigrants and their contribution in this country.
Conduct a Voter Registration Drive. PTAs can conduct voter registration drives: just be sure that your activities are non-partisan. Participants can go to the Illinois State Board of Elections site to see if they are registered. If not, they can register at the Illinois Online Voter Registration site.
Vote – and ensure your voice is heard.
Keep heart: November is coming.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Lisa
Lisa S. Garbaty
Illinois PTA Legislative Advocacy Director
lgarbaty@illinoispta.org
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