Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Second Annual Las Posadas Prayer Service for Immigration Reform
On Wednesday, Dec. 15th, people of many faiths will gather at the Federal Building in downtown Albuquerque at the corner of 4th & Lomas, to give prophetic witness to the need for just immigration reform. Every day, immigrants go to the Federal Building to find out their fate in our broken immigration system. As people of faith, we believe that our immigration system is unjust and breaks apart families. Across the United States, people of faith will hold Las Posadas prayer services to call for immigration reform.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Educational Series on Immigration and Faith
Two Albuquerque churches, Immaculate Conception and St. Michael All Angels Episcopal, are hosting series this fall on faith and immigration issues.
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church will host an 8 week "Just Faith" series on immigration.
St. Michael All Angels Episcopal Church will host a four part series on Sunday evenings about immigration and Christ.
Please check with both these churches for more information.
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church will host an 8 week "Just Faith" series on immigration.
St. Michael All Angels Episcopal Church will host a four part series on Sunday evenings about immigration and Christ.
Please check with both these churches for more information.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
July 29th: Vigils Against Arizona's Law SB1070
Albuquerque faith groups, along with hundreds across the United States, will hold a Vigil for Immigration Reform on July 29th from 7-8pm at First Congregational UCC (corner of Girard & Lomas).
July 29,2010 is the date that Arizona's law will go into effect which has local law enforcement checking immigration status. The law has been condemned by faith groups around the world. The law has also been challenged by the US Dept of Justice, ACLU, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Tucson police officer Martin Escobar, and the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders.
July 29,2010 is the date that Arizona's law will go into effect which has local law enforcement checking immigration status. The law has been condemned by faith groups around the world. The law has also been challenged by the US Dept of Justice, ACLU, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Tucson police officer Martin Escobar, and the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
NM Faith Coalition At City Hall...Again
On Monday, June 7th, a vigil to call attention to the impact of city policies and ICE on immigrant domestic violence survivors brought more than 100 people together. The vigil was held outside of City Hall before the weekly City Council meeting. The vigil ended with the English and Spanish singing of "We Shall Overcome" and a silent march into the City Council chambers.
Rev. Daniel Erdman, a local UCC pastor, read a statement to the City Council on behalf of the NM Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice and the NM Conference of Churches. We stood up as he read this statement:
Statement – City Council – June 7, 2010
My name is Daniel Erdman, and I represent the New Mexico Conference of Churches, which is a member of the New Mexico Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice.
A number of organizations and coalitions are present today, and I ask their members to please stand and remain standing at this time.
We come with one message: the Albuquerque community cannot be divided over the issues relating to immigration, and immigrants must not be blamed for the difficulties we face as a city and as a society.
We are ONE Albuquerque!
New Mexico has a proud tradition of diversity and cultural enrichment. Although economically poor, we have become an example of how people of different races, ethnicities, cultures and faiths can not only coexist with each other but also appreciate and celebrate our differences. We cannot allow influential people to devalue this tradition for short-term political advantage.
Not a sign of simple tolerance or indifference, our traditions of diversity rather express the best of our values, whether religious or humanist, values on which this nation was founded and without which it will perish: “that all are created equal, with certain inalienable rights, that among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Therefore:
• We denounce any political tactics that would scapegoat the most recent arrivals in our midst.
• We resist any public pronouncements that forget our own histories and experiences of immigration.
• We abhor any veiled or explicit defamation that would equate immigrants with criminality.
• We protest the criminalization of those who have only violated a civil code in seeking a better life for their families.
• We renounce the terminology that would describe any human person as being “illegal”.
I ask all those who are standing to remain in silence for a moment, to reflect on these our common values and to silently express our hope that we as the community called Albuquerque, and the State of New Mexico, can together put into practice our civility, our unity and our humanity.
Rev. Daniel Erdman, a local UCC pastor, read a statement to the City Council on behalf of the NM Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice and the NM Conference of Churches. We stood up as he read this statement:
Statement – City Council – June 7, 2010
My name is Daniel Erdman, and I represent the New Mexico Conference of Churches, which is a member of the New Mexico Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice.
