Two League members at an ERA rally in DC
Urge President Biden to Publish the Equal Rights Amendment With just months left in office, we are urging President Biden to act to ensure that the ERA is published.
Image of a young John Lewis behind a microphone
Support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act Tell Congress to protect the freedom to vote.
Protestor holding a sign that says "There's no planet B"
Urge Congress to Address the Climate Crisis Ask your representatives to address climate change and protect our youths' futures! 
A young Pennsylvanian registering to vote at a LWV event
Show Your Support Advocate for Voting Rights
View All Action Alerts
Register to vote
Register to vote - get started now at VOTE411.org
View All Action Alerts
By: Jessica Jones Capparell

Policymakers Focus on Immigration Reform and Family Separation

Blog / Last Updated:

Immigration was the major policy focus of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Trump Administration, and most Americans last week. The U.S. House voted on legislation and President Trump signed an Executive Order around family detention at our borders.

On Thursday, the U.S. House failed to pass H.R. 4760 the Securing America’s Future Act of 2018. This legislation, sponsored by Judiciary Chairman, Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), focused on militarizing our borders. It also failed to provide a pathway to citizenship for hundreds of thousands of Dreamers or address the issue of uniting immigrant families at our borders. Another piece of legislation, H.R. 6136, a compromise bill put together by House Republican leadership was pulled before a scheduled vote.

The League has been working extensively to meet with and talk to lawmakers and their staff on these bad bills. A memo was sent to all House members and members of the LWVUS Lobby Corps were on Capitol Hill while grassroots League activists responded to an action alert calling on their Representatives to oppose the legislation.

The family separation crisis on our border continues despite President Trump signing an Executive Order to end family separation. The President was attempting to respond to a crisis of his own making. His Executive Order fails to end the policy of separating families and resolve the crisis. The current practice of separating families at our borders violates our human rights and moral responsibilities.

Families Belong Together marches and protests are scheduled for this Saturday, June 30, in Washington, DC and around the country.

Now is the time for lawmakers and the President to hear from us. We must continue to beat the drum on this issue.

To find a local event and make your voice heard please visit familiesbelongtogether.org.   

The League will continue to take our message to Congress and the President. We must treat those wishing to come to this country with dignity and resist the urge to militarize the border, criminalize immigrants or threaten the right of due process for all persons.

Related Content

LWVUS Submits Comments to USCIS Opposing Immigration Application Fee Increases

LWVUS submitted public comment to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the proposed rule to adjust certain immigration and naturalization benefit request fees. The League opposed increases in immigration application fees, articulating the impact it will have on immigrants' ability to reunite and stay with family members abroad, live and work permanently in the US, and attain US citizenship.

 

Letters /
LWVUS Urges Congress to Protect Dreamers

Senate and House leadership announced that protecting Dreamers is a high priority in the remaining time of the 117th Congress, leading the League to urge Congress to follow through and pass a bill. People who are protected by DACA, their families, and their communities deserve the peace of mind to build their lives and futures in the United States. 

Letters /
LWVUS Urges the US Department of Health and Human Services to Allow DACA Recipients to Enroll in Health Insurance Programs

The League signed onto a letter to Secretary Becerra of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), urging HHS to allow recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to enroll in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicaid. 

Letters /

Donate to support our work

to empower voters and defend democracy.