Immigration

Theological/Ethical Background

·           “The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”  (Leviticus 19:33﷓34)

·           Jesus tells us to welcome the stranger, for "what you do to the least of my brethren, you do unto me.” (Matthew 25).

·            Because church and state are institutionally separate, government must not interfere with the church’s ministries of hospitality.

Current Situation

·           Makes it nearly impossible for many to achieve legal status. Our economy requires some 485,000 full﷓time, year﷓round new immigrant workers each year, but current immigration laws provide just 5,000 visas for such workers annually. (National Immigration Forum)

·            Contributes to uncontrolled, unlimited, and unscreened immigration – greater enforcement has not lowered migration.

·           Diverts resources from securing our country from terrorists.

·           Spawns organized criminal industries such as human smuggling.

·            Separates family members for decades.

·           Does not hold employers accountable for hiring, exploiting and/or abusing undocumented workers.

Current Proposals:

·            HR4437: (passed House, pending in Senate)

·            criminalizes undocumented workers

·           erodes due process     

·            criminalizes organizations that would assist them (including the church)

·            “Chairman’s Mark” (Spector)

·            criminalizes undocumented workers

·           erodes due process

·           creates a universal database tracking system – Homeland Security would clear workers before employment

·           Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act  (McCain/Kennedy)

·           creates temporary worker program (400,000 visas) with worker protections

·            attempts to reunify families

·           offers visas for currently undocumented workers in the USA

What Would Help

·            Opportunity for working immigrants to:

·           satisfy reasonable criteria to regularize their status and/or

·           pursue option to become permanent residents and eventually US citizens

·           Waiting time for separated families reduced

·           A safe, legal and orderly manner for those who wish to work (and their families), to enter US with their rights fully protected

·           Border policies need to

·           be consistent with humanitarian values

·           treat all individuals with respect

·           allow authorities to identify and prevent entry of terrorists a/dangerous criminals

·            Employers accountable for immigrant hiring and labor practices

·           Church ministries respected

(3/2006)