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'Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform' Combined Immigration StatementWe represent a coalition of Christian organizations, churches, and leaders from across the theological and political spectrum united in support of comprehensive immigration reform. Despite our differences on other issues, we are working together to see comprehensive immigration reform enacted this year because we share a set of common moral and theological principles that compel us to love and care for the stranger among us, including: · We believe that all people, regardless of national origin, are made in the “Image of God” and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect (Genesis 1:26-27, 9:6). · We believe there is an undeniable Biblical responsibility to love and show compassion for the stranger among us (Deuteronomy 10:18-19, Leviticus 19:33-34, Matthew 25:31-46). · We believe that immigrants are our neighbors, both literally and figuratively, and we are to love our neighbors as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18, Mark 12:31) and show mercy to our neighbors in need, as in Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). · We believe in the rule of law (Romans 13:1-7), but we also believe that we are to oppose unjust laws and systems that harm and oppress people made in God’s Image, especially the vulnerable (Isaiah 10:1-4, Jeremiah 7:1-7, Acts 5:29). The current U.S. immigration system is broken and now is the time for a just and compassionate solution. We think it is entirely possible to protect our borders while establishing a viable, humane, and realistic immigration system consistent with our values. These Biblical principles call us to support comprehensive immigration reform legislation that includes the following elements: · Border enforcement and protection initiatives that are consistent with Christian humanitarian values while allowing the authorities to enforce the law and implement American immigration policy;
· Reforms in our family-based immigration system that maintains birthright citizenship while drastically reducing the waiting times for separated families; · Temporary designation for immigrant workers and their families already in the U.S. with the option of a path towards permanent legal status and citizenship upon satisfaction of specific criteria; and · A viable guest worker program that creates legal avenues for workers and their families to enter our country and work in a safe, legal, and orderly manner with their rights and due process fully protected. We call upon President Bush and the Congress to seek humane and holistic reform consistent with these Christian principles within this legislative year. Immigration reform must reject anti-immigrant measures and be pro-work and pro-family, thus strengthening the common good and enriching the vitality of America. Hope for Immigration Reform?Many of us who have advocated for immigration reform have experienced frustrating feelings of failure over the last year as federal legislation aimed at addressing our broken immigration system sputters, leaving local legislatures to pass piecemeal solutions which only marginalize our undocumented brothers and sisters further. But the political tides are turning! Congressional representatives who ran on harsh enforcement-only platforms lost their reelection campaigns and a comprehensive compromise bill coming out of both chambers seems much more likely. President Bush has consistently asked the congress to work with him on achieving a comprehensive solution and many believe achieving immigration reform during his tenure would do much in advancing his legacy. Currently Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) along with Representatives Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) have begun working on a bipartisan comprehensive bill that will not only address border enforcement concerns but also the need for an earned pathway to citizenship. According to Sen. Kennedy quoted in a New York Times article, "Bipartisan Effort to Draft Immigration Bill", the political climate has changed: “I’m very hopeful about this, both in terms of the substance and the politics of it,” said Mr. Kennedy, the incoming chairman of the Senate Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship Subcommittee. Mr. Kennedy acknowledged that there would be hurdles. But he and other lawmakers say Republicans and Democrats are now more likely to work together to repair a system widely considered as broken. Rep. Flake also likes comprehensive immigration reform's chances: Mr. Flake described himself as optimistic, saying the elections had disabused many Republicans of the notion that opposing legalization and guest worker plans would win widespread support. “That illusion is gone,” he said. The percentage of Hispanics who voted for Republicans fell to 29 percent, from 44 percent in 2004, and some Republicans say passing immigration bills is a crucial part of the effort to win them back. While most agree that something needs to be done in regards to the broken border, the debate centers around what to do with the millions of people currently living without documents inside the U.S. borders. The current bipartisan effort does not support amnesty for the undocumented, but instead proposes an earned pathway to citizenship where multiple hurdles are required of those who wish to become a part of American society. The plan under consideration would allow 10 million or 11 million illegal immigrants to become eligible to apply for citizenship without returning home, up from 7 million in the original Senate bill. To be granted citizenship, they would have to remain employed, pass background checks, pay fines and back taxes, and enroll in English classes. Finding middle ground will be difficult as the debate has been vitriolic at times. But some call this a Kairos moment - a special moment in time where God acts for His people. Rep. Luis Gutierrez in the above mentioned NY Times: “There are going to be hard choices that are going to be made, because we need to build a bipartisan, broad-based coalition,” said Mr. Gutierrez, who leads the House Democratic immigration group. “But I’m hopeful that in the environment in which we’re working now we can get it done.” Many still are opposed to this legislation. They still are not willing to accept that this large population should eventually become integrated into the larger societal framework. It will be up to people of faith who hear God's call to "treat the alien living with you as one of your native born," [Lev. 19:34] to encourage our Congressional representatives to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill that not only helps secure our borders, but assists separated families in reuniting, allows our economy to access future workforce needs, and creates earned pathways to citizenship for those who have made this country their home and who deserve the right to finally come out from the shadows. The next 6 months will be a critical time for the undocumented and their allies as we seek to pass what might be the most important piece of legislation for poor people of color in decades. The Church and ImmigrationThis quote is taken from an article in Christianity Today on the silence of the church in regards to the immigration reform debate that is taking place across our nation: "Advocates at World Relief, the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals, can usually expect a warm greeting from large evangelical groups wielding clout in the halls of Congress. But this year, they're getting a downright chilly reception to one of their priority agenda items: immigration reform. As Congress grapples with legislation regarding an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants, the nation's most powerful conservative Christian organizations have been watching from the sidelines. This occurs despite decades of evangelical initiative to make America a hospitable haven for religious and political refugees." With the exception of a few prominent church leaders, the church has indeed struggled to lift her voice on behalf of our immigrant neighbors. Almost immediately after the news of the border-security Bill HR 4437 passed by the House of Representatives in December 2005 became public; Cardinal Mahoney, of the Roman Catholic Church came out with this statement: "Speaking for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, such restrictions are impossible to comply with. It is staggering for the federal government to stifle our spiritual and pastoral outreach to the poor, and to impose penalties for doing what our faith demands of us." Why is a large portion of the church so unwilling to speak up on this issue that effect millions of immigrants and many of our churches? With the millions of demonstrators hitting the streets to denounce mean spirited approaches to dealing with undocumented immigrants, and the constant media attention being focused on immigration reform, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the church to remain silent. For many Christ followers, there are many questions that are still unanswered regarding immigration reform. A New Website to Serve the Church and Deal with Questions Regarding Immigration In response to these, and other questions, www.ChurchandImmigration.com has been created to provide Christians with resources, articles, links to Christian organizations, denominations, and governmental agencies, which provide the latest information on how the church is responding to the immigration reform issue. Our hope and prayer is that the Church plays a significant role in shaping the future of immigration policy in the USA, through our prophetic witness, moral authority, and humble involvement in the public arena. It is time for the Church to act! It is time for the Church to be informed on the issues surrounding immigration. It is time for the Church to come together and work on behalf of the poor! It is time for the Church to pray! Shalom, Noel Castellanos |