Transcript IMMIGRATION What is a faith-based organization to do? The Rev. Anna Lange-Soto [email protected] http://madreanna.org/immref/ 650-245-7759 On the Agenda: What faith values should be included in the national debate about reforming U.S.

IMMIGRATION
What is a faith-based organization to do?
The Rev. Anna Lange-Soto
[email protected]
http://madreanna.org/immref/
650-245-7759
On the Agenda:
What faith values
should be included
in the national debate
about reforming
U.S. immigration policy?
A Faith-Based Organization
Buddha
Jesus
UUA
Principles
• If you do not take care of one
another, who else will do so?
Those who would care for me
should care for those who are
sick.
• What you do for these, the
least of my brothers (and
sisters) you do to me.
• The inherent worth and
dignity of every person;
• The goal of world community
with peace, liberty, and justice
for all
Yahweh
Yahweh your Elohim is the Elohim of the Elohim and the
Adonim of the Adonim (master of masters) … (who)
upholds the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and
befriends the stranger, providing him with food and
clothing. You must love the stranger, for you were
strangers in the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 10:17-19, as quoted in The Natural History of the Bible, Daniel Hillel 2006
You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against
any of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as
yourself: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18, NRSV
Why don’t they just
get their papers?
Immigrant Status
 Temporary Visa
 Permanent Resident Visa
 Naturalized Citizen
See – www.uscis.gov (U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services)
Need a Basis for Immigration




Immediate family
Business investment
Work – no authorized worker available
Asylum
 Danger because of who you are
 Danger from crime or illness generally not acceptable
 Temporary authorization:
 Visas: Visits, School
 Seasonal work, when no authorized worker available
Path To Citizenship
Ramirez Family – No Basis
4 US-citizen children; but no way to stay.
Mom and Dad deported to Mexico.
•What are the choices?
•What if they were your kids?
Why did they come? The Rancho
Why did they come?
The “Rancho” in Michoacán
 Environment
 One-room house; out houses; earthen ovens
 Health
 Illnesses for which they have no immunity
 The hospital is 2 house away.
 Education
 No middle school or high school for the boys.
 Work – The rancho can’t sustain them. Hunger.
 NAFTA and the price of corn.
 No available work
Why do they stay?
 Family
 Community
 Education
 Work
 Church
 Once they leave, can’t return for 10 years
 Even if they have a basis for immigration
 Remembering the suffering and expense of entering
the U.S. – They do not want to relive that experience.
Not an easy decision
 No one wants to risk death
 No one wants to be treated like a criminal
Death in the Desert
Arrest and Deportation
What’s the Opportunity?
Obama sets WH immigration reform meeting for June 8
POLITICO (Gerstein Blog):
http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/0509/Obama_sets_WH_immigration_reform_event_for_June_8_.html
President Barack Obama is inviting members of Congress to the White House for a June
8 meething to highlight immigration reform, an administration official confirmed to POLITICO
Wednesday.
launch a policy conversation that we hope will be able to
start a debate that will take place in Congress later in the year," the official, who asked not to be
"The meeting will be an opportunity to
named, said.
Asked if the session would be billed as a summit or a forum, like similar meetings on health care and fiscal responsibility earlier in the year,
another official said, "This isn't a forum or a summit with outside groups, this is solely a meeting with members of Congress on both sides of the
aisle and both sides of the issue."
Another aide said about possible labels for the meeting: "I don't know that we're going to brand this in any particular way."
During a meeting in March with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Obama
promised to host a public event on immigration, as POLITICO reported at the time. The New York Times
reported last month that officials said the session would take place in May, but POLITICO reported yesterday that the timetable
seemed to have slipped. Sources close to the process said it was delayed by various logistical issues, including focus on a
possible Supreme Court pick next week.
Immigration reform advocates have been pressing Obama to vow to pass
immigration reform this year. He has promised make the issue a priority, but has stopped short of setting a goal of getting a
bill through Congress by December.
(Thanks to POLITICO columnist Gebe Martinez for the tip.)
MAKE IT HAPPEN!
 Before there are more deaths
 Before more families get separated
 So that kids who grew up in the US can get to college
instead of languishing in minimum-wage jobs. We
need them, including the valedictorians!
 So that we know that our PIA brothers and sisters who
are here without authorization will still be here the
next time that we have a dinner, or an action, or the
Heroes’ Luncheon.
 Acknowledge the need for countries to “protect its
borders;” AND…
THE “ENFORCEMENT” PIECE OF CRI
1. Undocumented aliens should have reasonable
opportunity to pursue permanent residency.
i.e. Economics and Family Values
2. Legal workers should be allowed to enter the United
States to respond to recognized labor force needs.
i.e., A well-managed flow of temporary workers permits
and encourages workers’ families to remain in place
and workers to return to their home countries.
3. Close family members should be allowed to reunite
without undue delay with individuals lawfully
present in the United States.
Up to 14-year backlog.
Stopped receiving new applications.
Justice
4. Fundamental U.S. principles of legal due process
should be granted all persons.
5. Enforcement of national borders and immigration
policies should be proportional and humane.
The Vang Family –
Deported after 18 years in U.S., two UScitzen children, a restaurant and a house
The letter of the law is not enough.
The Dhammapada:
The Twin Verses
Variations (2nd & 4th verses) by a Buddhist Priest of San Jose
For the Families United meeting with Rep. Luis Gutierrez and Rep. Mike Honda
With our mind, we make the world.
Speak or act with meanness
and unhappiness will follow you
as surely as a cart follows the ox that pulls it.
With our mind, we make borders.
Speak and act as if these borders separate countries and
people,
then the stranger will be seen as an intruder.
With our mind we make the world.
Speak or act with kindness
and happiness will follow you as surely as a shadow
follows the person who casts it.
With our mind, we make borders.
Speak and act as if these borders
only separate countries but not people,
and the stranger will no longer
seem so different from ourselves.
For in this world, hate never yet has dispelled hate.
Only love dispels hate.
This law is ancient and will last forever.
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