Border policies must be grounded in humanitarian values; protect life, tribal sovereignty, sacred sites, and the environment; and center border residents in decision-making.
339 Faith-Based Groups and 1,356 Leaders Call for End to Anti-Immigrant “COVID” Policies
June 15, 2020Washington, DC – Today, 339 faith-based organizations and 1,356 faith leaders from all fifty states, plus DC, are issuing an open letter to policymakers at all levels, demanding an end to anti-immigrant policies put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter comes on the same day that a proposed rule to completely gut the ...IIC Webinar: COVID, Detention, + Asylum
June 5, 2020On June 3, the IIC held a webinar on detention, asylum, and enforcement issues during the COVID-19 pandemic with: Sharon Stanley-Rea, Director, Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries (RIM) Guerline Jozef, President of Haitian Bridge Alliance Chiqui Sanchez Kennedy, Immigration Legal Services Director, YMCA International Services Pedro Rios, Director of the U.S.-Mexico Border Program, American Friends Service Committee Hillary Kipnis, Migrant ...People of Faith to Trump Administration: Stop Abuse of Migrant Children
May 20, 2020Washington, DC – (TW: Abuse of children) The headlines are shocking enough: “More Than 900 Children Have Been Expelled Under a Pandemic Border Policy” – The New York Times “The Trump Administration Is Rushing Deportations of Migrant Children During Coronavirus” – ProPublica and Texas Tribune “Under Trump policy, U.S. plays custody keep-away with migrant children”- Los Angeles Times “ICE ...Denouncing Extension of Border Lockdown
May 15, 2020Washington, DC – The New York Times reports that the Trump administration plans to extend its border closure indefinitely, citing the coronavirus pandemic. The ban would keep regions in the north and south of the United States, whose economies rely on the dynamic flow of goods and people across borders, on lock down for the ...IIC Mourns the Death of Carlos Ernesto Escobar Mejia
May 8, 2020Washington, DC – The Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) mourns the death of Carlos Ernesto Escobar Mejia and offers love, prayers, and solidarity to his family members and friends. Mr. Mejia died of COVID-19, which he contracted while detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Otay Mesa Detention Center. San Diego Union-Tribune spoke with ...Outraged by Trump’s Latest Immigration Ban? 3 Ways to Take Action
April 28, 2020President Trump issued a new Executive Order to “cancel legal immigration,” claiming that it would help the hard hit economy. The order bans many immigrants from entering the United States and keeps families apart for at least sixty days. Faith leaders reacted strongly, calling his exploitation of the coronavirus public health emergency a “national disgrace.” ...Faith Leaders: Include Immigrants in COVID-19 Protection
April 20, 2020Washington, DC – Two hundred twenty-four faith-based organizations and over 1,000 faith leaders sent a letter to the Trump administration, Congress, and Governors, telling them that “immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers must be included in our emergency response if we are to assist everyone who is in need.” The organizations and individuals span ...A Year of “Remain in Mexico” is a Year of Tragedy, Violence, and Sorrow
January 30, 2020Washington, DC – A year of Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)/Remain in Mexico policy. A year of forcing people to remain in Mexico, often times homeless and without any sort of assistance, while they await their day in U.S. immigration court. A year of attacks, robberies, kidnappings, rapes, and even murders—all due to a U.S. government ...Faith Leaders Decry Muslim Ban and “Remain in Mexico”
January 28, 2020An Affront to Religious Values and U.S. Constitution Washington, DC – Today, Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) and several other senators introduced a resolution condemning the Trump administration’s refugee and Muslim ban as well as the “Remain in Mexico” policy that puts asylum-seekers in harm’s way. Yesterday marked three years since the Trump administration’s nefarious first attempt at ...Capitol Hill Prayer Vigil Marks One Year Since “Remain in Mexico” Policy Sent Migrants to Danger
January 28, 2020Vigils Across U.S. Demand an End to Anti-Asylum Policies Washington, DC – January 29th marks one year of the disastrous Remain in Mexico policy that traps asylum seekers in Mexico while they wait for hearings in the United States. Faith communities and immigrants’ rights groups are marking the date with a national day of prayer and ...
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