Immigrant leaders to gather at U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan’s Manchester office to urge her support for asylum rights and permanent protections for undocumented immigrants. The program will feature stories and first-hand accounts from immigrants residing in New Hampshire.
When: Tuesday, December 20, 5pm-6pm
Where: 1589 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03104
MANCHESTER, NH – Immigrant leaders and allies will gather in Manchester on Tuesday evening to urge U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, D-NH, to end her opposition to the lifting of Title 42, and to call on NH’s Congressional Delegation to protect the rights of asylum seekers and to promote humane immigration policies.
Advocates will project messages onto the Elm Street building where Senator Hassan’s office is located, share testimony, and pass out educational flyers to passersby to call for humanitarian response to asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border, and an end to harmful policies such as Title 42, detention and deportation. Advocates also urge elected leaders to sign on to for S. 4974 and H.R. 8433, the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929, which would provide permanent protections to millions of undocumented immigrants who have lived for more than seven years in the United States.
“Everyone deserves to live in safety and peace – no matter where they were born or how they came to the United States,” explained Grace Kindeke, NH Program Coordinator for the American Friends Service Committee, and one of the organizers of the action. “But politicians across the political spectrum continue to block policies that would keep families and communities together. Just last month, Senator Hassan signed onto a letter extending Title 42, the Trump-era policy that prevents immigrants from seeking asylum at the United States’ border.”
“We are asking Senator Hassan to end her support for Title 42 because of its clearly documented harmful impact on immigrant communities and families. The people coming here are running away from war, violence, natural disasters, dictatorships and insecurity. Most importantly, people are coming to access to a dignified life.
“Just like the Senator’s ancestors, our community is seeking a safe haven. Offering people safety is the right thing to do,” said Sebastian Fuentes, a Peruvian immigrant, US citizen and organizer with Rights & Democracy NH.
Given the disappointing collapse of a possible pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients, advocates are calling for a final end to Title 42 (which is set to expire on December 21) and inclusive and expansive legislation to keep immigrant loved ones, families and communities together during the holidays and beyond.