A number of organizations and coalitions are present today, and I ask their members to please stand and remain standing at this time.
We come with one message: the Albuquerque community cannot be divided over the issues relating to immigration, and immigrants must not be blamed for the difficulties we face as a city and as a society.
We are ONE Albuquerque!
New Mexico has a proud tradition of diversity and cultural enrichment. Although economically poor, we have become an example of how people of different races, ethnicities, cultures and faiths can not only coexist with each other but also appreciate and celebrate our differences. We cannot allow influential people to devalue this tradition for short-term political advantage.
Not a sign of simple tolerance or indifference, our traditions of diversity rather express the best of our values, whether religious or humanist, values on which this nation was founded and without which it will perish: “that all are created equal, with certain inalienable rights, that among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Therefore:
• We denounce any political tactics that would scapegoat the most recent arrivals in our midst.
• We resist any public pronouncements that forget our own histories and experiences of immigration.
• We abhor any veiled or explicit defamation that would equate immigrants with criminality.
• We protest the criminalization of those who have only violated a civil code in seeking a better life for their families.
• We renounce the terminology that would describe any human person as being “illegal”.
I ask all those who are standing to remain in silence for a moment, to reflect on these our common values and to silently express our hope that we as the community called Albuquerque, and the State of New Mexico, can together put into practice our civility, our unity and our humanity.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
NM Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice at City Hall
On Monday, May 17th, members of the NM Faith Coalition joined a packed City Hall to show support for the Garduno/Sanchez measures on the agenda which challenged Mayor Berry's new procedure for local law enforcement and Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) as well as calling for a boycott of city funds in Arizona, like so many other cities have done.
Members of the coalition also spoke to City Council during the 5 hour meeting, including Rev Anita Amstutz of Albuquerque Mennonite Church, Melissa Jameson of St. Michael All Angels Episcopal Church, Renee Wolters of First Unitarian Church, and immigrant Lily Otto.
The NM Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice also distributed bright orange stickers that said "Keep Abq Immigrant Friendly" and more than half the room wore the stickers to identify that they were in favor of the Garduno/Sanchez measures.
Unfortunately, the measures failed by one vote. Please thank Councilmembers Rey Garduno, Ken Sanchez, Debbie O'Malley, and Isaac Benton for supporting compassionate immigrant policies.
Members of the coalition also spoke to City Council during the 5 hour meeting, including Rev Anita Amstutz of Albuquerque Mennonite Church, Melissa Jameson of St. Michael All Angels Episcopal Church, Renee Wolters of First Unitarian Church, and immigrant Lily Otto.
The NM Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice also distributed bright orange stickers that said "Keep Abq Immigrant Friendly" and more than half the room wore the stickers to identify that they were in favor of the Garduno/Sanchez measures.
Unfortunately, the measures failed by one vote. Please thank Councilmembers Rey Garduno, Ken Sanchez, Debbie O'Malley, and Isaac Benton for supporting compassionate immigrant policies.
NM Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice Opposes Arizona SB 1070
The New Mexico Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice opposes the new law in our neighboring state, Arizona, which further criminalizes immigrants. We have signed on to this statement by the national new sanctuary movement:
"The National New Sanctuary Movement today renews its commitment to take a moral and united public stand in support of compassionate immigration reform. As guardians of society's values, faith leaders have the capacity and moral duty to support families suffering under unjust immigration laws. Millions of Americans who are members of our religious communities seek answers from us, not only about our nation's laws, but also, more importantly, God's laws.
It is for this reason that members of the New Sanctuary Movement, representing clergy and lay leaders from many faiths and denominations from across the country, condemn Arizona's SB 1070. We call for its immediate repeal, and we will resist these efforts that attempt to divide our communities. Resistance to this law is in solidarity with all God's children, and the New Sanctuary Movement will be in public witness to reveal the suffering of families under SB 1070.
