Immigration
When the alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:33-34
In a world becoming increasingly globalized, more people are leaving their homelands to seek better lives and opportunities in new countries. Their reasons for leaving are diverse and often complex. Economic necessity, war, drought, and persecution are among the more common ones.
Some of these immigrants come to the U.S. Currently about 13% of our population was born outside the U.S., some 40 million people.
Ever since settlers began arriving from the eastern hemisphere, the U.S. has been a nation of immigrants. But we have also been a nation consistently conflicted about this. We have gratefully welcomed immigrants and their contributions, and we have excluded them, discriminated against them, and inflicted grave harm upon them.
As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors. The Bible is unambiguous in instructing us to welcome aliens and strangers in our land, and to love them as we love ourselves. In these times, let us listen to the voice of the still-speaking God. We will learn how to respond to these new sisters and brothers residing among us.
RESOURCES
*NEW* Opportunity for Postville Immersion
*NEW* New Advent litany from Borderlinks!
Tear Down this Wall On the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Rev. Mari Castellanos reflects on the parallels to the U.S./Mexico border wall.
Ask Congress to Remember Immigrants this Holiday Season
For many of us, getting together with our family is the highlight of the upcoming holidays. But for many immigrants a family gathering is either impossible or a time of fear. The UCC Immigration Coordinating Committee is urging you to participate in the Interfaith Immigration Campaign by sending postcards to members of Congress with a simple message: Help keep immigrant families together by supporting comprehensive immigration reform now. You can also check out their prayer resources!
Request postcards from JWM (congresa@ucc.org) to be signed by your social justice committee, or members of the congregation during coffee hour or Sunday worship.
Clarity in Numbers Addressing population concerns and restrictionist proposals for immigration reform.
Immigration: It's Time to Dispel the Myths
Is Consensus Possible between people of faith on immigration?
Responding to NumbersUSA Attacks on Faith Groups General talking points and responding to false allegations.
Immigration and the Public Schools This year's 2010 Message on Public Education explores the politically charged issue of immigration as it affects public schools and children who are new to our country, their communities, and their schools. As primary civic institutions, public schools reproduce the strengths and also the injustices in our society. It is important for us as faithful citizens to reflect on ways we can work to make public schools more equitably serve all children.
Race and Immigration by the Rev. Dan Romero -- one of the Sacred Conversations on Race held at General Synod, June 2009.
Resources for Worship and Bible Study Sermons and reflections, prayers, and other worship elements; a comprehensive listing of all Bible references to immigrants and refugees, and a theological exploration of immigration and overview of the UCC General Synod’s thinking on this issue.
General Information and Study Guides Numerous resources on immigration, immigrants, and immigrant rights, the New Sanctuary Movement, and study guides.
Detention, Border Enforcement, and the Border Wall Information on border enforcement, detention, arrests, deportation, and militarization of the border.
Immigrants in the Workplace and Workplace Raids Information about immigrants in the workplace, workplace raids, how to prepare for and respond to raids, and an examination of immigrants and "our" jobs.
Organizations with Many Online Resources
Centro Romero Centro Romero is a UCC immersion center located on the U.S.-Mexico border south of San Diego, CA. The Center facilitates educational, transformational immersion experiences focused on globalization, economic policy, immigration, environmental concerns, and community empowerment.
In addition to three to seven day cross-border experiences, the Center also offers a 10-day Travel-Study Experience. Through these more extensive experiences, the Romero Center provides participants with the opportunity of learning about Mexico, Mexican Protestantism, migration issues, culture and popular religion with the objective of better contextualizing the immigration issues that are commonly discussed in the United States and to look at them from a “globalize” point of view. Trips are designed with the objective of engaging community members, community leaders as well as religious and political leaders in Mexico so participants can learn as much as they can about Mexico and its problems and responses and how they understand the immigration concerns that are affecting the U.S. today.
General Synod Resolutions
From GS XXVI (2007), GS XIII (2001), and GS XXII (1999).
Witness for Justice Articles including "Stop the Workplace Raids, Don’t Be Fooled: Immigration is NOT the Real Problem with jobs, unemployment and wages; and Immigrants are NOT "The Reason"! for our health care problems.
Immigrants and Public Education View a number of resources from JWM
Immigrants and Health Care A Resource from JWM
