Author: Lily Folkerts
The holiday season is in full swing but many immigrants and Hondurans are not quite feeling cheerful.
Since the abrupt end of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) earlier this year, almost 800,000 young Dreamers have been at risk of losing everything—their homes, their jobs, their family and friends. Over 10,000 youths have already lost their status and many more face that risk.
Meanwhile, in Honduras, the country’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) has declared incumbent president Juan Orlando Hernández the winner of the November 26 presidential election, in spite of widespread vote-rigging allegations. The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, has since noted grave irregularities in the electoral process and called for new elections.
Over the past several weeks, tens of thousands of Hondurans have taken to the streets to protest the lack of transparency surrounding the elections. Police and soldiers have tear gassed and shot at protesters, leaving many wounded and at over 20 dead.
Members of Congress, like many of us, are getting ready to head back to their hometowns this weekend to celebrate with their loved ones. But we can’t let them relax just yet. CALL your legislators today and urge them to take action on these two crucial issues before the congressional year ends!
ACT NOW
Enter your zipcode below to find your members’ contact information:
Defend Dreamers
» Demand a clean Dream Act (H.R. 3440 and S. 1615)—one that isn’t tied to increased funds for harmful and unnecessary border militarization—before the end of the year.
Uphold democracy in Honduras
Ask your legislators to contact the Department of State and the U.S. embassy in Honduras and demand they:
» Join the OAS in calling for new, fully transparent general elections.
» Urge the Honduran authorities to respect the right of the Honduran people, journalists, and human rights defenders to freely express their opinions, assemble, and protest.
» Suspend U.S. military and police aid, and withhold all U.S. funds to the Honduran government tied to human rights conditions.
It’s time to take one final stand for what’s right before 2017 ends. We’re counting on you!
