“Faithful Americans recognize and affirm the human dignity of every human, as we would of God. This is a shared lesson in various religious teachings,” said Katie Adams, Policy Advocate for Domestic Issues with the United Church of Christ and co-chair of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.
“Amidst the horror of this administration’s immigration policy–repressing asylum, criminalizing migration, and denying basic care to people in need–faith-based groups and faithful Americans are standing in the gap. But we also need Congress to do its job, and refuse to fund any federal policies or programs that put children and adults in harm’s way.”
Read on to learn how the Trump administration’s approach to immigration policy violates core U.S. and religious values, and what to do about it.
How do Trump immigration policies stack up against religious teachings?
The answer is clear: in direct opposition. Stephen Mattson takes us through core Christian religious teachings over at Sojourners.Read this article in America Magazine about the prosecution of Scott Warren; and this op-ed in The Hill from Cardinal Daniel N. Dinardo, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, and Bishop Joe S. Vasquez. Watch this video from HIAS about the reasons why our country must protect asylum-seekers.
What are faithful Americans doing to push back?
Read about the United Church of Christ’s massive protest outside ICE in Milwaukee. Scroll through the Episcopal Church’s list of resources–from diocesan statements to tools for humanitarian aid volunteers. Read this explainer on the “Three Crises At the Border” and how to advocate for change from the Christian Reformed Church of North America, Office of Social Justice.
What should Congress do?
After July 4 recess, Congress will resume consideration of bills to fund the federal government for FY 2020. The Interfaith Immigration Coalition wrote a memo about what should and should not be funded. We also have a set of “faithful” border policy recommendations that we urge Congress to advocate. On TPS, CLINIC urges Congress to conduct oversight over processing delays in this recent piece.
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of 52 national, faith-based organizations brought together across many theological traditions with a common call to seek just policies that lift up the God-given dignity of every individual. In partnership, we work to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of all refugees and migrants.
Follow us on Twitter @interfaithimm
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