Washington, DC – Republicans and Democrats in Congress and around the country think that restoring U.S. leadership in refugee protection and resettlement is an important part of our nation’s character. The Trump administration has been systematically dismantling the refugee program, driving a stake through its heart. It is a moral atrocity to turn our backs on persecuted people at a time when there are over 25 million refugees in the world, more than at any other time in history.
“The way we treat people who never asked to become ‘refugees,’ but just want the chance to live, speaks volumes about who we are,” said Katie Adams, Policy Advocate for Domestic Issues at the United Church of Christ and Co-Chair of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC). “Scripture reminds us that ‘perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.’ As people of faith and conscience, we urge responsible leaders of all political ideologies to raise their voices and act from a place of love and welcome.”
The bipartisan support for refugees is deep. It spans both chambers of the U.S. Congress, plus state houses and state and local governments across the nation. Here are some examples:
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a pro-refugee resolution, H.Res. 444, just two days before the President’s FY 2020 refugee cut was announced. Reps. Ted Liu (D-CA), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) led the effort, and the bill passed with universal Republican and Democratic support.
Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Chris Coons (D-DE) sent a bipartisan letter to the administration asking it to “increase the refugee resettlement cap and to admit as many refugees as possible within that cap.” Senators John Thune (R-SD), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Thomas R. Carper (D-DE), Rob Portman (R-OH), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Gardner (R-CO), and Ed Markey (D-MA) also signed on. “America has a responsibility to promote compassion and democracy around the world through assistance to vulnerable and displaced people,” they wrote.
The Arizona House of Representatives unanimously passed House Concurrent Resolution 2027 earlier this year, welcoming and declaring support for “all types of refugees in Arizona.” This is particularly significant coming from the state that once gave birth to SB 1070, the notorious “Show Me Your Papers” anti-immigrant law. The pro-refugee bill was sponsored by Rep. Tony Rivero, R-Peoria and Rep. Athena Salman, D-Tempe.
Ohio’s Republican Governor Mike DeWine and Michigan’s Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer pledged to continue welcoming refugees to their states. DeWine did so first in a communication to the Columbus Dispatch, while Whitmer issued a strongly-worded statement.
Over 380 state and local leaders sent a letter to President Trump asking him to set the refugee goal at 95,000. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Washington Governor Jay Inslee were among the signers.
Companies are also weighing in, Tovin Lapan writes in Fortune: “As the administration has stepped back, corporations have lined up to offer more support for refugees inside the United States and abroad. Through the Tent Partnership, WeWork and Starbucks have both augmented their refugee hiring programs. Recently, more than 20 companies working with Tent including Airbnb pledged support for Venezuelan refugees.”
Michigan businesses that employ refugees sent a letter of support for refugee resettlement to the Trump administration in August. “We value our refugee employees, and we hope to continue hiring refugees for years to come,” they wrote.
Refugee Council USA is tracking support for returning the refugee resettlement program to its pre-Trump administration levels. See quotes from faith leaders here.
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of 53 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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