March 11th Phone Bank
Urge Secretary Mayorkas to Meet with Migrants in Nogales
On February 10th, the Kino Border Initiative, on behalf of migrants and asylum seekers, called on Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas to meet with migrants who have been mistreated by US Customs & Border Protection. While their complaints are rooted in the application of immigration law and policy, their concern runs deeper than implementation because the policies themselves are inhumane and have essentially choked off asylum and due process at the US-Mexico border. We lift up their statement and, as the SaveAsylum Coalition, we amplify the request of migrants and asylum seekers who have asked Secretary Mayorkas to virtually meet with the men, women, and children who have suffered as a result of ongoing anti-asylum policies.
SaveAsylum Coalition members and immigration advocates have joined migrants and asylum seekers for actions at the border wall in Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora for six actions since August of 2020. We now bring their message to Tucson through the unveiling of several banners around town created and posted by supporting organizations and congregations that have chosen to take a stance to demand the full restoration of asylum at the US-Mexico Border. Banners will make their debut on March 10th to rally support and raise awareness for a phone bank on March 11th demanding that asylum be swiftly restored at the US-Mexico border.
SaveAsylum Coalition members and immigration advocates have joined migrants and asylum seekers for actions at the border wall in Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora for six actions since August of 2020. We now bring their message to Tucson through the unveiling of several banners around town created and posted by supporting organizations and congregations that have chosen to take a stance to demand the full restoration of asylum at the US-Mexico Border. Banners will make their debut on March 10th to rally support and raise awareness for a phone bank on March 11th demanding that asylum be swiftly restored at the US-Mexico border.
What you can do:
On March 11th Call Acting Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security
Call Acting Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Karinda L. Washington at (202) 612-1602 during business hours (9:00 am - 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time).
Follow this script when you speak with someone or leave a message.
Hi Assistant Secretary Washington, my name is _________________ and I am... (share relevant institution affiliation here, for example "a student at X high school," "a member of X parish," or "a volunteer with X organization")
I am calling on behalf of (migrant name), a migrant from X who is waiting for asylum in Nogales. (Name) wanted you to know that (insert additional detail from migrant sharing.)
We know that Secretary Mayorkas received a summary of abuse complaints and an invitation to meet virtually with migrants from the Kino Border Initiative, and are disappointed that weeks later he has not accepted this invitation.
I am calling to urge Secretary Mayorkas to meet with migrants waiting for asylum in Mexico to hear the stories of abuses they have suffered and to share a concrete plan to address those abuses and reinstate due process for migrants at the border who still live in danger and uncertainty. I appreciate you sharing this message with the Secretary, and look forward to his attention to this issue.
Follow this script when you speak with someone or leave a message.
Hi Assistant Secretary Washington, my name is _________________ and I am... (share relevant institution affiliation here, for example "a student at X high school," "a member of X parish," or "a volunteer with X organization")
I am calling on behalf of (migrant name), a migrant from X who is waiting for asylum in Nogales. (Name) wanted you to know that (insert additional detail from migrant sharing.)
We know that Secretary Mayorkas received a summary of abuse complaints and an invitation to meet virtually with migrants from the Kino Border Initiative, and are disappointed that weeks later he has not accepted this invitation.
I am calling to urge Secretary Mayorkas to meet with migrants waiting for asylum in Mexico to hear the stories of abuses they have suffered and to share a concrete plan to address those abuses and reinstate due process for migrants at the border who still live in danger and uncertainty. I appreciate you sharing this message with the Secretary, and look forward to his attention to this issue.
Help us track our impact
Migrants' Concrete Requests
Migrant leaders involved in the #SaveAsylum campaign advocate for transparency and communication with those whose lives are directly impacted by this wait with no end in sight. Migrants are specifically requesting:
- A virtual meeting between migrants waiting in Mexico who have suffered abuses caused by harmful Trump era policies that continue under Biden’s administration, and Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas.
- That DHS officials share their plan with a clear timeline for rolling out additional asylum restoration measures that ensure all migrants can access their right to protection, including:
- Migrants returned to Mexico under MPP whose cases are no longer active because of access issues under COVID and the logistical challenges of MPP
- Migrants whose names are or were on metering lists at ports of entry
- Migrants who arrived after March 20, 2020 when most metering lists at ports of entry were close
- Newly arriving migrants fleeing persecution, especially those who are vulnerable or have experienced threats or persecution in Mexico
