Its draining to just call a GOP congressional office over and over voicing the same concern. But if these were my kids, who had been lost by ICE, I wouldn’t just yell at the staffer and hang up. I would try to find my kid.
(The girl in this video has been reunited with her mom. But there are other kids right now still being treated this way. )
So, I’m trying that approach on McSally’s office. Treating them as if I expect them to do something, and following up with additional staffers when they don’t get back to me. I don’t know if it will do any good, but it feels like a thing more than just calling to be a number.
I got the first email after I called and insisted on getting the email of the staffer handling this. I always tell them when they won’t give me one, that I can call Raul Grijalva’s office and get a staffer on any issue, and they’ll get back to me personally even though I’m not even in his district! Then I first sent this:
Hello Pace
I'm very glad you have been assigned to this specifically, I think its
so important to really exercise oversight as well as get this horrible practice of separating families ended. I am a constituent, in the 85716 zip code.
Can you please tell me specifically
1) How family reunifications are being carried out, and how they are being verified with congressional oversight? I have read many, many accounts of parents who have no idea where their children are, how are they being reached? Do we have numbers of children separated, and are we tracking the number reunited?
I would like a quick response to #1, and as soon as possible a
response to the following:
2) Is there to be a Single Staging Area that all the children are
being brought to? I strongly recommend this approach. If so, how are the families being notified of where it is?
3) I would like access to the A (alien) # for individuals as they are
brought to the McAllen facility, in order that people can donate into their accounts to make phone calls. Can you facilitate access to those A#'s?
4) I would like access to the SW Key facility here in Tucson in order
to verify the wellbeing of the children. A week ago I attempted to
visit this facility with an offer of donations (new folders, crayons
and markers) for the children and offered to volunteer, as I am a
court-appointed child advocate through foster ed and have a
fingerprint clearance card. The security guard simply threatens to
call the police if anyone stays and talks too long, and no one accepts donations. (When I showed up a reporter from NPR also showed up, but
both of us were threatened with trespass)
Looking forward to your prompt response to this critically important issue.
Best regards,
--Golda Velez
golda@civ.works
[address, phone]
Second email, 9 days later, to the first guy and a second guy I knew from an Indivisible event, and because he used to be a journalist in town:
Hello Pace, CJ
I am a constituent, and I cannot believe you do not have some kind of answer as to whether these families are in fact being reunited, how many children are still separated from their parents, and how many do we know how to reunite? This is just basic accountability. This is your job.
I was given your contact information nine days ago, after calling
repeatedly about this subject, and I don't understand why there has been zero response from any phone call or email on this critical matter. This is such an important issue you should have an update ready to go out to whoever is concerned. Why is this not being done?
CJ, as a former journalist I'm sure you understand the need for
government accountability. Can someone tell me how to get an actually answer from this office?
Thank you
--Golda Velez
Third email (to a new staffer, copied to Pace and CJ). This one wasn’t very good because I only had about 90 seconds to send it this morning before my work meeting:
Hello Chris
Thank you for following up on this critically important issue. I look forward to a response with some specifics about how reunification is going to happen and how Congresswoman McSally is providing oversight and accountability of that process.
Best regards,
Golda Velez
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Every time I don’t get a response, I call and don’t get off the phone until I get another staffer. It’s something, at least.
Would love to know what other folks are doing, to get some actual results on this. The protests are also really important, I think, and will continue to go to those.