We echo the sentiments of Juan Carlos Ruiz, Catholic leader and co-founder of the New Sanctuary Movement, who has promised resistance: "Anything that belittles or debases the human person is an offense and an insult against our God and must be resisted with all the resources of our faith traditions that call us to build a world of compassion, justice and peace."
Called by the demands of our faith, we insist that our elected leaders pass an immigration reform bill that is humane and just, a bill that ensures family unity and mitigates harsh enforcement provisions, which has worker protections and a rational path to documented status. We are unanimous in our belief that all people, documented and undocumented, must be treated humanely and justly."
"The National New Sanctuary Movement today renews its commitment to take a moral and united public stand in support of compassionate immigration reform. As guardians of society's values, faith leaders have the capacity and moral duty to support families suffering under unjust immigration laws. Millions of Americans who are members of our religious communities seek answers from us, not only about our nation's laws, but also, more importantly, God's laws.
It is for this reason that members of the New Sanctuary Movement, representing clergy and lay leaders from many faiths and denominations from across the country, condemn Arizona's SB 1070. We call for its immediate repeal, and we will resist these efforts that attempt to divide our communities. Resistance to this law is in solidarity with all God's children, and the New Sanctuary Movement will be in public witness to reveal the suffering of families under SB 1070.
We echo the sentiments of Juan Carlos Ruiz, Catholic leader and co-founder of the New Sanctuary Movement, who has promised resistance: "Anything that belittles or debases the human person is an offense and an insult against our God and must be resisted with all the resources of our faith traditions that call us to build a world of compassion, justice and peace."
Called by the demands of our faith, we insist that our elected leaders pass an immigration reform bill that is humane and just, a bill that ensures family unity and mitigates harsh enforcement provisions, which has worker protections and a rational path to documented status. We are unanimous in our belief that all people, documented and undocumented, must be treated humanely and justly."
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
May 1st: Day of the Immigrant
The NM Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice is proud to sponsor the May 1st Concert, Vigil and Fiesta for Immigrants in Albuquerque. From 6-8pm we will gather at the new Plaza Encuentro (714 4th St SW between Coal & Bridge) to celebrate immigrants in Albuquerque and support humane immigration reform in our country. We will be participating in an interfaith vigil at 6:30pm. Please join us!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Honoring a Man of Faith: !Cesar Chavez Presente!
The New Mexico Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice will celebrate the life and work of Cesar Chavez by marching on Saturday, March 27th at 11am from the Westside Community Center to the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
Cesar's deep faith sustained his struggle to get recognition for the people who feed us.
"From the depth of need and despair, people can work together, can organize themselves to solve their own problems and fill their own needs with dignity and strength."
Cesar wrote the book "My Faith In Action", sharing the power of faith put towards social justice.
Please join us Saturday either at the march or the National Hispanic Cultural Center!
More info at: cesarchaveznm.org
Cesar's deep faith sustained his struggle to get recognition for the people who feed us.
"From the depth of need and despair, people can work together, can organize themselves to solve their own problems and fill their own needs with dignity and strength."
Cesar wrote the book "My Faith In Action", sharing the power of faith put towards social justice.
Please join us Saturday either at the march or the National Hispanic Cultural Center!
More info at: cesarchaveznm.org
Monday, February 8, 2010
Opportunities to Learn More about Immigration & Faith
We in the New Mexico Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice care about educating ourselves and our community. We host a monthly training on different topics as part of our meetings:
Understanding Immigration Policies: Rachel LaZar of El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos (Nov 2009)
Introduction to Immigration Law: Rebecca Kitson, immigration attorney, 1st UU (Feb 21, 2010)
The Migration of Central Americans: Fr. Rafael Garcia, Immaculate Conception (March 7, 2010)
Understanding Asylum: Dr. Tom Davies (April TBA)
Please join us in understanding the issues around immigration to the United States and discuss how people of faith can show hospitality and compassion.
