IMMIGRATION

1. IMMIGRATION Issues & Episcopal Response

2. IMMIGRANTS Who are they?

3. Immigrant Status • Temporary Visa • Permanent Resident Visa • Naturalized Citizen See – www.uscis.gov(U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services)

4. Temporary Visa Includes: • Student • Work – High Tech • Temporary work visas exhausted within 1 day of announcement • Work – Low Tech • Unworkable • Tourist • “Prove” you’ll return See – www.uscis.gov(U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services) navigation bar on the left – visiting the U.S. temporarily

5. Permanent ResidentBASIS - FAMILY • If U.S. Citizen, includes • Spouse • Minor Children • Parents • Adult Siblings See – www.uscis.gov(U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services) navigation bar on the left – Permanent Residence

6. Permanent ResidentBASIS - FAMILY • If Permanent Resident, includes: • Spouse • Minor Children See – www.uscis.gov(U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services) navigation bar on the left – Permanent Residence

7. Permanent ResidentBASIS - BUSINESS Includes: • Investment • Skill or profession with no U.S. candidates See – www.uscis.gov(U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services) navigation bar on the left – Permanent Residence

8. Naturalized Citizen Includes: • Permanent resident for: • If Married to U.S. Citizen – 3 years • Otherwise – 5 years • Military – 2 years See – www.uscis.gov(U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services) navigation bar on the left – U.S. Citizenship

9. Out of Status • Expired Visa (authorized entry) • 40% • Entered with authorization • 60%

10. Ramirez Family – No Basis • 4 US-citizen children; but no way to stay. • Mom and Dad deported to Mexico. • What are the choices? • What if they were your kids?

11. Why should I care???

12. The Anglican Ethos

13. Episcopal response Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR)

14. Resolution A017 2006 General Convention Acknowledge the need for countries to “protect its borders;” AND… THE “ENFORCEMENT” PIECE OF CRI

15. Reason & Compassion 1. Undocumented aliens should have reasonable opportunity to pursue permanent residency. i.e. Economics and Family Values

16. Reason 2. Legal workers should be allowed to enter the United States to respond to recognized labor force needs. i.e., A well-managed flow of temporary workers permits and encourages workers’ families to remain in place and workers to return to their home countries.

17. Compassion Close family members should be allowed to reunite without undue delay with individuals lawfully present in the United States.

18. Compassion Close family members should be allowed to reunite without undue delay with individuals lawfully present in the United States. Up to 12-year backlog. Stopped receiving new applications.

19. Justice The Vang Family – Facing deportation after 18 years in U.S., two US-citzen children, a restaurant and a house The letter of the law is not enough. 4. Fundamental U.S. principles of legal due process should be granted all persons. 5. Enforcement of national borders and immigration policies should be proportional and humane.

20. In Addition… Deplores undue emphasis of enforcement as the primary response to immigrants entering the United States to work Calls the Episcopal Church to educate Episcopalians as to the plight of refugees, immigrants, and migrants Commits to welcome strangers, to advocate for their wellbeing and protection, and to urge members to resist any violation of our fundamental beliefs as Christians.

21. As Christians,As Episcopalians Educate Episcopalians (and I would add, our communities). Welcome migrants, immigrants, and refugees. Advocate for their wellbeing and protection. Urge members to resist any violation of our fundamental beliefs as Christians.

22. Somebody has got to follow through

23. And who will that be?

24. Education Personally, or in a Group, like this one! http://madreanna.org/immref

25. Diocese • Enabling Resolution A017, with $$$$$. • To educate • Educate yourself and your community • Speaker’s bureau anyone? To find out what’s happening in your area, join interfaith efforts, find out what you can do • See the Diocese of California Resolutions for 2006 & 2007 at http://madreanna.org/immref/

26. Personal Diocese • To welcome strangers as a matter of Christian responsibility • Welcome immigrants into your church and your circle of friends. • Ask immigrant and ethnic churches if you can help in some way. • Follow through on their requests.

27. Personal Diocese • To advocate • Join the Public Policy Network http://www.episcopalchurch.org/eppn/ • Join one of the advocacy alert lists, e.g. http://CIRnow.org • Spread the word!! • Mailing lists (paper and/or e-mail) • Parish & Diocesan newsletters & lists • Convention and/or Clergy Conference information tables • Start a website or add a web page with cooperative groups • Ask your bishop to intervene or make a statement

28. Personal Diocese • To resist legislation and actions which violate our fundamental beliefs as Christians • What would you do to keep a family from being deported? • What would you do to render humanitarian aid to a family in need? For ideas, see: • http://www.nationalimmigrationproject.org/ • Click on “Immigrant Rights Resources” • http://newsanctuarymovement.org/

29. Current Issues • Work-Place Enforcement • “No-Match” Letters • “Enforcement Only” • Where’s the “Comprehensive” piece? • Dream Act • AgJobs • The price of food • Immigrant Bashing See, http://cirnow.org/ http://madreanna.org/immref/