The online editorial staff comprises Betsy Shirley, Jenna Barnett, Josiah R. Daniels, Mitchell Atencio, Heather Brady, Kierra Bennning, and Zachary Lee.
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Feb. 16 Will Be a ‘Day Without Immigrants’ In D.C.
Image via Ryan Bodrick Beiler/Shutterstock.com
On Feb. 16 immigrants in Washington, D.C., plan to go on strike from work and other economic engagements, creating a “Day Without Immigrants,” just as immigrants in Wisconsin did on Feb. 13, reports the Washingtonian.
A flyer advertising the “Day Without Immigrants” calls for immigrants to avoid shopping, going to work, and eating at restaurants.
States With High Number of Undocumented Immigrants Don't Majorly Support Deportation
Image via ndlon/flickr.com
A recent study by the Public Religion Research Institute reveals there aren’t any states in the U.S. in which 50 percent or more of its residents support deportation as adequate reform of the immigration system. Even in California, Texas, and Florida, states that respectively have the highest, second-highest, and third-highest number of undocumented immigrants in the country, this holds true.
Know Your Rights: What to Do in an Immigration Raid
For those worried about a possible immigration raid, or those with friends and family who may be at risk, El Centro de la Raza created a simple "know your rights" graphic in Spanish and English.
ICE Agents Reportedly Detain More Than 100 People in Arizona, California, Texas
Image via Fibonacci Blue/flickr.com
In recent days more than 100 undocumented immigrants have reportedly been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents. Texas Observer reports that as many as five immigrants were detained on Feb. 9. According to the Los Angeles Times, immigration activists claim that about 100 people have been taken into custody by ICE this week, resulting in a protest in downtown Los Angeles. And news of the arrest and deportation of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos — a mother who was previously convicted for using false papers to gain employment and afterward obeyed an order to report to ICE every six months — have circulated through social media and news outlets.
Weekly Wrap 2.10.17: The 10 Best Stories You Missed This Week
“At some point, inevitably, Christians will have to choose between Jesus and their preferred political party and ideology.”
4. ‘Nevertheless, She Persisted’ and the Age of the Weaponized Meme
“‘Nevertheless, she persisted’ has, on the one hand, the impish irony of a powerful person’s words being used against him. It has, on the other, words that are elegant in their brevity, making them especially fit for tweets and slogans and mugs. And it has, too, words that are particularly poetic, rendered in near-iambic pentameter, with the key verb of their accusation — ‘persisted’ — neatly rhyming with that other key verb: ‘resisted.’ The whole thing was, for Warren, a perfect storm. It was, for McConnell, a decidedly imperfect one.”
Senate Votes to Confirm Jeff Sessions as Attorney General
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R, Ala., during confirmation hearing for U.S. Supreme Court nominee John Roberts in 2005.Rob Crandall / Shutterstock.com
Worldwide Actions Planned After Army Corps of Engineers Grants Dakota Access Easement
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted the final easement needed to construct the Dakota Access Pipeline, according to a Feb. 7 court filing. David Archambault II, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, vowed to continue fighting the construction.
During Sessions Debate, Senate Republicans Silence Elizabeth Warren for Reading Letter from Coretta Scott King
During a second night of Senate Democrats holding the floor — this time protesting the confirmation of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) as attorney general — Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) invoked a little-used rule to prevent Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) from continuing testimony after she read a 1986 letter from Coretta Scott King.
Senate Dems Hold the Floor to Oppose DeVos Confirmation
In an effort to stop the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as secretary of education, Senate Democrats spent Monday night and Tuesday morning speaking on the Senate floor about DeVos’ inexperience and the havoc she could wreak if confirmed. With Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) flipping to "nos," Senate Democrats need one more vote against DeVos in order for her nomination to be rejected. The vote is slated for midday Tuesday.
Trump's Second Week Dominated by Religious Liberty Showdowns
The language of the order protects tax-exempt status for groups following a very particular set of religious beliefs, those often tagged closest to conservative Christian theologies. Yet the draft also defines “religious exercise” broadly, providing cover for “any act or refusal to act that is motivated by a sincerely held religious belief, whether or not the act is required or compelled by, or central to, a system of religious belief.” These parameters would leave the law open to unprecedented discrimination and human rights abuses.
