As I wrote yesterday, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is participating with others  across the country for a week of action as we stand in solidarity with the migrant caravan and all who seek refuge in the U.S. Together, we are calling on the U.S. to respect the human right to migrate, end the militarization of border communities, and end the detention and deportation of immigrants, calling this week a “moral call for migrant justice.”

Our action here in Des Moines occurred this afternoon, as a group of about 30 faith leaders met with the staff of Senators Grassley and Ernst about the treatment of migrants at our southern border, border security, and better ways to treat and refer to those seeking refuge in our country.

The Senators’ staff listened, and tried to respond to our concerns as well as they could. People in the group seemed frustrated at the negative way migrants are portrayed, and how members of Congress don’t seem to care.

There is a lot of information on the websites of the Quaker organizations AFSC https://www.afsc.org/ and Friends Committee on National Legislation.  https://www.fcnl.org/about/policy/issues/immigrants-refugees