The Friends Committee on National Legislation’s Statement for the Record as it pertains to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee hearing, The Real Victims of a Reckless and Lawless Immigration Policy: Families and Survivors Speak Out on the Real Cost of This Administration’s Policies
The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) is a Quaker lobby in the public interest committed to pursuing policies that build just societies, peaceful communities and right relationship among all peoples. We call on Congress to reform the U.S. immigration system so that it is in line with the Quaker principle to answer to that of God in everyone and ensures we live up to our legacy as a country that thrives because we are a nation of immigrants. Congress has the opportunity to enact practical solutions for comprehensive reform that includes clear and workable processes for legal entry and eventual citizenship. This is a fundamental policy change we need to help American communities truly prosper.
Extreme interior enforcement proposals that require state and local law enforcement officials to implement federal immigration policies will burden communities that are home to immigrants and undermine community safety. Effective policing depends on trust between police officers and the communities they serve. When Congress created the Secure Communities program, it blurred the lines between federal immigration enforcement and local police. Far from making communities more secure, the program actually resulted in fewer reported crimes and made communities with large immigrant populations more vulnerable. Perpetrators of crime, assault, and abuse know that these communities are less likely to report the crime if they legitimately fear it will result in the deportation or detention of an immigrant neighbor, a loved one, or themselves. Many law enforcement officials, including the Major Cities Chiefs Association, have already come out against legislative proposals that would mandate programs that force local police to serve as federal immigration officials. Local police departments should not face penalties for prioritizing community safety over federal immigration enforcement – we ask that Congress not require otherwise.
Furthermore, criminalizing entire immigrant communities based on the senseless actions of a few individuals tears at the moral fabric of our society and will not make our communities safer. Individuals should not be required to check the immigration papers of any neighbor, church member, client, or program participant before offering any neighborly or humanitarian assistance; our call as Quakers to welcome the stranger does not rest on the legal status of any individual. Imposing new mandatory minimum requirements for re-entry, or decreasing legal protections and immigration relief for certain migrant groups will only fuel the brokenness of our system, which is already heavy-handed on indefinite detention and dangerous deportations at great expense to U.S. taxpayers. Enforcing the system as is – without ensuring that the accompanying need for legal aid and visa reforms is met – results in further family hardship through separation. Expediting the removal of asylum seekers to deter further migration will continue to return individuals to deadly situations and will not remedy the root causes of displacement or meet the calls for reform from border communities.
FCNL looks instead for legislation that proceeds from a recognition of the inherent worth of all individuals, as acknowledged in our Quaker faith, as well as in our shared Constitution, laws, and American values. We look forward to partnering on such efforts.
