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Hello!
The government funding deadline is this Friday, Feb 15. We need to pressure our Members of Congress to fund the government (and keep federal workers working and paid) without giving money to Trump’s racist wall or expanding ICE.
If you’ve already called, please call again ... things have changed!
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1. Federal Action: Tell Your MoCs to Reject a Budget Deal that Expands ICE
Negotiations on the funding deal are continuing, with Senate leaders saying Monday night they’ve reached a tentative agreement that includes $1.375 billion for border "barriers," including 55 miles of new fencing. The deal also excludes Democrats’ demands to limit immigrant detention funding for ICE.
This is unacceptable. House Democrats must stay strong and reject any additional funding that will allow Trump to tear more families apart.
Please, please, please call your House Representative and tell her that this is a NO GO deal. We demand a bill that keeps the government open with NO new funding for:
- Beds. In two years, Trump has dramatically expanded the number of immigrants being incarcerated. In President Obama's last year in office, 34,000 immigrants were in ICE detention. Now the number is close to 50,000—far above the 40,500 for which Congress had authorized funding. How can ICE detain more people than Congress has authorized? Because DHS uses their transfer and reprogramming authority to effectively steal money from other programs, such as FEMA, to jail more immigrant families. It is the responsibility of the Congress to end this financial shell game, once and for all, and impose strict limits on what ICE can spend.
- Boots. Negotiators are considering giving Trump more Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) agents. Don't be fooled. HSI agents are ICE agents -- and funding for HSI agents is funding for Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda. ICE HSI agents conduct highly militarized worksite raids. The National Immigration Law Center has a great resource with more information on HSI agents here. Congress must NOT increase HSI’s funding -- it must cut it and prohibit HSI from arresting workers, while conducting this type of “papers, please” enforcement.
- Trump’s racist wall. Negotiators are currently considering including $1.375 billion for border wall funding, which will devastate local communities, as private land is seized using eminent domain, just so Trump can fulfill his hateful campaign promise to build his racist wall along the southern border. It’s critical to keep up the pressure on our MoCs and tell them NOT ONE PENNY for Trump’s hateful wall.
Call to Action: Ask your senators and House rep to reject a funding deal that expands ICE's power and funds Trump's border wall. ICE is an oppressive agency that has been tearing innocent families apart, and DHS’s history of “reprogramming” money authorized for other critical purposes is a subversion of congressional power and creates a far greater security risk than the non-existent risk caused by immigrants seeking a better life at our Southern border.
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2. Local SF Action: Supervisor Haney’s Hearing on Encampment Sweeps Needs to Get Scheduled ASAP
The weather is cold and wet. We don’t have anywhere near enough shelter beds. SFPD and City employees continue to confiscate tarps and tents. But your phone calls are working! Supervisor Haney has called for a hearing on the City’s response to homelessness in extreme weather.
This hearing needs to get scheduled ASAP and we need you to ask your district supervisor to prioritize addressing this crisis. With more storms and cold weather expected this week, people are suffering while the City delays.
Call to Action: Call your Supervisor and tell them you are worried about homeless San Franciscans during this cold, rainy weather and that we need a hearing ASAP.
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In Case You Missed It
LAST CHANCE: Stop Erosion of HIPAA Patient Healthcare Rights -- Deadline Feb 12, 2019. HHS has proposed changes to HIPAA under the guise of "easing regulations," so that patients diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI) or opioid use disorder (OUD) could have their medical records released without their consent. Post a comment with the HHS opposing this change.
Protect Carbon Dioxide Emission Limits on Power Plants -- Deadline Feb 19, 2019. Please post a comment to the EPA opposing their proposed rule change that would further accelerate climate change and negatively impact public health. Comment link and a sample comment here.
Save Social Security by Making the Rich Pay Their Fair Share. Most Americans pay a 6% tax on their wages for Social Security. But not the rich who pay much less -- or nothing at all. If this is allowed to continue, Social Security will not be able to pay full benefits to the young and middle-aged workers of today when they retire in decades to come. Ask your MoCs to tax salaries above $400k per year.
Oppose the“Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act”. This Senate bill has moved to the House. Call your House rep. to tell them you want them to oppose this extremist hawkish bill that violates the First Amendment and undermines peace in the Middle East.
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NEXT INDIVISIBLE SF GENERAL MEETING -- SUNDAY FEBRUARY 17, 1pm. We now meet on the first and third Sundays of each month from 1 to 3pm at the Women’s Building, Room A (3543 18th Street, between Valencia and Guerrero). RSVP here.
CANCELLED: The New Citizen Swearing In Ceremony voter registration event scheduled for Wednesday, February 13 has been cancelled due to a forecast for heavy rain and winds that day. The date for March 13 is still happening.
Wednesday Feb. 13, 6:30-8pm: Eastern Neighborhoods Democratic Club Conservatorship Panel at the Tenderloin Museum (398 Eddy, at Leavenworth). Indivisible SF opposes the implementation of SB 1045 and the legislation sponsored by Mayor Breed and Supervisors Brown, Mandelman and Stefani. As currently written, this legislation will do nothing to help the vast majority of the homeless population currently suffering on our streets. Please come and learn more about the issue at this public forum. RSVP here. See the Facebook event here.
Thursday Feb 14, noon-1pm: Demand Wells Fargo and Chase break up with the prison industry at the Wells Fargo branch (333 Market, at Beale). This Valentine’s Day, demand Wells and Chase break up with the prison industry! These banks’ investments help make it possible for the U.S. to continue to imprison immigrant families and children indefinitely. Demand no more money for private detention centers! Come and show your support for immigrant families. Indivisible SF is co-sponsoring this event. RSVP on Facebook here..
Saturday Feb 16, 10-11am: #ShowYourLove Mini-Action at Mission Street Wells Fargo at the Wells Fargo branch (3027 16th St.). As part of the #ShowYourLove Campaign, join Hand in Hand Network and other organizers in a national mini-action to demand that banks stop funding private immigrant detention centers. Look out for an RSVP link later on!
Friday Mar 22, 6:30-8:30pm: Heather Booth: Changing The World (film screening & talk) at Manny’s (16th and Valencia). Join the ISF co-sponsored event "Heather Booth: Changing the World," which was produced by award-winning filmmaker Lilly Rivlin. The film screening will be followed by a discussion with Heather. At a time when many are wondering how to make their voices heard, when civil and women's rights are under attack, this empowering documentary is an inspiring look at how social change happens. There is also a no-admission screening the next day at San Francisco Main Public Library, Koret Auditorium (100 Larkin St at Grove, across from Civic Center Plaza) at 9:30pm. RSVP and get a ticket here.
Saturday Mar 23, 9:30pm-midnight: Heather Booth: Changing The World (film screening & talk) at San Francisco Main Public Library, Koret Auditorium (100 Larkin at Grove, across from Civic Center Plaza). Join the ISF co-sponsored event "Heather Booth: Changing the World," for it’s second screening. RSVP and get a ticket here.
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Keep Fighting,
The Indivisible SF Team
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