To bring U.S. immigration policy in line with our values of welcome and assistance to those in need, FCNL joined a letter urging members of Congress to fully fund refugee protection and oppose funding for the creation of a mass deportation force.
Faith leaders and faith-based organizations wrote this letter to members of Congress in response to budget proposals created by the Trump administration and the House Appropriations Committee that would substantially cut funding for both overseas refugee assistance and refugee resettlement in the United States. Both proposals call for the elimination of approximately 39% of funding for programs to help refugees find jobs and integrate into U.S. schools.
If implemented, these proposals would also reinforce cruel, enforcement-based aspects of our immigration system: the budget proposal in the House, for instance, would increase funding for Customs and Border Protection by $1.6 billion in order to cover the cost of additional Border Patrol agents and construction on a U.S.-Mexico border wall.
“The faith community stands united in its opposition to these inhumane budget proposals,” said FCNL Lobbyist for Human Rights and Civil Liberties Yasmine Taeb. “Not only are they bad policy, serving only to fuel corruption within the Department of Homeland Security and squander American tax dollars, but they also betray core American values by causing immediate harm to families both within and outside the United States.”
July 18, 2017
Dear Members of Congress:
As more than 200 faith leaders and faith-based organizations from many different traditions, we write out of grave concern for the House Appropriations Committee’s fiscal year 2018 budget proposals for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Together, we call on elected officials to support funding for refugee protection and resettlement, and to oppose funding for the administration’s mass deportation force, for expanded immigration detention, and for border militarization. Instead of continuing unnecessary detention and dangerous deportation policies, we must carry on our nation’s proud history of hospitality and moral leadership.
As people of faith, our concern stems from shared values rooted in our sacred texts that remind us to love our neighbor and welcome the sojourner among us. As Leviticus 19:33-34 reminds us: “Any immigrant who lives with you must be treated as if they were one of your citizens. You must love them as yourself, because you were immigrants in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.” The sacred responsibility of our government is the well-being of the human person, and we recognize the dignity and humanity of all of our immigrant community members.
The United States has a proud legacy of welcoming refugees and immigrants, and we recognize the valuable contributions they bring to our communities and economy. Yet, the administration and the proposed House budgets would significantly cut funds for refugee assistance overseas and resettlement in the United States, including an almost 39% cut to programs that support local schools and successfully help refugees find employment. At the same time, the budgets target immigrants for enforcement to sweep families, people who have lived in the United States for years, into detention and place them at immediate risk of deportation. The House budget proposes an increase of $1.6 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for additional new Border Patrol agents and to meet the administration’s request to initiate construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. Adding billions of dollars for CBP agents does not represent a faithful way forward.
The dramatic militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border region has already stifled the economic vitality and overall well-being of U.S. border communities. The construction of a new physical barrier or border walls serves only to harm American communities, businesses, and landowners. Border wall construction would also be exorbitant, with an estimated initial cost of $21 billion in total. The United States already protects our national security interests and upholds the integrity of our boundaries, spending more than $18 billion on immigration enforcement, more than all other federal law enforcement agencies combined. New funding to expand the border wall and further militarize immigration enforcement are counterproductive, wasteful, and morally reprehensible.
The House budget would also separate families and create terror across our communities. The proposed funding would provide an additional $619.7 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hire 1,000 new ICE officers, significantly expand the detention and mass deportation of our immigrant neighbors, and expand the harmful 287(g) program to pressure local police to serve as federal immigration enforcement. America is safer when we pursue policies that strengthen trust and cooperation between local law enforcement and all residents, including immigrants. Many cities already recognize the deep correlation between local police opting out of enforcing ICE detainer requests and an increase in public safety, all because of the improved trust in its police force. Without the trust and cooperation of all community members, local police face challenges in investigating crimes, apprehending those truly guilty of committing crimes, and deterring potential criminal activity. In contrast, 287(g) agreements only exacerbate these challenges, as suspicion and fear of interacting with police undermines community policing efforts, makes community members reluctant to report a crime they witness or are victim to, and thus reduces public safety.
DHS has already proven that it cannot responsibly carry out its functions by targeting all undocumented immigrants, including a Methodist lay leader in Kansas, a mother in Arizona, and a beneficiary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. ICE and CBP agents have also operated with impunity for years, and it is imperative they do not receive additional funding to squander ineffectively and without transparency, accountability, or humanity. We cannot live out our sacred honor to care for the most vulnerable while hundreds of individuals are being detained and processed for deportation. Beyond the long-term damage caused by these immigration policies, funding for endless enforcement comes at the expense of vital community programs like education, housing, and nutritional assistance programs that promote public safety and alleviate poverty.
