Webinar on Immigration for Congregational Leaders

1. Webinar on Immigration for Congregational Leaders UU Mass. Action Network

2. Alice Linsmeier Executive Director, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, Ventura County CA, (CLUE VC) and New Sanctuary Movement Steering Committee Member

4. http://www.newsanctuarymovement.org/contact.html

5. Understanding the Obama Administration’s announcement pertaining to the review of deportation cases? Announcement Date: August 18, 2011

6. The Obama Administration announced administrative changes that affect current deportation policy. THIS IS NOT A NEW IMMIGRATION LAW

7. What is this change? This administrative change says: A person who TODAY faces deportation, or who faces deportation in the FUTURE, will have their individual case REVIEWED to see if it qualifies for a SUSPENSION of deportation based on whether it falls in the government’s LOW PRIORITY category?

8. Who is deemed “low priority”? Low Priority : This definition is based on a memorandum written by ICE Director, John Morton, about the use of Prosecutorial Discretion during arrest, detention, and deportation of immigrants. It lays out the agencies enforcement priorities.

9. This is the list of factors considered in making the determination as to whether a case is “low priority” Page 4 of the previously cited John Morton memo

10. What are the factors considered? the person’s length of presence in USA; the circumstances of the person’s arrival and entry into the USA, in particular if the person entered as a young child; pursuit of education in a university, if they graduated from a US high school, or successful pursuit of a college or advanced degree;

11. What are the factors considered? whether a person, or a person’s immediate relative, has served in the U.S. military, reserves, or national guard, with particular consideration given to those who served in combat; the person’s criminal history, including arrests, prior convictions, or outstanding arrest warrants;

12. What are the factors considered? the person’s immigration history, including prior removal, outstanding orders of removal, prior denial of status, or evidence of fraud whether the person poses a national security or public safety concern;

13. What are the factors considered? the person’s ties and contributions to the community, including family relationships; the person’s ties to the home country and condition’s in the country; the person’s age, with particular consideration given to minors and the elderly;

14. What are the factors considered? whether the person has a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse, child or parent; whether the person is the primary caretaker of a person with a mental or physical disability, minor, or seriously ill relative; whether the person or the person’s spouse is pregnant or nursing; Others

15. This list is not exhaustive and no one factor is determinative of a favorable decision. Decision is on a case by case basis.

16. Defend this administrative change Not everyone is happy with these new changes. Anti immigrant forces are protesting and calling the White House. There is a toll free number to call the White House and thank the President for these important changes. Call the White House and say : Thank you Mr. President and Immigration Reform is the Real Answer. 1-866-996-5161

17. Contact your organization and be part of the movement CHIRLA 2533 W. 3rd St. #101 Los Angeles, CA 90057 213-353-1333 1888-6CHIRLA o 1888-624-4752 CHIRLA gives authorization to any organization to change contact information and add other relevant organizational information.

19. http://www.newsanctuarymovement.org/contact.html

20. Hannah HafterVolunteer, No More Deaths/No Mas Muertes

21. http://peacesupplies.org/No-More-Deaths/Report_A-Culture-of-Cruelty.htmlhttp://peacesupplies.org/No-More-Deaths/Report_A-Culture-of-Cruelty.html

27. The following are steps you and/or your congregation can take to support the campaign to end Border Patrol abuse: 1. Get the word out to get the petition signed at www.cultureofcruelty.org. We are aiming for 3,000 signatures by the end of Sept. 2. Collect postcards and send them back to us to deliver to DC - email us at info@cultureofcruelty.org 3. Order copies of the report to have available at your local library or your congregation. Consider hosting a reading and discussion group that includes the report and other materials on immigrant rights. 4. If you would like to create a committee at your congregation that runs "Stop Deportation Campaigns" in your community, we have a lot of resources to help you get that going. Contact us for more info. 5. Volunteers are always needed on-the-ground in Nogales - if you are interested in participating in our work please check out the opportunities on our website. Go to www.cultureofcruelty.org for more information and also videos of interviews.

28. https://www.change.org/petitions/30000-documented-abuses-of-migrants-is-enough-end-the-border-patrols-culture-of-crueltyhttps://www.change.org/petitions/30000-documented-abuses-of-migrants-is-enough-end-the-border-patrols-culture-of-cruelty

29. Rev. Nate Walker Minister, First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia and UU Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network  (UUPLAN)

30. UU State Advocacy Networks Eleven states organizing 82,911 Unitarian Universalists in the U.S. • Membership Growth: Our state networks bring new members to Unitarian Universalist congregations. • Moral & Spiritual Growth: Our advocacy programs deepen congregants’ spirituality and identity and deploy Unitarian Universalist values to measurably impact states and federal legislation. • Partnership: We are proud to provide a cumulative structure for deepening individual and congregation collaboration.

31. (1) Print (2) Sign (3) Send National Constitution Center

32. Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network Serving 6,000 UUs in 40 congregations in PA

33. UUPLAN An Advocacy Network As a registered 501(c)(4) lobbying organization, the Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network, Inc. (UUPLAN) is organized exclusively for the education and advocacy on public policy issues that benefit citizens of Pennsylvania. UUPALM A Network of Congregations As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Ministry is organized exclusively as a network of affiliated congregations. Growth Through Advocacy & Ministry Our programs deepen congregants’ spirituality and identity and deploy Unitarian Universalist values to measurably impact state legislation.

35. http://www.uua.org/immigration/moral/guide/index.shtml

36. Jesse Jaeger Executive Director, UU Mass Action Network

37. Vigil to Stop ICE Deportations and S-Comm Program in Boston Sept. 21st, 2011

38. Vigil to Stop ICE Deportations and S-Comm Program in Boston Sept. 21st, 2011

39. http://www.papersthemovie.com/

40. You’re Welcomeby Mandy Neff (DRE at First Parish Cambridge) You’re Welcome is an 8-lesson curriculum designed for ages 9-12. The purpose of You’re Welcome is to explore immigration into the United States from a Unitarian Universalist perspective of love and justice. Available from Mandy at dre@fpcambridge.org

41. One Side or the Other: Values Clarification Exercise about ImmigrationBarb Greve (DLFD at First Unitarian Society Netwon) & Lynn Holbein (President UU Mass Action) This is a warm-up exercise allows people to express, in an unthreatening way, their complicated and often contradictory feelings about immigration. Once they have expressed those feelings, they feel more open to considering new viewpoints. Available from the UU Mass Action office at jjaeger@uumassaction.org

42. Susan Leslie Congregational Advocacy & Witness Director, UUA

43. www.uua.org/immigration

44. http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/immigrants/

45. Q&A Type your question into the chat box!