Weekly Wrap 2.3.17: The 10 Best Stories You Missed This Week
1. The Myth of the Muslim Country
“Many liberals also speak of Islam and Muslim political actors as if they were singular agentive forces that can be analyzed, quantified, engaged, celebrated, condemned, or divided between good and bad. Yet there is no such thing as Muslim or Christian political behavior. To claim otherwise is to align oneself with Senator Ted Cruz’s preposterous assertion, made during the presidential campaign, that ‘there is no meaningful risk of Christians committing acts of terror.’”
2. Inside the ‘War Room’ at DFW Where More Than 100 Lawyers Volunteered to Help Detainees
A look behind the scenes at just one of the U.S. international airports that was thrown into chaos as travelers were detained — at DFW an 11-month-old U.S. citizen baby.
Texas Governor Blocks Funds to Austin for Being a Sanctuary City
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made good this week on his threats to restrict funding from any cities offering protection to immigrants who are undocumented, reports CBS News. On Wednesday, Abbott witheld $1.5 million in grant funds from Travis County, which includes Texas' capital city of Austin. The reason for Abbott's action was apparently Travis County sheriff Sally Hernandez' refusal to enforce federal immigration orders.
Veterans Vow to Stop Dakota Access Pipeline: 'Not On Our Watch'
Photo via Joe Brusky / Flickr
U.S. military veterans have declared they will block any attempt to complete the Dakota Access Pipeline, according to CNBC. This comes after President Trump signed an executive memorandum his first week in office to advance approval on both the Keystone XL pipeline and Dakota Access pipeline.
5 Groups Resisting Trump's Refugee, Immigration Orders
Image via Dave Zirin/Facebook
In the three days since the Trump administration announced an “extreme vetting” process for refugees — and failed to communicate the terms of his order with government agencies, resulting in confusion and an immediate denial of entry to many refugees and green card holders with visas — groups from international corporations to immigration attorneys have stepped up to register their concern.
Russell Moore to Trump: 'Our Responsibility Is to Care for and Serve Refugees'
Image via spyarm/Shutterstock.com
“In June 2016, the Southern Baptist Convention reaffirmed its decades-long commitment to care for and minister to refugees,” wrote Moore in a letter addressed to President Trump and Vice President Pence, and also sent to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
"“Indeed, as our country recalled on [Jan. 27], one of our nation’s darkest chapters was our refusal to allow European Jews fleeing the Third Reich to find safe harbor on American soil..."
Mahershala Ali: 'We See What Happens When We Persecute People'
Screenshot, Screen Actors Guild Awards/Facebook
“I think what I’ve learned from Moonlight is we see what happens when we persecute people. They fold into themselves. And what I was so grateful about in having the opportunity to play Juan was playing a gentleman who saw a young man folding into himself as a result of the persecution of his community and taking the opportunity to uplift him and tell him that he mattered, that he was okay, and accept him, and I hope that we do a better job of that.”
Weekly Wrap 1.27.17: The 10 Best Stories You Missed This Week
1. What Will You Do if Donald Trump Deports Me?
“If you are an ally, a friend, or a decent human being who understands that immigrants and refugees work hard, play by the rules and are proud aspiring Americans, then read this guide.”
2. Here’s How Franklin Graham Justifies Trump’s Expected Refugee Ban
“It’s not a biblical command for the country to let everyone in who wants to come, that’s not a Bible issue.” :thinking:
President Trump Signs Order for 'Extreme Vetting' of Refugees
The draft text of the order, like much of Trump's campaign rhetoric, uses the language of domestic security, couched in tear of terrorism. This is dramatically out of proportion with the actual statistics on crime among immigrants and refugees, when in reality, newcomers to the U.S. commit far less crime than those born here.
Trump's Executive Actions: End Sanctuary, Build Wall
One action blocks federal funding for sanctuary cities, something in which many churches and communities of faith participate. An estimated 400 congregations nationwide support sanctuary or are actively opening their doors to immigrants.
Hundreds of Calvin Alumni Oppose DeVos Nomination
Image Via a katz / Shutterstock
"While many of us were inspired by our time at Calvin College to make education a professional commitment, Mrs. DeVos was not. She has never worked in any educational institution as an administrator, nor as an educator. If the position of the Secretary of Education requires the individual to have an intimate knowledge of the tools used by educators, which we believe it does, Mrs. DeVos does not qualify."