Tonight, President Trump stated that the government shutdown will continue. This decision is detrimental to families and communities across the country. Instead of reversing the Administration’s cruel policies towards children and families – tearing apart kids from their parents, jailing children in cages, and tear-gassing families fleeing violence – the president wants to move forward with an unproductive, wasteful plan… Read more →
Mark your calendar for upcoming local events across Nebraska celebrating this year’s National Welcoming Week! This month, towns in Nebraska and nationwide celebrate how our communities are strongest when everyone feels welcome during the 7th annual National Welcoming Week September 14-23. In 2017, there were more than 700 events around the country. Nebraska communities are excited to make this year… Read more →
(Espanol abajo) ***For Immediate Release*** August 8, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org O’Neill ICE Raids Impose Destruction and Fear on Peaceful Families NE members of Congress now have a front-row seat to the damage caused by cruel anti-immigrant policies LINCOLN — Wednesday morning, reports indicated Immigration… Read more →
Some big news came out from the Nebraska Supreme Court last week that we hope leads to more young Nebraskans staying in safe and permanent family situations. In the case In re Guardianship of Carlos D. the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that county courts can decide whether or not young immigrant Nebraskans are eligible to apply for what’s known as… Read more →
Removing opportunity for hardworking young people only does harm to our state, nation. LINCOLN – Yesterday, Nebraska’s Attorney General, Doug Peterson, joined nine other state Attorneys General in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The letter threatened to file a lawsuit to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program if the Administration does not end the program within… Read more →
This resource guide contains information for DACAmented, schools, churches and for people who would like to know how to help. Reporting hate incidents, scams, fraud, etc. Southern Poverty Law Center: Report a Hate Incident Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights- OCR’s mission is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation through vigorous… Read more →
People who come to the United States seeking safety from violence should not be treated as criminals. But, many people seeking asylum – including women with their young children – are being held in for-profit, jail-like facilities surrounded by walls that separate them from both safety and human dignity. On September 1, Nebraska faith and community leaders gathered in Omaha… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** January 13, 2016 Contact: Charles Shane Ellison, Justice for Our Neighbors – Nebraska (402) 898-1349 charles@jfon-ne.org Jeff Sheldon, Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed (402) 438-8853 (office) (402) 840-7289 (cell) jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraskans Call on President Obama to End Deportation Raids Groups condemn raids on vulnerable Central American families As President Obama visits Nebraska today, Nebraska… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** March 3, 2015 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 jsheldon@neappleseed.org Young immigrants driver’s license bill draws statewide support LB 623 would allow DACA recipients to contribute more to their communities LINCOLN — Tuesday, Nebraska agricultural, safety, youth, and immigrant leaders issued statements of support for LB 623 in advance… Read more →
Lincoln High School students told the stories of their memories and journeys to Lincoln from Myanmar and Thailand, as well as the stories of their dreams for the future through quilting when the new exhibit “Quilt of Dreams and Memories” opened Sunday at the Sheldon Museum of Art. As the quilt was unveiled, students described their rural homes in Myanmar… Read more →
We have a very special opportunity this Monday, Feb. 17. Dae Joong Yoon, one of the national leaders of Fast for Families, is coming to Omaha speak about the moral crisis of our outdated immigration laws. Starting in November, he was one of the three core people who fasted (water only, no food) for more than 20 days on the… Read more →
Today, Nebraska Appleseed Immigrants & Communities Director Darcy Tromanhauser released the following statement on LR 399, which was heard Wednesday afternoon by the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. “Fixing our outdated immigration system is long overdue. Our antiquated immigration laws needlessly separate thousands of Nebraska families and prevent many people who already work hard, pay taxes, and contribute to our communities from… Read more →
Last week, the House Republican leadership released a set of principles for updating our country’s immigration laws. We were encouraged to see the release of these principles as an indication that this year’s legislative agenda will include immigration reform, which unfortunately stalled in the House after the Senate passed a historic bipartisan bill last year. This inaction – in the… Read more →
One of the mistaken sentiments expressed by opponents of updating our immigration laws is that creating a clear process for citizenship somehow moves undocumented immigrants “to the front of the line” ahead of people who already have taken steps in the citizenship process. Nothing could be further from the truth. Immigrants currently stuck in backlogs would be processed first, and… Read more →
The four-person dinner table contained settings for only three. The head of the table sat empty, its absence most conspicuous. The symbol was a powerful one. Representing Nebraska families who are missing a loved one because of detention or deportation, this dinner scene was not whole, incomplete. Thursday, Nebraskans in several cities gathered together to urge our state’s House of… Read more →
