Americans of Conscience Checklist: April 11, 2025

The Department of Homeland Security has introduced a rule that would force aspiring Americans who do not yet have citizenship to register with the federal government or else face fines, imprisonment, or both. 

Submit a unique public comment: On the Federal Register by Friday, April 11, 2025 modifying these points, or using your own:

• A government registration program for aspiring Americans is an invasive, transparent attempt to harm our community members through extreme government control and surveillance.
• In the U.S. and around the world, such registration programs have historically led to further oppression of people already vulnerable to government persecution.
• By targeting people ages 14 and up, this proposed rule is a clear attempt to simplify the deportation process enabled by the so-called Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which the president has illegally invoked to allow immediate deportation of anyone he deems undesirable—a power he has already abused.
• Our neighbors from around the world are valued members of our communities, and we want them to be able to stay in the U.S. while they navigate the lengthy, complex citizenship process.
• Be sure to include the words “OMB Control Number 1615—NEW” in the body of the comments

Bonus: Add your name to the National Immigration Law Center’s letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

Source: Never Again Action, AoCC

The SAVE Act was passed by the House of Representatives on April 10, and will next be considered in the Senate. Ask Democratic senators to use procedural tools like the filibuster to block this harmful voter-suppression bill, and remind Republican senators that voting rights are not a partisan issue.

Contact: Your two senators (call, write, or email).

Script: Hi, my name is _____ from [ZIP], asking you to oppose H.R. 22, the SAVE Act, which would enact broad purges of voter rolls and force voters to prove their citizenship when registering. It could silence millions–from married women and student voters, to trans people, Native Americans, and naturalized citizens. It would bar active duty military and citizens abroad from voting by ending mail-in and online ballots. The SAVE Act is the wrong solution to a non-problem. Please assure me of Sen. [NAME]’s “NO” vote when the SAVE Act is considered in the Senate. Thank you.

Source: The Brennan Center

Contact: The local (non-D.C.) offices of your two senators and one House representative (call, write, or email).

Script: Hi, my name is _____ and I’m a constituent from [ZIP]. Would you please tell me when [Sen./Rep. NAME] is holding town hall meetings during the April 14-25 work period?

If no meetings are planned, say: It’s an important part of [Sen./Rep. NAME]’s job to meet with constituents in their home districts, and I have questions I’d like to ask [them]. Will you take my information to let me know when they hold the next town hall?

If meetings are planned, ask: Would you give me the location and details? Will there be an opportunity to ask questions? Thank you.

Source: AoCC

Contact: Your two senators and one House representative (call, write, or email).

Script: Hello, my name is _____ and I’m contacting you from [ZIP] to object to this administration’s deliberate defiance of due process as they target international students. The government is revoking students’ F-1 visas and terminating Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) accounts without due process or notification. I object to government agents in plain clothes and unmarked vehicles abducting a student off the street. [Sen./Rep. NAME] must publicly oppose these unconstitutional practices and demand due process for all people in the U.S. Thank you.

Source: AILA National

The current administration has been vocal about their plans to target aspiring American children, families, and workers in the U.S., pulling community members from their homes and lives in direct opposition to local government policy. Organizations across the country are collecting pledges from everyday Americans to band together and refuse to abide the cruelty of mass detention and deportation.

Sign: The Solidarity Pledge and declare your commitment to aspiring Americans in your community and across our nation. You may select one or both pledge options. (Note: You do not need to include your phone number. Uncheck “Opt in to email updates from The Action Lab” to avoid being added to Action Network’s mailing list.)

Source: United We Dream

If you live in AK, AL, AR, AS, AZ, CT, DE, FL, GA, GU, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MP, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UM, VA, VI, WI, WV, or WY, contact: Your state legislators: (look up)

Script: Hi, my name is ______ and I’m contacting you from [ZIP], asking you to follow the lead of states like Oregon and Washington, where elections are conducted entirely by mail, resulting in much higher voter turnout than states that require in-person voting. Mail voting is safe and secure, and I hope I can count on your support to make it available for all voters in [STATE]. Thank you.

