Thread by @RabbiJill

I'm live-tweeting @HIASrefugees conference call happening right now abt. the state of asylum seekers right now.@truahrabbis #KeepFamiliesTogether

The conditions people are fleeing from: gang violence, failed states, gangs extorting money, gangs asking young girls to be their "girlfriends", family members killed in front of them...@HIASrefugees

TODAY - hundreds of cases where families are still separated. Our gov't MISSED the deadline & they have no clear plan to reunite. Hundreds parents deported while their kids still here.

The govt did not keep good records on family separations. It's a mess & STILL a mess. There is no clear time plan. (so please keep public pressure up)

Since 1951, the world passed an internat'l law which allows ppl to seek asylum. Our country agreed. In 1980 we passed the Refugee act. RIGHT NOW our govt is not following the law. @HIASrefugees

It has never been easy to seek & be granted asylum, however, one @HIASrefugees lawyer said it has never ever been this bad. Our govt has made it difficult, if not impossible, for people to legally come into this country.

Demand your MOC & your local officials to get Sec Nielsen to reunite all families & Jeff Sessions to PROTECT, not erode our immigration policy. @HIASrefugees

So Rabbi Rachel Grant Meyer just spoke eloquently about our trip to Mexico last week. How important "witnessing" is - when we show up for people who are suffering, it validates their reality & helps create a new reality. Witnessing is deep, powerful, and essential @HIASrefugees

@HIASrefugees sending a delegation of volunteer lawyers to Texas for a full week to help asylum seekers w/their rights. Liz Sweet is amazing.

There's so much content on the call, I know I'm missing important points. Would appreciate other @HIASrefugees @truahrabbis to add tweets on what we are learning. TY Rabbi @KirzBecka & others on the call: Meryl, Liz Sweet, Rabbi Rachel Grant-Meyer, Melanie?

There are MANY alternatives to detention of families/children that have been proven effective & are much more humane, but this admin is choosing not to use them. @HIASrefugees

We need a fair, humane immigration & asylum process. There is no need for the cruelty shown by this admin. NO NEED. There is a broad attack on the immigration process by this admin that is unprecedented. @HIASrefugees

The current policies of this admin are cruel, & seemingly designed to create suffering, & dehumanize. This must stop. People need to continue to send this message to MOC & local officials. Do not stop your activism.

We do not yet know how the remaining hundreds of separated families will be re-united. A federal judge ordered it, the govt missed the deadline & there is no plan. (I do not like this either ) Not sure the next move from @ACLU

People are actually being turned away at the border (STILL) who are seeking asylum. again, this is LEGAL. (I just can't take this in bc they are being turned away to sure death/violence that they have made an arduous journey to escape.)

Huge takeaway: DO NOT STOP YOUR ADVOCACY. It makes a difference - all of it. Call, sign petitions, KEEP doing it. Do not give up. @HIASrefugees

more than 150 ppl took an hour to listen to this call. Please check out @HIASrefugees website for how to follow this issue & to help. THANK YOU HIAS.

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