Immigration Justice

Washington, DC – Following is a statement from Elissa Diaz, Policy Associate for Church World Service and Chair of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition. Today we celebrate the opportunity to turn a page, as a country, and move toward healing. When it comes to federal immigration policy, the past four years have been dark, driven by xenophobia. The ...

A statement and call to action from Interfaith Immigration Coalition Washington, DC – The failure of U.S. immigration judges to give Black asylum-seekers a fair hearing compels us to write this statement. The U.S. Border Patrol’s refusal to even listen to Haitian asylum-seekers’ fears when they arrive at the border compels us to write this statement. The U.S. ...

New Backgrounder on Deportations of Refugees to Cameroon WASHINGTON – Despite the global pandemic which has slowed most international travel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is accelerating the deportation of Black migrants to countries they fled, retaliating against those who speak out about abuses in detention. On October 13, a group of nearly 60 Cameroonian and ...

Washington, DC – On September 30, the last day of National African Immigrant Heritage Month, hundreds of people joined a Zoom meeting to learn about the journey many Black Africans make to the U.S. to escape persecution–and the journey some are forced to make back via deportation.  A recording is available here. Sylvie Bello of the ...

Over 1,000 Faith Leaders from 43 States Ask DHS, ICE, and Congress to Allow Binsar Siahaan to Continue His Case in Sanctuary (photo: Susan Saudek) Washington, DC – This week, 1,038 faith leaders from forty-three states, including WI, MI, PA, NC, AZ and the District of Columbia sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad ...

Today, 1,038 faith leaders sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, Senior Official Tony Pham, and the U.S. Congress calling for ICE to “release Binsar from detention immediately and allow him to proceed with his asylum case.” They also demand a statement from ICE “clarifying and assuring that it will adhere ...

Washington, DC – Ahmad Javed Momand was a doctor in Afghanistan. Now, he works as a lab tech, processing test results and taking employees’ temperatures at a U.S. health care facility. Both of his jobs are vital and important. But only one requires the time and skills involved in completing a PhD in medicine.  Dr. Momand’s ...

Black Africans Confront the U.S. Asylum System Washington, DC – On September 30, the last day of National African Immigrant Heritage Month, learn about the journey many Black Africans make to the U.S. to escape persecution–and the journey some are forced to make back via deportation.   WHO: Gladness, whose sister Josephine is facing deportation to Cameroon and ...

Calling on all people of faith, congregations, churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques to establish a volunteer network within their congregations to Get Out the Vote. This election will be the most critical in our lifetime! YOUR VOTE MATTERS The call to promote justice, compassion, and equality is one shared across all faiths. If we believe that our core ...

Listen to a recording of the press call here Silver Spring, MD – Last Thursday, ICE agents knowingly violated the agency’s Sensitive Locations policy and lied to Binsar Siahaan, an Indonesian asylum-seeker and six-year member of the Glenmont United Methodist Church, in order to arrest him and carry out his deportation.  In a clear violation of the ...