Understanding Immigration Policies: Rachel LaZar of El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos (Nov 2009)
Introduction to Immigration Law: Rebecca Kitson, immigration attorney, 1st UU (Feb 21, 2010)
The Migration of Central Americans: Fr. Rafael Garcia, Immaculate Conception (March 7, 2010)
Understanding Asylum: Dr. Tom Davies (April TBA)
Please join us in understanding the issues around immigration to the United States and discuss how people of faith can show hospitality and compassion.
Monday, January 25, 2010
NM Faith Coalition Meets with Mayor's Office about Immigration Policy
Fifty five local religious leaders signed a letter from the NM Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice to Mayor Berry expressing concern about immigration policy in Albuquerque. Every member of City Council was cc'd on the letter.
After receiving the letter, the mayor's office offered to meet with the coalition. Five representatives of the New Mexico Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice, including a Catholic priest & new immigrant, an Episcopalian & ESL teacher, a Unitarian & immigration attorney, a Christian leader and former APD/Community Relations board member, and a recent immigrant, met with a representative of Mayor Berry's office for more than an hour to discuss policy.
The mayor's office was presented with faith statements on immigration from the mainstream Christian, Jewish and Muslim perspectives. He was also provided with a study conducted by the National Police Foundation in May 2009 that found that when local law enforcement tries to enforce federal immigration law, the result is a decrease in public safety, a diversion of scarce resources, and an undermining of police-community relations. Read the study here:
http://www.policefoundation.org/strikingabalance/strikingabalance.html
We urged Mayor Berry's office to change current APD policy regarding certification of crime victims applying for a U-visa (specific visa granted to crime victims and witnesses who assist with prosecution)—currently APD has a blanket policy NOT to certify these victims, requiring that U-visa petitioners go to NM state police for certification, which is difficult and time-consuming. We also expressed that we do not support a change in APD policy which would mean enforcing federal immigration laws (the work of ICE not local law enforcement).
We were pleased that the mayor's assistant took extensive notes and dialogued with us for almost 1.5 hours. We look forward to ways in which we can help create better public safety policies in Albuquerque which reduce racial profiling and criminalization of migrants.
After receiving the letter, the mayor's office offered to meet with the coalition. Five representatives of the New Mexico Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice, including a Catholic priest & new immigrant, an Episcopalian & ESL teacher, a Unitarian & immigration attorney, a Christian leader and former APD/Community Relations board member, and a recent immigrant, met with a representative of Mayor Berry's office for more than an hour to discuss policy.
The mayor's office was presented with faith statements on immigration from the mainstream Christian, Jewish and Muslim perspectives. He was also provided with a study conducted by the National Police Foundation in May 2009 that found that when local law enforcement tries to enforce federal immigration law, the result is a decrease in public safety, a diversion of scarce resources, and an undermining of police-community relations. Read the study here:
http://www.policefoundation.org/strikingabalance/strikingabalance.html
We urged Mayor Berry's office to change current APD policy regarding certification of crime victims applying for a U-visa (specific visa granted to crime victims and witnesses who assist with prosecution)—currently APD has a blanket policy NOT to certify these victims, requiring that U-visa petitioners go to NM state police for certification, which is difficult and time-consuming. We also expressed that we do not support a change in APD policy which would mean enforcing federal immigration laws (the work of ICE not local law enforcement).
We were pleased that the mayor's assistant took extensive notes and dialogued with us for almost 1.5 hours. We look forward to ways in which we can help create better public safety policies in Albuquerque which reduce racial profiling and criminalization of migrants.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Immigration Statements from the Religious Community
American Baptist Churches
"Because of the Biblical mandate that we be a caring and hospitable community, that we love our neighbors, that we establish justice and proclaim liberty; because we have a sense of Christian responsibility to serve human needs; because of our commitment to respect the human rights of all people; and because we are mainly a nation of immigrants, we, the American Baptist Churches USA, shall.."
