A Call To Action – Standing Up for What We Believe In

In a way, I feel like we are reliving the 1960s-era of activism that became so iconic and in some ways distorted, in its constant retelling. Protests (i.e. Post-Election protest, Executive Order – protests at the airports), civil rights marches (Women’s March), black power (i.e. Black Lives Matters), and feminist struggles all have been resurrected once again in 2017. Haven’t we learned from our mistakes. We are just going around in circles, repeating the same things all because of one person.

The 1960s was a time that young people actually believed that they could change the world and were actually changing the world. Today, with all our contemporary efforts at social change, with all its complexities, it’s easy to feel like failure is inevitable. It’s about understanding the nature of failure. Using the experience of failure is necessary in order to move toward one’s true calling. Its really about continuing to dream big at a large enough scale while tackling small, radical acts strategically everyday with our hands.

“We must wake up wondering how we might fail at changing absolutely everything in such a way that we manage to change a little something.”

-Courtney E. Martin, Do It Anyways

A Call to Action:

So what can you do to actually change the world and show your support during these dark times in the United States. Here are a few examples of what you can do

  • Immigrant ribbon making event to show your support
    • Donate money for the cause
  • Protest peacefully
    • Be heard and be seen
  • Reach out to local Muslim communities
    • Let them know you stand with them and support them. Ask what they need in this time of national crisis
  • Educate yourself on immigration and refugee laws
  • Donate to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)
    • Pro-bono lawyers are fighting for those people immediately effect by the executive order  by obtaining an emergency stay that blocks the deportation of all people stranded in U.S. airports.
  • Donate to refugee organizations
    • i.e RefugeeOne – a resettlement organization in Chicago
  • Attend an interfaith vigil
  • Call your legislators
    • Find your House Representatives here
    • Find your Senators here
  • Use your professional skills
    • Educators, Lawyers, etc.
  • Don’t lose faith and hope

“We each have the opportunity to live our lives consciously in spite of all the soporific influences, to act even when we know how complex the prospect of doing so truly is. Our charge is not to “save the world,” after all; it is to truly live in it, flawed and fierce, loving and humble. The bureaucracy we face, the scale of our challenges, the intractable nature of so many of our most unjust international institutions and systems – all of these add up to colossal potential for disappointment. No matter. We must strive to make the world better anyway. We must struggle to make our friendships, our families, our neighborhoods, our cities, and our nation more dignified, knowing that it might not work and struggling anyway. We must dedicate ourselves each and every morning to being the most kind, thoughtful, courageous human beings who ever walked the earth, and know that it still won’t be enough. We must do it anyway.”

– Courtney E. Martin

 

I would love to hear how each and everyone of you are doing to show your support in your local area. Please comment below.

***[SPECIAL REPORT]*** 7 Countries You Should Avoid While Trump’s Executive Order on Immigration Is In Effect

 

On Friday, January 27, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order that immediately suspended the entry of ALL foreign nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for a period of at least 90 days. The following morning, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson confirmed that this 90Day Ban applies to even U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents who are nationals of those countries; but as of Sunday, DHS retracted and declared that U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents are “deemed a national interest” and therefore will be admitted into the U.S. absent any “derogatory information indicating that [the individual is] a serious threat” to the U.S.

This 90Day Entry Ban, that only came into effect on Friday early evening, has already received much opposition from various organizations, congress members, and foreign governments.  All of this, in turn, has resulted in the U.S. Federal District Court blocking the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from enforcing the executive order at U.S. borders and airports at least until February 21the date of the next hearing; and the White House has been forced to modify their position on the banexempting U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents from aautomatic 90day ban but remaining subject to additional screening.

The following information has been provided to all those currently traveling or plan to travel in the next few months:

  • President Trump’s Executive Orders affect ALL foreign nationals and some U.S. citizens seeking entry into the U.S.
  • Nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen should not depart the U.S. or risk being banned from re-entry for 90 days or longer. Nationals of the above-referenced countries have been banned from entering the U.S. for a period of at least 90 days, effective 1/27/2017. The ban applies to any nationals of these countries including those who hold dual citizenship; hold a valid non-immigrant visa (e.g., H-1B, L-1, E-3, O-1, TN, F-1); or have a U.S. green card application pending with the government.
  • ALL foreign nationals from ANY country (even if not subject to the ban) should be aware of increased delays and scrutiny at the border and/or administrative delays in visa processing at U.S. Consulates.   All employees requiring a new U.S. visa stamp should account for administrative processing delays at the U.S. Consulate.  Administrative processing may take about 6 weeks or more.
  • Foreign Nationals who had been eligible for the interview-waiver “drop box” program (e.g., some U.S. Consulates in India) must undergo in-person visa interviews, as the drop box program has ceased.  All U.S. visa renewal applicants, regardless of country of nationality or citizenship, must attend an in-person interview.  All employees requiring a new U.S. visa stamp should account for administrative processing delays at the U.S. Consulate. Administrative processing may take up to 6 weeks or more.
  • Travel advisory for U.S. Citizens. If you are a U.S. Citizen and have visa stamps from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, or other countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Qatar, or UAE, you may be detained for additional questioning. 

If you have further questions about immigration and Trump’s Executive Order, please contact an immigration lawyer.