Write Right Now!

Urge lawmakers to resist ICE on the Oregon coast!

"He is gone."

Read this important info from Shar Walbaum of Indivisible Lincoln City:

"ICE picked up a man in Lincoln City who thought he was going to a job. It was fake. He is gone.

Everyone here is working. Kate Sinkins. Lawyer, has talked to family, the family is getting connected to Conexion Fenix, a support organization here. Rep. Gomberg is getting a lawyer to file a brief of habeus corpus.

So, be on the alert. There isn't a car or a type of vehicle. Tell your Latino neighbors to beware.

...New Topic, but now ten exclamation points added to each of the following sentences:

The sheer number of attendees at last night's Special Meeting of the Newport City Council was overwhelming.

They came from every walk of life, were every age and race. The meeting room was packed long before I arrived and the hallways were full. Two screens had been set up but it was difficult to find a place with any view. Folks kept streaming in. Two rooms were added with monitors and they filled up. Then, two more rooms at the Community Center were opened and they also filled with standing room only.

All that with ten more minutes to go before comments began.

Speakers, listeners, and Council members were in total agreement. The outrage about ICE was shared and palpable. Mayor Kaplan clearly and repeatedly stated, 'We are going to do everything we can do to fight this.'

We can provide our U.S. Senators and Representative fuel with which to mount their defense at this critical moment. See attached letter. If you agree with what it says, personalize it and send. "

We must state strongly, urgently, and unequivocally that we reject ICE's strategic move into Oregon's coast!

Letter templates:

Feel free to personalize, or use as-is. NOTE: Remember to fill in your city name and (at bottom) your own name at minimum if you otherwise use the rest of the text as-is.

Microsoft Word templates (to download):

Google Docs templates (opens with Google account):

Or copy the text of the letter to apply to your own method.

Addresses to which to send letters:

U.S. SENATOR RON WYDEN

221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington DC 20510
707 13th St. SE Suite 285
Salem OR 97301
See Sen. Wyden's other office locations here

U.S. SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY

531 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington DC 20510
500 Liberty St. SE Suite 320
Salem OR 97301
See Sen. Merkley's other office locations here

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE VAL HOYLE

(Oregon District 4)

1620 Longworth House Office Bldg.
Washington DC 20515
940 Willamette St.
Eugene OR 97401

Text of letter to copy [click to expand]

[Date]

[Name of senator/representative]

Dear [Name],

I live in [City name], Oregon and am writing to urge you to strongly and immediately oppose the location of any ICE detention facility in Newport or anywhere along the Oregon coast. Time is of the essence.

There is a complete lack of transparency from DHS on this matter. However, there are news reports indicating DHS appears to be evaluating the Newport Airport, among other places, to serve as a location for people taken into their custody under the guise of immigration enforcement.

Newport Airport houses a U.S. Coast Guard air facility. Using that land would divert resources that are supposed to be used for national security and maritime safety. Such a plan would surely jeopardize search and rescue capabilities and defense of our coast. Because of the lack of transparency at DHS, we don’t know, and can’t evaluate, the impact of locating a camp here.

The prospect of ICE lurking in our communities is deeply disturbing. Elsewhere, anonymous masked “agents” have taken moms, dads, and even children from their homes, places of work, and off the streets. The individual’s right to due process has been ignored. Such actions contradict our American values and are a grave threat to our way of life.

It is unthinkable that a detention camp filled with our community members, friends, and family would be located here. News about such camps include reports of overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and lack of food, water, or medical care. People have been unable to communicate with family or have access to legal counsel. There seems to be virtually no accountability for what goes on in these camps or for the way people are treated. There is no indication such a camp on the Oregon coast would operate any differently.

It is disturbing that there is no transparency about the plan for a detention center and no opportunity for our local leaders, let alone the public, to be informed or have input. It only underscores that the location and operation of an ICE detention camp in the Newport area or along the Oregon coast will further jeopardize the safety and well-being of people who live here, their families, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

Sincerely,

[Name]

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