http://www.abc-usa.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=sb4Hh%2BQXhqw%3D&tabid=199
American Friends (Quakers)
"The work of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in immigrant communities is based on our belief in the worth and inherent dignity of every person.."
http://www.afsc.org/ImmigrantsRights/
Church of the Brethren
"out of obedience to our heritage and the Gospel mandate, the Church of the Brethren affirms legislation and public policies which welcome and promote the welfare of immigrants and refugees..."
www.cobannualconference.org/ac_statements/82Refugees.htm
Church of the Nazarene
"“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 and show mercy to neighbors in need (Leviticus 19:18,Mark 12:31, Luke 10:25-37).We believe in the rule of law, 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, Romans 13:1-7)."
www.missionstrategy.org/missionstrategy/Portals/0/pdf/mmpdf/CCIRStatement.pdf
Community of Christ
"Any public policy, including legislation, that dehumanizes or denies basic human rights to any group or person, that forbids Christians from extending hospitality to resident immigrants, or that prevents churches from serving immigrants through their ministries should be challenged. Such policies deny the worth of people by excluding them from communities where they may be welcomed, find spiritual homes, and receive peace, reconciliation, and healing of the spirit...."
www.cofchrist.org/immigration/immigration/asp
Episcopal Church USA
"The Episcopal Church, through the resolutions passed at General Convention and Executive
Council, is committed to working to reform an immigration system that separates families,
spreads fear and keeps millions living in the shadows."
www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/Immigration_Brochure.pdf
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
"The newcomers in our church from around the world remind us that all of us in the Church of Jesus Christ are sojourners, "for here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come" (Hebrews 13: 14). As we journey together through the time God has given us, may God give us the grace of a welcoming heart and an overflowing love for the new neighbors among us."
www.elca.org/socialstatements
General Assembly of the Union of Reform Judaism
"Jewish tradition is clear on the treatment of immigrants. The Torah articulates a basic principle to which the Jewish people clung through two millennia of diaspora and disenfranchisement: “When strangers sojourn with you in your land, you shall not do them wrong. The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 19:33-34). This principle of equal rights for citizens and non-citizens alike permeates not only Jewish tradition, but the American legal tradition as well. As inheritors of an immigrant history ourselves, we have a unique responsibility to ensure that the rights of non-citizens are not trampled upon today."
urj.org/socialaction/aboutus/reso//?syspage=document&item_id=10820
Islamic Society of North America
"Injustice towards immigrants: Three years ago, thousands of Arab and Muslim men were called to report to local immigration offices across the United States to be registered, fingerprinted, photographed and interrogated."
http://www.isna.net/articles/News/Injustice-toward-immigrants.aspx
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
"Comprehensive reform of the United States immigration system is long overdue. The current morass of illegality, human suffering and violence must be ended.
In 2004, the JCPA adopted a resolution in favor of comprehensive immigration reform...
The following resolution on immigration reform is founded upon American values of democracy, tolerance, entrepreneurial spirit and equality under the law and core Jewish values of human rights, human dignity and fairness.
http://engage.jewishpublicaffairs.org/t/1686/blog/comments.jsp?blog_entry_KEY=427&t=
Mennonite Church USA
"We reject our country’s mistreatment of immigrants, repent of our silence, and commit ourselves to act with and on behalf of our immigrant brothers and sisters, regardless of their legal status."
http://www.mennoniteusa.org/Home/Members/ChurchwidePriorities/StatementonImmigration/tabid/111/Default.aspx
Muslim American Society
"The MAS Freedom Ten Point Legislative Agenda supports comprehensive immigration reform, with safeguards for undocumented workers in the United States and a fair and equitable process for gaining legal immigration status for these workers"
http://www.masnet.org/news.asp?id=4133
National Association for Evangelicals
"Discussion of immigration and government immigration policy must begin with the truth that every human being is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-28). Immigrants are made in the image of God and have supreme value with the potential to contribute greatly to society. Jesus exemplifies respect toward others who are different in his treatment of the Samaritans (Luke 10:30-37; John 4:1-42)."
