Resources and Study Guides

Welcoming Immigrants to our Workplaces and Communities [html] [pdf] [with endnotes] [en espanol] An overview from JWM including sections on why immigrants come to the U.S., the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement, workplace raids and how to prepare for and respond to raids, and immigrants and “our” jobs.

Dandole la Bienvenida a los Inmigrantes a nuestras Comunidades y Lugares de Trabajo [pdf] Este documento cubre topicas como porque inmigrantes vienen a los EE.UU., el impacto del Tratado Norteamericano de Libre Comercio (NAFTA), y como prepárese para responder a las redadas en el lugar de empleo.  

Immigration: Welcoming the Stranger  A PowerPoint overview of immigration from Justice and Witness Ministries.

Surviving Immigration Interrogations: Responses to the Toughest Questions Answers to tough questions and myths about immigration from the Immigration Policy Center

The Economics and Policy of Illegal Immigration in the U.S. Report from the Migration Policy Institute finds illegal immigration has negligible impact on U.S. economy despite benefit to employers, unauthorized Workers 

Clarity in Numbers This report from Church World Service addresses population concerns and restrictionist proposals for immigration reform

Is Consensus Possible between People of Faith on Immigration? A thoughtful reflection by the UCC's Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper

Declaration of Immigrant Rights in English and Spanish from Annunciation House in El Paso, TX. This statement is intended to be printed out, signed, and mailed to our elected representatives.

From the National Council of Churches and Church World Service: Resolution on Immigration and a Call for Action adopted in November 2008. 

Sojourners has posted online a number of immigration resources including Welcoming the Stranger: A Toolkit for Christian Education and Action on Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

A History of Border and Immigration Policy by Professor Bill Ong Hing, University of California at Davis.

How to address symbolic and emotionally-charged arguments about migration and the U.S.-Mexico border by Professor Josiah Heyman, University of Texas at El Paso addresses many myths and fears about immigrants.

A resolution from the Presbyterian Church (USA) and study guide: Resolution Calling for a Comprehensive Legalization Program for Immigrants Living and Working in the United States with Study Guide 

No Human Being Is Illegal by César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández

Myths and Facts about the Costs of Immigration in the United States, a PowerPoint presentation prepared by the Rev. Dr. Mark Sills for "Welcoming the Sojourner – Finding the Church’s Voice on Immigration."

American Immigration Law Foundation  

Immigration Policy Center  and its excellent electronic newsletter Immigration Impact 

Immigration resources by Interfaith Worker Justice

The Illinois Mayan Ministry of members of the Illinois Conference of the UCC

The New Sanctuary Movement
A resource from the 8th Day Center for Justice, Chicago, IL   

Study Guides

The Immigration Dilemma, a six-week study guide to immigration from the Friends Committee on National Legislation 

From Sojourners, a six-week study guide Strangers in the Land

From the UCC Illinois Conference's Illinois Maya Ministry, a four-week study guide of Luis Alberto Urrea’s The Devil’s Highway, a powerful, true depiction of migrants crossing into the U.S. 

Looking Upstream: How the WAL-MARTing of Mexico Creates the Immigration Crisis from the UCC Illinois Conference's Illinois Maya Ministry: a PowerPoint presentation with accompanying background notes to accompany each slide.