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Urgent Call to Action: Proposed Fee Increase by USCIS
December 10, 2019 On November 14, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) proposed a fee schedule adjustment that would drastically increase fees for naturalization, asylum, DACA, work permits, and more. The proposed rule would also eliminate fee waivers for citizenship, lawful permanent residency, employment authorization, and other applications. In addition, it would increase fees for obtaining family history records through USCIS by 500% — a move that would have a significantly negative impact on genealogy and family history research. These drastic fee hikes functionally change immigration policy by placing almost all immigration procedures out of financial reach. The fee for an application for citizenship, for example, would be raised…
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Call to Action: Call Your Representatives About Migrant Protection Protocol
November 21, 2019 Last week MWEG introduced the Principles of Ethical Government. One of the three guiding principles is responsibility — that “all human beings are mutually accountable to their fellow human beings.” We believe we will be held responsible by our Heavenly Parents for how we treat each other or allow others to be treated. This is no less true of how we are treating our brothers and sisters south of the border who are suffering in Mexico as they wait for asylum to be granted. In January of this year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a new policy called the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP, also publicly…
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Advocating for Refugees in Arizona
By Christie Black, MWEG Arizona Member and Senior Director of Engagement November 21, 2019 Many members of the MWEG Arizona chapter are committed mentors of refugee families in cities throughout the state. We have spent countless hours preparing for, resettling, teaching, serving alongside, and loving our new friends who are fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries. We have watched with dismay as the numbers of refugees the U.S. will accept drops each year, and our hearts fill with sadness for those who are left in limbo, waiting for the opportunity to resettle in a new home. October was an abysmal month in particular, as no refugees were admitted…
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Education: Career Diplomats and Ambassadors
By Lisa Rampton Halverson, MWEG Senior Director of Educate Limb During the impeachment inquiry proceedings we have heard of ambassadors, career diplomats, foreign service officers, and more. Many have testified of their dedicated, nonpartisan career service to our country. Yet we hear that others were given their position as a political favor. We hope this post will help MWEGers and others understand who these people are and what kind of preparation they have had (or not had). Career Diplomats or Foreign Service Officers Career diplomats or FSOs are hired, not appointed. They come to their positions with a wide and extensive variety of experience and backgrounds. Many come in speaking…
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Voter Prep Party Tips!
By Breanne Potter, MWEG Nebraska Chapter Lead We are a modest chapter of Mormon Women for Ethical Government in Omaha, Nebraska. Some of our members are new to the scene of political proactiveness, so before the election last year we decided to throw a “voter preparation party.” On my kitchen table I put “I Registered to Vote” stickers, a handout on how to prepare to vote, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. In less time than it takes to watch a couple of shows, we were ready to go. You can see our handout here; we followed MWEG’s template and tailored it to our state’s specific needs. The party was a…
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Romney’s Tweet About the President’s Actions Was a Necessary Defense
By Northern Utah Members of Mormon Women for Ethical Government October 11, 2019 “Sen. Romney’s tweet criticizing the president’s actions was a necessary defense of the principles of the U.S. Constitution and he should be praised and supported by all of his constituents who claim to love our sovereignty and our democracy. We’d like to add our voices to that praise and would encourage our fellow citizens to join us.” Click here for the full text of this Standard-Examiner op-ed. * Photo courtesy Gage Skidmore.