http://www.nae.net/resolutions/347-immigration-2009
Unitarian Universalist Association
"Our Unitarian Universalist faith calls us to recognize that no one is "the stranger," to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and to support the use of justice for all people."
http://www.uua.org/socialjustice/issues/economicracial/immigration/index.shtml
United Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ
"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."
http://www.ucc.org/justice/immigration/
United Methodist Church
"..We therefore call The United Methodist Church; to call local churches to seek ways to welcome, assist, and empower the refugee, immigrant, visitors, and undocumented person in their neighborhood, and to denounce the persecution of the sojourner in the U.S. as prejudicial and racist; [and] to request the General Board of Church and Society to work for public policy that is hospitable to visitors in the United States in every step of entry and visit to the U.S."
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=3631781&ct=3957095
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
"The so-called “illegals” are so not because they wish to defy the law; but, because the law does not provide them with any channels to regularize their status in our country – which needs their labor: they are not breaking the law, the law is breaking them."
http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/
"Because of the Biblical mandate that we be a caring and hospitable community, that we love our neighbors, that we establish justice and proclaim liberty; because we have a sense of Christian responsibility to serve human needs; because of our commitment to respect the human rights of all people; and because we are mainly a nation of immigrants, we, the American Baptist Churches USA, shall.."
http://www.abc-usa.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=sb4Hh%2BQXhqw%3D&tabid=199
American Friends (Quakers)
"The work of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in immigrant communities is based on our belief in the worth and inherent dignity of every person.."
http://www.afsc.org/ImmigrantsRights/
Church of the Brethren
"out of obedience to our heritage and the Gospel mandate, the Church of the Brethren affirms legislation and public policies which welcome and promote the welfare of immigrants and refugees..."
www.cobannualconference.org/ac_statements/82Refugees.htm
Church of the Nazarene
"“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 and show mercy to neighbors in need (Leviticus 19:18,Mark 12:31, Luke 10:25-37).We believe in the rule of law, 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, Romans 13:1-7)."
www.missionstrategy.org/missionstrategy/Portals/0/pdf/mmpdf/CCIRStatement.pdf
Community of Christ
"Any public policy, including legislation, that dehumanizes or denies basic human rights to any group or person, that forbids Christians from extending hospitality to resident immigrants, or that prevents churches from serving immigrants through their ministries should be challenged. Such policies deny the worth of people by excluding them from communities where they may be welcomed, find spiritual homes, and receive peace, reconciliation, and healing of the spirit...."
www.cofchrist.org/immigration/immigration/asp
Episcopal Church USA
"The Episcopal Church, through the resolutions passed at General Convention and Executive
Council, is committed to working to reform an immigration system that separates families,
spreads fear and keeps millions living in the shadows."
www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/Immigration_Brochure.pdf
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
"The newcomers in our church from around the world remind us that all of us in the Church of Jesus Christ are sojourners, "for here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come" (Hebrews 13: 14). As we journey together through the time God has given us, may God give us the grace of a welcoming heart and an overflowing love for the new neighbors among us."
www.elca.org/socialstatements
General Assembly of the Union of Reform Judaism
"Jewish tradition is clear on the treatment of immigrants. The Torah articulates a basic principle to which the Jewish people clung through two millennia of diaspora and disenfranchisement: “When strangers sojourn with you in your land, you shall not do them wrong. The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 19:33-34). This principle of equal rights for citizens and non-citizens alike permeates not only Jewish tradition, but the American legal tradition as well. As inheritors of an immigrant history ourselves, we have a unique responsibility to ensure that the rights of non-citizens are not trampled upon today."
urj.org/socialaction/aboutus/reso//?syspage=document&item_id=10820
Islamic Society of North America
"Injustice towards immigrants: Three years ago, thousands of Arab and Muslim men were called to report to local immigration offices across the United States to be registered, fingerprinted, photographed and interrogated."
http://www.isna.net/articles/News/Injustice-toward-immigrants.aspx
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
"Comprehensive reform of the United States immigration system is long overdue. The current morass of illegality, human suffering and violence must be ended.