If you live in CA, CO, DC, HI, NV, OR, UT, VT, or WA, your state already allows all-mail elections. Donate to the National Vote at Home Institute to support their work nationwide.

Source: National Vote at Home Institute

Contact: Your state legislators: (look up)

If you live in  AL, AR, AZ, CA, CT, DE, FL, IL, IN, KS, MD, MA, MN, MO, NJ, NM, NY, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, or TX, your state has introduced legislation that enables or expands early voting availability. 

Look up your state’s bill(s) to find the legislation number(s).

Script: Hi, my name is ______ and I’m contacting you from [ZIP] to express my support for early voting periods, which have been shown to increase voter turnout without compromising election security. I’m asking [Sen./Rep. NAME] to vote “yes” on [BILL NUMBER(S)]. Thank you.

If you live elsewhere: Donate to the Voting Rights Lab.

Source: Voting Rights Lab

Voter turnout is very low in local elections, yet these elections impact our daily lives. Local officials like city councils and school boards control over $2 trillion in local government spending. Only 15 to 27 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot in their local election.

Sign up: For election reminders from nonpartisan Vote.org, or check Ballotpedia’s election calendar, and never miss an election.

Source: Vote.org

Contact: Your two senators and one House representative (write, call, or email).

Script: Hello, my name is _____, contacting you from [ZIP] to oppose the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act (H.R. 32 / S. 707) which forces jurisdictions to choose between facilitating mass deportations and losing critical funding for health, education, transportation, and safety. Retaliatory measures against sanctuary cities and states are already undermining public safety, and by broadly defining such jurisdictions, this bill puts all citizens at risk.  Please prioritize community safety and welfare by rejecting this harmful bill.

Alternative: Use the Stop AAPI Hate form to contact your members of Congress (uncheck the box to receive email updates).

Source: Stop AAPI Hate

U.S. customs officials are increasingly searching travelers’ electronic devices at border crossings and airports. While U.S. citizens have the right to refuse such a search and cannot be barred from re-entering the country, their devices can still be confiscated. Non-citizens can be denied entry for refusing a request to search their devices. 

Take action:

• Put a password on your phone (don’t rely on FaceID or TouchID).
• Keep your data in the cloud and off your device.
• Make sure anything you delete is also removed from your deleted folder.
• Be mindful when posting to your social media and other public profiles.
• Visit these sources to be prepared and know your rights at the border.

Source: Voto Latino

One third of Americans did not vote in the most recent federal election. Why not? We won’t know unless we ask. Crossing Party Lines offers free classes about brave conversations that build trust, a healthier democracy, and a shared future. Check this box if you’ve had an open, curious conversation with someone different from you in the past two weeks.

Source: Crossing Party Lines

It’s our hope that using the Checklist inspires you to become more involved in specific issues and/or local action. In the last two weeks, did you volunteer, do service, advocate for, or otherwise support a cause? Check the box to let us know!

Source: AoCC

Thank Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar (R–FL), Mario Diaz-Balart (R–FL), and Carlos Gimenez (R–FL) for urging the Secretary of State and the administration to support Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan people.

If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use these addresses:
MES: 5725 SW 8th St., Suite 200, Miami, FL, 33144
MDB: 8669 NW 36th St., Suite 100, Doral, FL, 33166
CG: 14221 SW 120th St., Suite #115, Miami, FL 33186

Thank you to the 218 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!

Thank Sens. Michael Bennet (D–CO) and Lisa Murkowski (R–AK) for supporting safeguards for unaccompanied children in immigration proceedings.

If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use these addresses:
MB: 261 Russell SOB, Washington, DC 20510
LM: 522 Hart SOB, Washington, DC 20510

Thank you to the 203 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!

Thank Gov. Phil Murphy (D–NJ) for signing legislation that imposes civil and criminal penalties on anyone who harasses, extorts, or exploits others using “deepfakes” (convincingly realistic AI-generated images, audio, or videos).

If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 001, Trenton, NJ 08625

Thank you to the 184 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!