Our faith has taught and called us to welcome without discrimination and love our neighbors - including our refugee and immigrant neighbors. We stand together with our refugee and our immigrant brothers and sisters, and urge you to oppose any budget that cuts refugee resettlement funds, or funds mass detention, deportation of our immigrant neighbors, and border militarization. As communities of faith, we call on you to find compassion in your discernment process and think about the moral imperative to love our neighbor, welcome the sojourner, and care for the most vulnerable among us.
Sincerely,
Faith-based Organizations
All Saints Church Alliance of Baptists
American Baptist Home Mission Societies
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
American Muslim Professionals of Dallas
Asbury Theological Seminary
Ascentria Care Alliance
Asian American Pacic Islander Christians for Social Justice
Bethany House of Hospitality
Billings Sanctuary Rising
Bread for the World
Christ Ministry Center
Christian Community Development Association (CCDA)
Christians for United Communities
Church Women United
Church World Service
CLUE: Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice
Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach
Conference of Major Superiors of Men
Congregational Church of Brookfield
CSSF
Dane Sanctuary Coalition (Madison, Wisconsin)
Dominican Sisters of Houston
Faith Voices for Justice
Felician Sisters of North America
Interfaith Network for Immigration Reform
Foster Care Project, All Saints Church
Franciscan Action Network
Franklin Federated Church
Friends Committee on National Legislation
FUS General Board of Global Ministries
HIAS
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters - USA, JPIC
Ignatian Solidarity Network
Institute Justice Team, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Justice
Interfaith Welcome Coalition Interfaith Worker Justice - New Mexico
Interfaith Worker Justice San Diego
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Family & Children’s Service
Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester
Jews United for Justice
Justice for Our Neighbors Southeastern Michigan
Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Commission of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, U.S. Province
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Mass Interfaith Worker Justice
Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Washington Office
Middleton Community United Church of Christ
Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ
Mission Services, Our Lady of Hope Province of Felician Sisters of North America
Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Council of Jewish Women
National Justice for Our Neighbors
Needlework for Noglaes Children
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
North Carolina Council of Churches
Office of Public Witness, Presbyterian Church (USA)
Office of Social Justice, Christian Reformed Church in North America
Oregon Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice
Pax Christi International
Pax Christi USA School Sisters of Notre Dame - CPP Shalom/JPIC
School Sisters of St. Francis
Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants, Inc.
Sisters IHM
Sisters of the Holy Family
Sojourners
South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice
St. Thomas University Center for Community Engagement
The Hat Project
The United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society
Toberman Neighborhood Center
Uja-Federation of New York
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Voz Hispana Cambio Comunitario
Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice
Women of Reform Judaism National Board
Faith Leaders
Sister Sharon Altendorf, PBVM
Pastor Dawn Anderson, Highland Park United Methodist Church
Rev. Donna Aros, Frankfort St. Paul UMC
Rev. Dr. Neddy Astudillo, Parroquia San José
Mary Faith Balawejder, Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation Local Leader in W PA , Felician Sisters of N America
Wayne Bank, Vice Chair Leadership Team, Detroit Conference, United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Karen S. Boehk - The United Methodist Church Karen Boehk, Rio Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church
Rev. Sherry Brady, First United Methodist Church
Rev Adam Briddell, First United Methodist Church of Eugene Oregon
Rev. Cynthia Bumb, United Church of Christ
Rev Laura Byrch, Boone UMC
Sister Cathy Campbell, Sp, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Faith Formation Team, Indianapolis
Reverend Edward Carpenter, St. Joseph Catholic Church
Mary Casper, Coordinator of PaxChristiDenver
Senior Pastor Reverend Dr. Neil Cazares-Thomas, Cathedral of Hope UCC
Elder Kristen Chesmore, Bellevue Presbyterian Church
Rev. Catharine Cline, Retired - United Church of Christ
The Venerable Catherine Cooke, Cathedral Church of St. Paul Episcopal