In 2004, the JCPA adopted a resolution in favor of comprehensive immigration reform...
The following resolution on immigration reform is founded upon American values of democracy, tolerance, entrepreneurial spirit and equality under the law and core Jewish values of human rights, human dignity and fairness.
http://engage.jewishpublicaffairs.org/t/1686/blog/comments.jsp?blog_entry_KEY=427&t=
Mennonite Church USA
"We reject our country’s mistreatment of immigrants, repent of our silence, and commit ourselves to act with and on behalf of our immigrant brothers and sisters, regardless of their legal status."
http://www.mennoniteusa.org/Home/Members/ChurchwidePriorities/StatementonImmigration/tabid/111/Default.aspx
Muslim American Society
"The MAS Freedom Ten Point Legislative Agenda supports comprehensive immigration reform, with safeguards for undocumented workers in the United States and a fair and equitable process for gaining legal immigration status for these workers"
http://www.masnet.org/news.asp?id=4133
National Association for Evangelicals
"Discussion of immigration and government immigration policy must begin with the truth that every human being is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-28). Immigrants are made in the image of God and have supreme value with the potential to contribute greatly to society. Jesus exemplifies respect toward others who are different in his treatment of the Samaritans (Luke 10:30-37; John 4:1-42)."
http://www.nae.net/resolutions/347-immigration-2009
Unitarian Universalist Association
"Our Unitarian Universalist faith calls us to recognize that no one is "the stranger," to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and to support the use of justice for all people."
http://www.uua.org/socialjustice/issues/economicracial/immigration/index.shtml
United Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ
"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."
http://www.ucc.org/justice/immigration/
United Methodist Church
"..We therefore call The United Methodist Church; to call local churches to seek ways to welcome, assist, and empower the refugee, immigrant, visitors, and undocumented person in their neighborhood, and to denounce the persecution of the sojourner in the U.S. as prejudicial and racist; [and] to request the General Board of Church and Society to work for public policy that is hospitable to visitors in the United States in every step of entry and visit to the U.S."
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=3631781&ct=3957095
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
"The so-called “illegals” are so not because they wish to defy the law; but, because the law does not provide them with any channels to regularize their status in our country – which needs their labor: they are not breaking the law, the law is breaking them."
http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Vision and Mission of the Coalition
We are a faith coalition in New Mexico responding to our country's broken immigration system because our religious traditions teach us to practice hospitality and promote social justice. We are affiliated with the national New Sanctuary Movement and faith groups all around the country. We seek to educate our communities, provide compassionate services, and advocate for humane immigration policy.
Clergy and laypeople from seventeen congregations across the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area have been meeting since May 2009. We meet every other Sunday afternoon, and congregations take turns hosting meetings. Please refer to our calendar to find out about upcoming meetings and events.
Most of us are immigrants to the United States in one manner or another. We remember that our relatives left their ancestral homes and immigrated here, hoping for a better life. New Mexico welcomed them and enabled them to establish roots, creating the rich and multicultural region that we love. We are proud of the diversity of our city, where 73 languages and dialects are reflected in the student body of our public schools.
We seek to educate our community about immigration, provide compassionate services, and advocate for humane policies that promote family unity and respect the inherent dignity of every person.
Clergy and laypeople from seventeen congregations across the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area have been meeting since May 2009. We meet every other Sunday afternoon, and congregations take turns hosting meetings. Please refer to our calendar to find out about upcoming meetings and events.
Most of us are immigrants to the United States in one manner or another. We remember that our relatives left their ancestral homes and immigrated here, hoping for a better life. New Mexico welcomed them and enabled them to establish roots, creating the rich and multicultural region that we love. We are proud of the diversity of our city, where 73 languages and dialects are reflected in the student body of our public schools.
We seek to educate our community about immigration, provide compassionate services, and advocate for humane policies that promote family unity and respect the inherent dignity of every person.
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