UPDATE: Ask DC Council to Support CM Pinto’s Amendment to the Migrant Services and Supports Emergency Act
Councilmember Pinto is introducing amendments to the Migrant Services and Supports Emergency Act that will REMOVE the portions of the bill that bar access to services based on immigration status! The amendments will also narrow Mayor Bowser’s control over eligibility for OMS services and prioritize non-congregate housing for families with children. We support these amendments!
We are asking council members to vote YES on Councilmember Pinto’s amendments to the Migrant Services and Supports Emergency Act. Take 5 minutes to call, email & tweet at DC councilmembers asking them to support CM Pinto’s Amendment.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Don't know which ward you’re in? Find out here.
Remember to contact the Council Chair, the 4 At-large Councilmembers AND your Ward’s Councilmember (6 people in total). If you hear back from a councilmember please let us know, email sanctuarydmv2017@gmail.com.
Script for phone calls
Hi, my name is _____ and I am reaching out to ask you to vote YES to support Councilmember Pinto’s amendments to the Migrant Services and Supports Emergency Act. [I am a DC resident who has lived in Ward __ for __ years]
In its current form the bill contains harmful amendments to the Homeless Services Reform Act that would bar asylum-seekers and many other migrants from accessing homeless services. Instead it would provide them with very limited alternatives through the newly created Office of Migrant Services. I am fundamentally opposed to excluding people from accessing services based on immigration status and national origin.
These new amendments will remove provisions that exclude migrants from accessing services and establishing residency. I ask that you take a stand to support migrant communities and support Councilmember Pinto’s amendments to the bill.
Sample Email
Subject: Support Councilmember Pinto’s Amendments to the Migrant Services and Supports Emergency Act
Dear Councilmember ____,
My name is ____ I am reaching out to ask you to vote YES to support Councilmember Pinto’s amendments to the Migrant Services and Supports Emergency Act. [DC residents: I have lived in DC/ Ward __ for __ years and this issue is deeply important to me.]
In its current form the bill contains harmful amendments to the Homeless Services Reform Act that would bar asylum-seekers and many other migrants from accessing homeless services. Instead it would provide them with very limited alternatives through the newly created Office of Migrant Services. I am fundamentally opposed to excluding people from accessing services based on immigration status and national origin.
These new amendments will remove provisions that exclude migrants from accessing services and establishing residency. I ask that you take a stand to support migrant communities and support Councilmember Pinto’s amendments to the bill.
Tweet
.@CMBrookePinto has introduced amendments to the Migrant Services and Supports Emergency Act that would remove the provisions that exclude migrants from accessing services.
We urge @councilofdc to support these amendments to make this bill worthy of a sanctuary city.
More About the Legislation
This legislation has far reaching impacts on migrants and asylum seekers who are not connected to the racist stunt of the Republican Governors and is not aligned with DC’s status as a sanctuary city. We ask the council to vote NO until these broadly anti-immigrant portions are removed from the bill. Some of which include:
In Title II, anyone waiting to report to an immigration office location outside the District is defined to be in the District as temporary and not a resident.
All ICE/ISAP appointments are outside the district. Washington ICE field office is in Chantilly. The other closest field office is in Baltimore. This defines every asylum seeker from the bus as being here temporarily and barred from residency
Additionally, Title II states that anyone who has been issued a notice to appear in a 240 Immigration Hearing, and until the completion of their immigration proceedings, including any appeals, is also in the District temporarily and cannot be a resident.
All asylum seekers are in 240 proceedings. This would bar them from residency and services at DHS for the entirety of their asylum process. Asylum proceedings take YEARS, including appeals. New bus arrivals are getting court dates 2 years away and cases take years. This means someone could be living and working in the district for years, experience housing insecurity, and still be denied DHS services, even as far as 7 years later or more.
This is NOT LIMITED TO asylum seekers on the buses, as 240 proceedings impact undocumented DC residents
Both clauses apply to migrants AND their family members. The broad wording on this could have an impact on mixed status families.