Travel Freedom Act

PROTECTING SENSITIVE LOCATIONS ACT (S.455 / H.R. 1061): Letter to Congress in support of The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act. Since 2011 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)s Sensitive Locations policy, also known as the Protected Areas policy, prohibited immigration enforcement actions in places that provided vital services important to well-being. In 2021, DHS announced a protected areas policy that strengthened and clarified the existing policy. However, on January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration rescinded the Protected Areas policy and instead directed immigration officials to use common sense as it applies to immigration enforcement in previously protected areas. The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act would codify the longstanding guidance into law and ensure that future administrations would not be able to so easily dismiss the protections in place. ENDORESEMENT OF PROTECTING SENSITIVE LOCATIONS ACT: Legislation put forward in response to the announced rescission of the Protected Areas policy by the Trump Administration The legislation is mostly the same as last year's version, with a few updates that were made to the policy during the Biden Administration. Since 2011 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)s Sensitive Locations policy, also known as the Protected Areas policy, prohibited immigration enforcement actions in places that provided vital services important to well-being. In 2021, DHS announced a protected areas policy that strengthened and clarified the existing policy. However, on January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration rescinded the Protected Areas policy and instead directed immigration officials to use common sense as it applies to immigration enforcement in previously protected areas. The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act would codify the longstanding guidance into law and ensure that future administrations would not be able to so easily dismiss the protections in place. PRESS RELEASE TO PUBLIC, CONGRESS AND WHITE HOUSE ABOUT IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY: We already are seeing the tears and fears of immigrants and migrants just days into President Donald Trumps second term. These people are our brothers and sisters and never should be an after-thought. Rather, they - and we - must be central to the policies of our government. The executive orders and proclamations issued by President Trump regarding the border and immigrants are extremely tilted toward harsh outcomes over authentic security concerns. The National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd calls on the President and the new Congress to step back and search for a way to welcome those who want to build up the United States. We are a large country with much to give. PARTICIPATED IN CATHOLIC SOCIAL MINISTRY GATHERING LOBBY DAY (Jan 28): Helped lead federal MD delegation. Asks included the need to preserve and support humanitarian protections for vulnerable families, including refugee resettlement. OUTREACH TO REP SALAZAR'S OFFICE (R-FL-27): To inquire about any plans to reintroduce two bills introduced in the 118th Congress, the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act (H.R. 1325) and the Dignity Act (H.R. 3599), and how NAC could best help in their promotion. REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM: Letter urging the Trump Administration to resume refugee resettlement and restore humanitarian assistance to recently arrived refugees. FUNDING FREEZES FOR PRO-IMMIGRANT CITIES AND STATES: Letter to House expressing opposition to funding freezes for pro-immigrant cities and states. As we and the courts reckon with the Trump administration's funding freezes, we are hearing the House may vote on a bill to give it vast authority to block funding to states and cities that do not facilitate mass deportations. But, unlike the funding freezes, this bill would have Congress's stamp of approval.   H.R.32, the "No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act" would allow the Trump administration to block education, transportation, housing, food aid, public health, crime prevention and many other forms of federal funding for jurisdictions that don't cooperate with ICE requests. URGE CONGRESS TO ENSURE LEGAL SERVICES TO UNACCOMPANIED MINORS ARE ASSURED GOING FORWARD: This alert invited network members to send letters to their congressperson to ensure federal contracts with lawyers that support UCs are renewed in March 2025 when current contracts end. Children should not have to go before U.S. judges alone. The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, which passed into law with great bipartisan support, requires that the Department of Health and Human Services ensure legal representation of unaccompanied children (UCs) to the greatest extent possible. It acknowledges that attorneys often serve as the only confidential trusted source to whom children may disclose information about mistreatment. Money to support legal aid to unaccompanied minors was halted February 19. But then HHS resumed these funds on February 21 after a public outcry. HOUSE ADVOCACY AROUND PREVENTING VIOLENCE AGAINST IMMIGRANT WOMEN: Sent targeted advocacy opposing Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act (H.R. 30) (NAC opposes this legislation as it would expand the circumstances under which domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, stalking, and sex offenses would constitute grounds of inadmissibility, as well as expand the definition of domestic violence to be considered for inadmissibility or deportability grounds. These measures would negatively impact immigrant survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and fail to alleviate the primary barriers to safety and stability experienced by survivors seeking relief under the Immigration and Nationality Act. NAC is especially troubled that this legislation fails to include waivers that take into account the needs of the victim or their family, and that it will limit the discretion that judges can exercise where the equities warrant, including situations where survivors who are inadvertently caught