This was the summer of immigration reform in Nebraska and around the country. While our congressmen were back in Nebraska during the August recess, they heard loud and clear across the state Nebraskans are tired of seeing our families and communities harmed by outdated immigration laws. Community, faith, business, youth, and immigrant leaders attended town halls and held dozens of… Read more →
Wednesday morning, a crowd of attendees in Omaha was treated to a well-informed discussion of how fixing our outdated immigration system would strengthen Nebraska’s communities and businesses. Faith, legal, and business leaders took part in a community forum organized by Bibles, Badges, and Business For Immigration Reform – a nationwide network of leaders from a variety of perspectives that support… Read more →
One of the most damaging consequences of our outdated immigration system is the havoc it wreaks on families. Nationwide, an estimated 4.5 million children who are U.S. citizens have a parent without immigration papers, including thousands here in Nebraska. Today, Nebraska families, youth, and faith leaders delivered children’s drawings and constituent postcards calling on Rep. Jeff Fortenberry to support common-sense… Read more →
One of the most damaging consequences of our outdated immigration system is the havoc it wreaks on families. Nationwide, an estimated 4.5 million children who are U.S. citizens have a parent without immigration status, including thousands here in Nebraska. Kids are more likely to suffer physical and emotional health problems and not do as well in school when separated from… Read more →
Years ago, author Philip Caputo stood in one corner of the United States and marveled at the great expanse of our country. America is filled with people from every part of the world, and Caputo was inspired to set out across the U.S. to find out what unites our vast and diverse nation? That question resulted in a cross-country road… Read more →
The U.S. Senate took a great step toward fixing our outdated immigration laws last week when it voted overwhelmingly to pass a historic immigration bill with a path to citizenship for aspiring Americans. The bipartisan vote was 68-32! Unfortunately, Senator Johanns and Senator Fischer voted against the bill. On the same day, more than 40 diverse Nebraska groups gathered in… Read more →
Nebraska’s U.S. senators and congressmen are back at home this week for the Memorial Day recess. Next week, they’ll return to DC where the bipartisan immigration reform bill (S.744) will be debated and voted on in the Senate, and discussion is also expected to begin in the House. Today is a day you can help spread the word that immigration… Read more →
Deliver flower baskets during recess week saying “Help Nebraska Flourish” With Nebraska’s members of Congress back home during this week’s recess, a wide variety of Nebraska organizations are telling our U.S. senators and representatives now is the time for a modern immigration system that creates stability for families and businesses, includes a clear process for citizenship for aspiring Americans, and… Read more →
This week the Senate Judiciary Committee put America one step closer to a modern, common-sense immigration system by advancing S. 744 out of committee with bipartisan support on a vote of 13-5. From the Washington Post: Senate panel approves sweeping immigration reform bill In the words of committee chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy who led the Senate Judiciary Committee process: “The… Read more →
Appleseed is very encouraged by news that a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives has reached an agreement in principle on immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for aspiring Americans. While we await the details of the agreement, the announcement marks yet another major breakthrough. Combined with the progress being made in the Senate Judiciary… Read more →
Last week Marketplace Money, a public radio program focusing on business and the economy, highlighted the positive effects immigration has on our nation and our economy. Two immigrants, Mario Escobar, originally from El Salvador, and Jose Luis Zelaya, from Honduras, described the trials they have gone through in their pursuit of the American dream. Escobar, now a 35-year-old father of… Read more →
Join the national call-in days for immigration reform! Make your call today or tomorrow! Call Congress at 877-848-8289 or text “NOW” to 787753. Join supporters across the country, and flex your muscle for common-sense immigration laws with a clear and direct roadmap to citizenship that support Nebraska families, businesses, and communities! As always, your message can be short and simple… Read more →
How do you define “American”? Journalist Jose Antonio Vargas asked this important question at the end of his testimony Wednesday to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who held a hearing over modernizing our federal immigration laws. Like Jose, we believe being American runs deeper than documentation. It’s about working hard, providing for your family, being proud of your country,… Read more →
The inspiring young immigrant Americans in the audience of last night’s State of the Union address show both what we stand to gain from common-sense immigration laws and what we stand to lose from continued inaction. Their dreams, talents, and commitment to this country are enormous assets. Alan Aleman, a student of biological science, was a guest of Michelle Obama. Julieta Garibay and Gabino… Read more →
NPR’s interview with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Service Employees International Union this week shows the beginning of a real conversation on immigration. As the two groups noted in the interview, “While we may disagree on a number of other issues, on this one we are lock step and working on fixing this system.” Eliseo Medina of SEIU… Read more →
