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A Christian Response to Immigration

A Christian Response to Immigration. Edie Rasell Justice and Witness Ministries, UCC. Biblical Teaching. All people are made in God’s image All are citizens of God’s realm/empire/kingdom Exodus 22:21 Leviticus 19:33-34 Matthew 25:31-40 1 Corinthians 12:4-26

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A Christian Response to Immigration

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  1. A Christian Response to Immigration Edie Rasell Justice and Witness Ministries, UCC

  2. Biblical Teaching All people are made in God’s image All are citizens of God’s realm/empire/kingdom Exodus 22:21 Leviticus 19:33-34 Matthew 25:31-40 1 Corinthians 12:4-26 UCC worship resources on immigration www.ucc.org /justice/immigration/worship/worship-resources/

  3. UCC General Synod Resolutions A Call for a More Humane U.S. Immigration Policy: End Migrant Deaths; Support Immigrant Communities(2007) www.ucc.org/synod/ resolutions/immigration-final.pdf Declared the militarized border enforcement strategy was not working, called for advocacy for better policies, called “upon the leaders of Conferences, Associations and congregations to extend an extravagant welcome and radical hospitality to and continue to minister and care for all who come to our doors.”

  4. UCC General Synod Resolutions Emergency Resolution to End the Death of Migrants on the United States-Mexico Border by Offering Water in Christ’s Name  (2001) http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/EMERGENCY-RESOLUTION-TO-END-THE-DEATH-OF-MIGRANTS-ON-THE.pdf In support of Human Borders, an organization that provides water to migrants coming through the Arizona desert. http://humaneborders.org/

  5. UCC General Synod Resolutions Border Justice Issues: A Challenge for the 21st Century Church (1999) http://www.ucc.org/ justice/immigration/pdfs/Border-Justice.pdf General Synod expresses its concern about the myriad national and international issues of border justice and condemns the unjust treatment and harassment of Hispanic people both at the border and away from the border.

  6. Immigration A few key numbers

  7. Foreign-born Residents, 201040.2 million people (11.2% of the total population) 72% authorized, 28% unauthorized

  8. Unauthorized immigrants 60% are from Mexico, 20% from the rest of Latin America, 11% from South and East Asia One-third to one-half have not finished high school. Comprise 5% of the labor force; 20% of the low-wage workforce.

  9. Why do immigrants come? Is it just an adventure?

  10. Why Immigrants Come: the “Push” Many are forced to come: • US foreign and economic policy • the impact of our current form of globalization • political repression • natural disasters • war • etc.

  11. The Push in Mexico: North American Free Trade Agreement Jobs: • Little net increase in jobs since 1994 while the Mexican labor force grows by about 1 million/year • Rise in “informal” employment (over half of all jobs) • Wages in many jobs at or below the 1994 level Agriculture: Millions of farmers and agricultural workers have been displaced off the land as Mexico’s imports of US agricultural products (especially corn) have skyrocketed.

  12. Why Immigrants Come: the “Pull” People come to the U.S. to work and they find many employers who actively seek employees willing to work long hours in grueling jobs for low pay.

  13. Hazardous Border Crossing • Since 1995, some 4,000 deaths of people attempting to cross the border. • More people have been killed crossing the US-Mexico border than were killed crossing the Berlin Wall during its entire 28 years.

  14. Why don’t immigrants just “get in line” and enter legally?

  15. Entering legally is seldom possible Most people enter through “Family Reunification” • Immediate family members (spouse, child, parent) of citizens can get visas • Immediate family members (spouse, unmarried children) of legal permanent residents: 226,000 visas/year but no country gets more than 7% of these (16,000) It is very difficult for people related to non-citizens and those from Latin America to enter.

  16. Entering legally is seldom possible Workers who can get visas • People with advanced degrees, “extraordinary ability,” religious workers, investors with over half a million dollars, “skill-shortage” workers: 140,000/year • Unskilled worker: 5,000/year • “Diversity Visa Lottery”: 55,000/year, preference for under-represented areas of world Very few lesser-skilled immigrants can enter with a worker visa.

  17. Recent State Challenges to Federal Immigration Law Immigration policy and enforcement is a function of the federal government

  18. Arizona Law (and similar new state laws) Creates new state immigration crimes and expands the power of police to enforce immigration law with the intention of making it so difficult to live in Arizona that illegal immigrants flee the state rather than risk arrest.  Purpose of the law: “the intent of this act is to make attrition through enforcement the public policy of all state and local government agencies in Arizona” “self-deportation”

  19. Arizona Immigration Law (SB 1070) “the harshest anti-immigrant legislation in the country...that codifies racial profiling and creates an atmosphere of suspicion, hatred, and scapegoating of immigrants and U.S. Citizens” -- UCC’s Southwest Conference (from the Open Letter to President Obama, et al) Text of the Resolution:http://www.uccswc.org/Justice%20and%20Witness/immigration/A%20Call%20for%20a%20More%20Humane%20US%20Immigration%20Policy.pdf

  20. Arizona Immigration Law (SB 1070) In an Open Letter to President Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder, Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano and Governor Jan Brewer, the UCC Southwest Conference: “….encourag[es] individuals to pledge non-compliance with the unjust and racist law SB 1070” http://www.uccswc.org/Justice%20and%20Witness/immigration/An%20Open%20Letter-SB1070.pdf

  21. States make immigration law • In 2011, 25 states introduced “Arizona-style” laws. • Five states passed this type of law: Utah, Indiana, S. Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia. • These laws have been challenged in federal court and many of the worse provisions are blocked. • Major exception: in Alabama, public schools check immigration status. • Good resource: http://www.nclr.org/images/uploads/pages/Not%20in%20Out%20State%20What%20Community-Based%20Organizations%20Can%20Do%20 to%20Combat%20SB%201070%20Copycat%20Legislation.pdf

  22. Impact of Harsh State Laws Multiple adverse impacts of these laws: Local police, health care workers, public school administrators, landlords, employers, and others are tasked with policing immigration status. The lines between immigration enforcement and the provision of services (safety, education, health care), housing, jobs, etc is blurred.

  23. Blurring the Lines Fear of police leads to failure to report crimes and criminal activity (victims, witnesses); children kept out of school, immigrants don’t get needed health care, etc. Enforcement often based on racial profiling Puts legal immigrants and citizens at risk Detention and deportation based on minor offenses and mistakes Catch more low level offenders (not high level)

  24. What to Do • We need comprehensive immigration reform. • Pass the DREAM Act • Regulate detention facilities • Protect all workers against labor law violations • Change international policies so people are not forced to emigrate

  25. What to Do Immigrant Rights Sunday, May 6, 2012 http://www.ucc.org/justice/immigration/ImmigrantRightsSunday.html • Oppose restrictive state and local laws • Visit detention centers • Stand with immigrants in local struggles • Visit the border to learn more: the UCC’s Centro Romero http://www.theromerocenter.org/index.html

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