up in the criminal legal system will be harmed.) NAC STATEMENT ON UNACCOMPANIED MINORS ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION: NAC called on the Trump Administration to unfreeze funds and allow pub-private partnerships to do their jobs and help vulnerable children safely navigate the U.S. court system. OPPOSE IMMIGRANT DETENTION AT GUANTANAMO BAY: Letter demanding accountability from DHS and ICE regarding the transfer and detainment of immigrants at Guantanamo Bay. The United Nations has condemned Guantanamo Bay for unrelenting human rights violations, and experts confirm it fails to meet U.S. legal standards for detention facilities. Yet, the Trump administration is expanding its capacity to hold up to 30,000 immigrants. Despite using public safety as a justification-many immigrants who have been transported and cruelly detained are classified as low-risk with little to no criminal record. Reports of abuse, inhumane conditions, and suicide attempts among detainees are deeply alarming. To ensure the safety, dignity, and fundamental rights of our immigrant neighbors are preserved, the letter demands immediate accountability, the cessation of transfers, and access to counsel for any who are detained. HOME IS HERE - OPPOSE DHSs HARMFUL REGISTRATION RULE: The sign-on opposes the Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) Interim Final Rule on Alien Registration (DHS Docket No. USCIS-2025-0004). This harmful rule revives an outdated and dangerous registration requirement for undocumented immigrants, exposing them to detention, deportation, and even criminal prosecution. This rule is part of a long history of anti-immigrant policies that have targeted and terrorized immigrant communities under the guise of registration. Letter sent to DHS and USCIS. U.S. REFUGEE ADMISSIONS PROGRAM (USRAP): Letter urges Secretary Rubio to protect and restore the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) - House members invited to sign on. Led by Congresswoman Ansari, the letter describes how the indefinite refugee ban, termination notices of resettlement contracts, and funding freeze for reception services undermines Americas longstanding commitment to humanitarian protection and places tens of thousands of vulnerable people at risk. Today, newcomers are being denied safety and congressionally mandated assistance. Without action, refugees will remain stranded abroad, recently arrived refugees will be at risk of homelessness, and resettlement offices will close. INTERIM FINAL RULE ON ALIEN REGISTRATION: This sign-on is a comment letter opposing the Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) Interim Final Rule on Alien Registration (DHS Docket No. USCIS-2025-0004). This harmful rule revives an outdated and dangerous registration requirement for undocumented immigrants, exposing them to detention, deportation, and even criminal prosecution. The letter makes clear that our (Advocacy Organizations) collectively demand: the administration must rescind this rule immediately. This rule is part of a long history of anti-immigrant policies that have targeted and terrorized immigrant communities under the guise of registration. OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED RULE ON MARKETPLACE INTEGRITY AND AFFORDABILITY: The sign-on letter strongly opposes the proposed rule titled "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Marketplace Integrity and Affordability" (CMS-9884-P), published on March 19, 2025. This rule seeks to exclude Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients from the definition of lawfully present, stripping them of their ability to access affordable health care through the ACA Marketplace. This proposed change is a direct and unjust attack on immigrant communities, including members of our campaign and the broader movement advocating for the rights and well-being of undocumented youth. ALERT IN SUPPORT OF UNACCOMPANIED MINORS: Urged network to act to restore legal aid to unaccompanied immigrant children. Request to NAC Constituents to email their representatives and senators to restore critical legal aid to these children so that they are not left to face our complex court system alone, making them susceptible to bad actors and unjust deportation. The Administration failed to renew contracts for programs that provide this vital legal support, leaving the children vulnerable to human trafficking, exploitation, and other harms. USRAP ADVOCACY: NAC sent message to Senate offices, urging members to join a Dear Colleague Letter led by Senator Padilla objecting to the Trump administration's dismantling of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). The letter describes how the indefinite refugee ban, termination notices of resettlement contracts, and funding freeze for reception services undermines America's longstanding commitment to humanitarian protection and places tens of thousands of vulnerable people at risk. USRAP ADVOCACY: NAC sent message to House offices, urging members to sign a letter led by Congresswoman Ansari urging Secretary Rubio to protect and restore the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). The letter describes how the indefinite refugee ban, termination notices of resettlement contracts, and funding freeze for reception services undermines America's longstanding commitment to humanitarian protection and places tens of thousands of vulnerable people at risk. STATEMENT ON LEGAL AID FOR UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN: "Unaccompanied Migrant Children Left Vulnerable to Exploitation While in the Governments Care" Statement by Fran Eskin-Royer, Executive Director National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd Statement urges Congress to take action to reverse the Administrations distressing March 21 decision to strip critical legal services away from unaccompanied migrant children, ending vital legal aid programs and leaving the children vulnerable to trafficking, exploitation and other harms. DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS (DACA) RECIPIENT LOBBYING: Advocated with other MD Catholics following the USCCB Changing the Narrative Immigration Conference. Visits focused primarily on bolstering support for DACA recipients.