Civic Engagement

Download: Border wall faith backgrounder Feb 2019 Border walls and other forms of excessive border militarization such as troop deployments are inconsistent with faith principles of compassion, stewardship, solidarity, and justice. Border walls and fences are not only an irresponsible use of public funds, but also hurt people and the environment, interfere with the sovereignty of ...

WASHINGTON –  “We are gathered today in our nation’s capital, the seat of highest power, because for too long our leaders’ hearts have hardened. Our Congress has drafted spending bills that would devote billions of dollars more to detention and deportation, money that comes in part through the tax dollars of our immigrant siblings, and ...

Update: Congress has extended the deadline for the DHS spending debate. Keep calling your Members of Congress until the new December 21 deadline!  Congress must decide by December 7, 2018 how to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the rest of fiscal year 2019. Right now is a critical time for people of faith ...

As you consider spending levels for the rest of fiscal year 2019 (FY19), we urge you to reduce harmful and reckless immigration enforcement funding and reject any funding above FY18 enacted levels. Each person caught in our bloated, profit-driven, and unbridled immigrant detention system is a child of God and deserves to be treated with humanity ...

Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump released an executive order which would dramatically weaken U.S. protections and access for people fleeing violence to seek asylum in the United States. In response, a coalition of faith organizations released a pledge, signed by over 3,000 faith leaders, promising to be good neighbors to those seeking refuge in ...

Introduction: This week as we celebrate the feast day for Saint Frances Cabrini, patron saint of immigrants, we are called not only to prayer and reflection but to action. Born in Italy, Saint Cabrini arrived in the United States in 1889 on a mission to help other Italian immigrants desperately fleeing  extreme poverty, hunger, oppression, violence ...

Washington, D.C. – President Trump is expected to announce later today an executive order to turn away families fleeing violence in Central America and block access to asylum, as the caravan of people seeking protection continues on their long journey to the United States. These families are fleeing violence, desperation, and persecution and are traveling together ...

The following sample points are meant to serve as guides for people of faith to submit comments against the proposed rule by the Department of Homeland Security on standards established during the Flores court agreement. The proposed rule would strip existing immigrant child protection standards, making it standard to keep children in detention. Comments against proposed ...

NEW: See our Public Charge Interfaith Advocacy Toolkit! A new rule could mean claiming Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), housing assistance, and more could cost individuals their path to citizenship. Under our current system, immigrants must meet numerous qualifications before they can obtain permanent residency and eventual citizenship. The public charge assessment evaluates, on a case-by-case basis, whether ...

WASHINGTON – After Trump administration officials announced a proposal essentially denying  green cards or visa adjustment to immigrants who lawfully use food or housing assistance, and whose broad scope could fundamentally weaken our nation’s tradition of welcome, faith leaders expressed their deep grief and outrage:   “These changes to the public charge system are unprecedented and ...