ACTION ALERT: Tell your Senators to support the Keep Families Together Act

The Trump administration has chosen to promote an extreme anti-immigrant agenda at the expense of families.

Its policy of separating thousands of children from their parents – and incarcerating them – is inhumane, morally reprehensible and completely unnecessary.

We’re fighting back against President Trump’s deliberately cruel agenda on the legal front. Our Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative is representing detained immigrants — including parents who’ve been separated from their children at ports of entry despite having proof of parentage.

We need Congress to act now! You can help us by contacting your representatives.

Legislation is moving through Congress to stop family separation under most circumstances. In the Senate, it’s called the Keep Families Together Act – S. 3036 – sponsored by Sen. Feinstein. A companion bill is now being prepared in the House.

See if your member has signed on to this legislation above, and make a call using these scripts.

If the Senator has already signed on:

My name is ___ and I am a constituent from _____.

Thank you for signing on to the Keep Families Together Act. You are on the right side of history and humanity and I won’t forget your support for this bill.

I am asking [Senator’s Name] to offer an amendment to release families seeking asylum while they are fighting their cases in immigration courts. A prison is never the right place for a child.

Thank you for co-sponsoring this bill and asking your Senate colleagues to do the same.

If the Senator has not signed on to the bill, use the following script:

My name is ___ and I am a constituent from _____.

I am calling to ask [Senator’s Name] to co-sponsor the Keep Families Together Act.

With their vote, [Senator’s Name] has the opportunity to stand on the right side of history and the right side of humanity.

The country knows the truth about what is happening right now. The Trump administration’s decision to separate children from their parents at the border is heartless, cruel, and will traumatize young people for the rest of their lives. 

There is no excuse not to support this bill and we will not forget where [Senator’s Name] stands.

I ask again that you please consider co-sponsoring this bill and asking your Senate colleagues to do the same

1. If the staffer says the Senator opposes separating families but cannot support a bill at this time:

That’s disappointing to hear. Families need to stay together and out of detention. I will be sharing Senator [Name’s] position with my community.

2. If the staffer says the Senator will be supporting Sen. Ted Cruz’s bill (text not yet publicly available):

I appreciate the sentiment. But Senator Cruz’s bill – as reported on – does not go far enough to protect children and families. His bill would detain families together, and detention is not in the best interests of children or parents.

3. If the staffer says the Senator has co-sponsored:

That’s great. Please give Senator [Name] my thanks for supporting children and families.