Action Alerts

We called Obama about Cuba family travel, did you?

by Emily Chow on December 16, 2011

In the spirit of the holidays, Cuban-American members of Congress are at it again with their Grinch-like tactics. Rolled into a spending “Megabus” bill that is being pushed through Congress is language that would restrict family travel to Cuba for Cuban Americans to once every three years, no exceptions. However, not only does this amendment, led by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, separate families, it also redefines what constitutes a family circle. Cuban Americans, TAKE NOTE: What this means is that your cousins, nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, etc., will no longer qualify as "family." As one of our Cuban-American friends said, “The very idea that some U.S. entity is going to tell a Cuban who is your family and who is not is something so beyond the pale that it might suffice to turn water into wine . . ."

:2011, Action Alerts

Emergency Action: Cuba family travel at risk!

by LAWG Cuba Team and our Partners from WOLA on December 13, 2011

This summer, conservative House of Representatives Republicans, led by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, proposed rolling back President Obama’s executive order that allows Cuban Americans to travel to Cuba to visit their relatives without any restrictions. In response, President Obama threatened to veto any legislation that imposed limits on Cuban-Americans’ right to travel freely to visit their families. He is aware that this is an important issue about family values and that it is very important to Cuban-American families in Florida, New Jersey, and across the country.

Today, we have learned that House of Representative Republicans are about to succeed with their punitive campaign against Cuban-American families. They are including rollback language in the “Megabus” appropriations bill now being finalized in the Congress that would prevent Cuban Americans from visiting their relatives more often than once every three years and would limit the remittances they can send. President Obama needs to live up to his promise and say “no” to these efforts to once again divide Cuban families. He must insist that he will not sign this bill if the family travel provision is not removed.

:2011, Action Alerts

Diego Luna Demands End to Gun Smuggling

by Ben Leiter on November 16, 2011

In too many communities across Mexico, violence has become a frightening reality of daily life, leading to the death of some 50,000 people in five years.

Recently, the Latin America Working Group teamed up with well-known Mexican actor Diego Luna to oppose one of the contributors to this violence: illegal gun smuggling across the U.S. border.

Click here to tell President Obama to Stop Gun Smuggling into Mexico.

:2011, Action Alerts

Watch and Share New PBS Documentary about Afro-Colombian Women Leaders from La Toma

by Vanessa Kritzer, LAWG Colombia Team on November 01, 2011

Great news! Two of the women leaders of the Afro-Colombian community La Toma, which we have told you about in blogs and action alerts, have been featured on a program called Women, War & Peace on PBS!

  Please help us spread the word about this show and click here to watch it online!

:2011, Action Alerts

UN Cuba Vote – Happy 20th Anniversary

by LAWG Cuba Team, Mavis, Emily and Kat on October 25, 2011

Happy 20th Anniversary! Or maybe “un-happy” anniversary.

Today for the 20th year in a row, the UN General Assembly has voted to condemn the United States’ 50-year-old economic embargo on Cuba. How did the votes turn out this year?

YES (against embargo) – 186
NO (in favor of embargo) – 2
ABSTAIN – 3

:2011, Action Alerts

Colombia Trade Vote Results: How Did Your Members of Congress Do?

by Vanessa Kritzer, LAWG's Colombia Team on October 21, 2011

Despite more than five years of incredible work by people like you to advocate for fair trade policies, we are disappointed to report that the U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

Click here to find out how your members of Congress voted and hold them accountable!

:2011, Action Alerts, U.S.-Colombia FTA Resources

End Border Patrol Abuse against Migrants

by Ben Leiter on October 13, 2011

This is horrible and shameful news, so we’ll get straight to the point.

Over the last 5 years, migrants have suffered more than 30,000 incidents of abuse and mistreatment while in Border Patrol custody, according to a shocking new report by humanitarian organization No More Deaths. Many of the abuses plainly meet the definition of torture under international law.

Click here to sign the petition calling for an immediate end to the abuse, clear and enforceable standards for Border Patrol short-term custody, and independent community oversight of Border Patrol.