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Compassion, not Criminalization in Immigration Reform!
"The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 19:34).
Last December, the House of Representatives passed the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (H.R .4437). Many of the provisions of this punitive and enforcement-focused bill are patently hostile to the alien among us. The debate on immigration reform has now turned to the U.S. Senate.
The bottom line is this: Congress is getting the terms of the debate all wrong. Punitive, enforcement-only measures like those in H.R. 4437 not only run contrary to the biblical mandate to welcome the stranger among us; they are chillingly anti-work, anti-family, and anti-community, and they will only exacerbate the problems of our fractured immigration system.
Let's help, not hurt, our neighbors pursuing the American dream of security, freedom, and opportunity. Send an e-mail urging your senators to promote just and compassionate immigration reform
What's At Stake?
Compassion, not Criminalization in Immigration Reform!
"I was a stranger and you welcomed me," (Matthew 25:35).
Immigration is a deeply relevant issue for both Americans and Christians. The U.S. is a nation of immigrants, one that has been continually reshaped by new groups of people bringing diverse cultures, perspectives, and resources. Immigration is also a core issue for Christians: the biblical story continually shows God's concern for the migrant and the outcast. The early Hebrews were "strangers in the land of Egypt" and were asked to remember this heritage by protecting the strangers among them in the promised land. Similarly, throughout the New Testament, Christians are called to care for the outcast and the stranger.
The U.S. desperately needs to heed the biblical imperative to care for the stranger. Since the mid-‘90s, when the government established operations in San Diego, El Paso, and Arizona increasing fencing and border security, more than 2,500 people have died of dehydration and exhaustion crossing the desert into the U.S. In addition, thousands of immigrants who do make it into the U.S. are treated inhumanely by an increasingly militarized border security system of police, fences, and jails.
A common misconception exists that immigrants use up national resources. However, immigrants actually contribute $1,800 more on average in annual taxes than they receive in benefits, according to a 1997 study by the National Academy of Sciences. Immigrants pay local taxes through work, purchases, and housing, as well as direct federal taxes. Young immigrant workers contribute to Social Security through payroll taxes. Immigration is also key to a vital economy; in the U.S. immigrants add about $10 billion annually to the U.S. economy. Immigrants to the U.S., documented and undocumented, contribute a great deal to our national economy and government.
"The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:34)
Links to organizations and resources providing more information on immigration reform:
National Immigration Forum: www.immigrationforum.org
National Council of La Raza: www.nclr.org
American Friends Service Committee: www.afsc.org/immigrants-rights/learn/default.htm
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: www.usccb.org/mrs/stranger.shtml
No More Deaths Campaign: www.nomoredeaths.org
Latin America Working Group: www.lawg.org
New American Opportunity Campaign: www.cirnow.org
Mennonite Central Committee Washington Office: www.mcc.org/us/washington
Justice For Immigrants Campaign: www.justiceforimmigrants.org
World Relief: http://www.wr.org/gettinginvolved/advocacy/view.asp?id=80024022
Studies on U.S. Immigration:
National Academy of Sciences: http://fermat.nap.edu/catalog/5779.html
U.S. Department of Labor: http://www.nupr.neu.edu/11-02/immigration.PDF
Subject:
Compassion not Criminalization in Immigration Reform
Dear [ Decision Maker ],
(Edit Letter Below)
I am writing to express my concern for immigrants in this country and the churches, community organizations, and civic institutions that help them. As you know, the House of Representatives passed the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act (H.R. 4437) in December. This bill, if enacted into law, would expand the definition of smuggling so broadly that anyone who aids undocumented immigrants, even in providing basic services, could be legally prosecuted. This law penalizes many faith-based organizations that provide direct services to those in need.
As a person of faith, I urge you to pursue compassion instead of criminalization. I hope you will reject punitive measures that harm immigrants and those who help them. Over the coming days and weeks, the Senate Judiciary Committee - and possibly the full Senate - will consider immigration proposals.
I am concerned about the Senate Judiciary Committee bill, currently being debated, as well as legislation reportedly being introduced by Majority Leader Bill Frist. Either bill might ultimately include all or many of these provisions: deny refugees adequate protection if they have used false documentation to escape an oppressor, impose a guilty until proven innocent standard for immigrants, and limit judicial review. Both efforts also fail to provide a path to citizenship for hard-working undocumented immigrants; instead merely creating a permanent subclass of guest workers.
Please oppose any bill resembling HR 4437. Instead of approving legislation with any of these troubling provisions, I hope that you will urge your colleagues, especially Majority Leader Frist and those on the Senate Judiciary Committee, to support comprehensive immigration reform that works to unite families, reward work, and create opportunities for all. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing your response to this matter.
Founded in 1971, Sojourners is a Christian ministry whose mission is to proclaim and practice the biblical call to integrate spiritual renewal and social justice
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