The response by the Obama Administration and members of Congress to the influx of migrant children at the US-Mexico border becomes more worrisome by the day. The latest move is to propose changes to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2008, to speed up deportations of these children.
This legislation provides protections for victims of human trafficking. The TVPRA passed both chambers of Congress by unanimous consent and was signed into law by President Bush to address our international obligations of not returning vulnerable migrants to danger and to reduce the likelihood that the U.S. would deport children back into the hands of traffickers and others who would exploit them. Changes to the TVPRA would mean that migrant children would not have a meaningful opportunity to have their story heard, apply for asylum, or be cared for humanely by child welfare personnel, and would be deported to potentially life-threatening situations.
Please call your U.S. senators and Representative today to demand that they reject proposed rollbacks to this legislation.
Call 1-866-940-2439 to be connected with the offices of your Representative and both of your Senators. Please call three times to reach all three offices.
Here’s a sample script:
“My name is ______________ and I’m from State, Congregation/Community and as a person of faith, I strongly oppose any rollbacks to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Unaccompanied children fleeing violence should not be returned to unsafe situations, but must be protected and cared for humanely.
As your constituent, I expect you to stand firm against any proposal that would sacrifice a child’s safety for expediency. The U.S. must instead find ways to reduce the violence these children face in their home countries and ensure that children who arrive to the U.S. have access to the legal counsel and services they need.”
Attached Background information:
Talking Points on Proposals to Roll Back TVPRA
