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Immigration from a Faith-Based Perspective. How Faith-Based Groups can make a difference in the immigration debate. Why are faith-based groups involved in immigration?. Institutional Church teaching Humanitarian/Moral Global. What do faith-groups bring to the immigration debate?.
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Immigration from a Faith-Based Perspective How Faith-Based Groups can make a difference in the immigration debate
Why are faith-based groups involved in immigration? • Institutional • Church teaching • Humanitarian/Moral • Global
What do faith-groups bring to the immigration debate? • History of working with immigrants • First-hand knowledge of immigrant experience—they are here • Where do migrants go? • Present throughout the migration phenomenon • Voice for the voiceless • Counter to the anti-immigrant rhetoric • Constituency
Immigration by the Numbers • 12 million • 300k to 500k • 80-90 percent • 15-20 billion • $35 billion • 18,000 • 5 million • 5,000 • 4,200
Nod Nod Wink Wink • U.S.: Cheap, Pliable Labor/Keep Out-Help Wanted • Mexico/Central America: Remittances, no poverty reduction, go north policy • Pawns in the game of globalization • We need a scapegoat • Global phenomenon • Reform should happen to protect human dignity
Humane Solution? • Legalization: Humane, Secure, Family Unity, Labor Stability • Worker Program: Legal Avenues/circularity/worker rights • Family Reform: shorten waiting times/recalculate categories? • AgJOBS/DREAM Act • Due Process: mitigating circumstances • Root causes: ultimate solution
The New Landscape • 67 percent Hispanic support • Republican heart to heart? • Senate: 45+/18 up for grabs • House: 205+/27 up for grabs • Whither Obama? • Fly in the Ointment: Economy
Immigrants and the Economy • Legalization—a level playing field • We want to pay! • Complement, not compete? • Future Flows? • We will come out of it
Keys to Victory • Matching the other side—use of faith groups, others • Controlling the message—orderly solution to move America forward • Holding the winners accountable • Build confidence, credibility with American people—integration, government competence • Patience!