Sister Patricia Corbett, Congregation of St. Joseph
The Rev. Frank Corbishley, Chapel of the Venerable Bede (Episcopal Church)
Director Lawrence Couch, National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
Minister Kenneth Davidson, Newton Church of the Brethren, Newton, KS
Margaret Dillner, Social Concerns Chairperson of Congregation, New Ark United Church of Christ
Arlene Dominguez, Director of Shadow Rock Sanctuary Ministry, Shadow Rock UCC
The Very Reverend Todd Donatelli, The Cathedral of All Souls
Laura Dravenstott, St. Andrew United Methodist Church
United Methodist Young Adult Missionary Isaac Dunn
Vonny Eckman, Member Board of Directors, Penn Central Conference, United church of Christ, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Rev. David Farley, Director of Justice & Compassion Ministries, Cal-Pac Conference of the United Methodist Church
Rabbi Michael Feinberg
Moderator Alice Foltz, Wellspring UCC
Pastor Emeritus Jerrold Foltz, Wellspring United Church of Christ
Liberty Ford, Vestry Member, Episcopal Church of Transfiguration
Reverend Leandro Fossa, Missionaries of St. Charles
Missionary Erin Frey
Rev. Carl Gladstone, Metropolitan United Methodist Church
Sister Rosemarie Goins, Director of St. Augustine Spirituality Ctr, Laredo, TX, Felician Franciscan Sisters of North America
The Reverend Justo Gonzalez II, Pilgrim-St. Luke’s & El Nuevo Camino UCC
Rabbi Maralee Gordon, McHenry County Jewish Congregation
Rev. Mark Granfors-Hunt, Wellspring United Church of Christ
MaryAnn Gregory, Lay leader, St. Paul’s UCC Westminster
Reverend Tom Hagood, Columbia Presbyterian Church
Diane Haines, Chair of Immigration Team, Mayflower UCC
Rev. Caroline Hamilton-Arnold, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Sister Marietta Hanus
Rabbi Maurice Harris, Jewish Reconstructionist Communities
Rev. Stacey Harwell-Dye, United Methodist
David Henkel, Clerk, Ministry & Counsel Committee, Santa Fé Monthly Meeting of Friends (Quakers)
Rev. Malcolm Himschoot, United Church of Christ
Dr. Mark Holland, Sanctuary Discernment Committee Member, Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit
Pastoral Counselor/Quaker Patricia Hollinger,
Quaker Rev. Joyce Hollyday, Circle of Mercy Church
Rev. Ty Hullinger, St. Anthony of Padua Church
Spiritual Director Carol Ingells
George Jonte-Crane, Conference Peace with Justice Leader, Ann Arbor First UMC
George Kanuck, Social Justice Committee, Unitarian Universaist Congregation of the Lowcountry
Sister M Jean Keeley, Dominican Sisters of Adrian, MI
Joseph Keesecker, Moderator, Hispanic Ministries Coordinating Committe of the Synod of the Southwest, PCUSA, Guadalupe Presbyterian Church
Senior Pastor Dayna Kinkade, First Christian Church of Orange
Elder Debbie Konkol, Christ Presbyterian Church
Deacon Roberta Kuhn, First Congregational
Diane Lauber Doherty, Lay leader, Church of the Covenant, Boston
Pastor Mary Lee-Clark, Second Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
Rev. Dn. Diane Livingston, Episcopal Church
Pastoral Support Joseph Lloyd, Cherry Creek Presbyterian
Reverend John Long, First Presbyterian Church, Buffalo
Pastor Beth Lyon, Glenside United Church of Christ
Pastor Eve MacMaster, Emmanuel Mennonite Church
Reverend Chuck Maney, Open Table UCC
Jeanette Mann, Member, Rapid Response Team, All Saints Church
Rabbi Bonnie Margulis
Pastor Lilton Marks, Fellowship United Church of Christ
Community Pastor Jimy Martinez, Neighborhood Ministries
Sister Nancy McCarthy, BVM
Director of Ministry Donna McGartland, OSF
Brother Brian McLauchlin, Catholic
Executive Minister Carol McVetty, American Baptist Churches Metro Chicago
Peter Michaelis, Member of Christ-centered Justice Team of Lake Edge UCC
Dorothy Moczygemba, Director of Faith Formation, CSSF
Susan Montgomery, Outreach/Advocacy Chair, Holston Conference of the UMC, Concord United Methodist Church
Rev. Scott Moore, Texas Annual Conference United Methodist Church
Joseph Moran, Retired Regional Director Church World Service - Southeast USA
Rev Dr Raymond Moreland, United Methodist Church
Pastor Donald Morgan, First Congregational United Church of Christ
Elder Pamela Morris, Christian Education Coordinator and Church, Friedens UCC
Sister Maryann Mueller, Felician Sisters
Senior Minister Michael Mulberry, Billings First Congregational Church
Sr. Rose Therese Nolta, Justice and Peace Coordinator, Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters
Pastor Katya Ouchakof, Lake Edge Lutheran Church
Good Neighbor Specialist Sandra Ovalle
Associate Pastor Amee Paparella, First United Methodist Church, Grand Rapids
Contemplative Activist/Organizer Steve Pavey, Fig Tree Collective - The Gathering
Rev. Rich Peacock, Waterford Central United Methodist Church
Reverend Paul Perez, Detroit Conference of The United Methodist Church
Rev. Kristen Provost Switzer, Newtown Congregational Church, UCC
Jeffrey Rhodes, CoModerator, Wellspring United Church of Christ in Centreville, VA
Pastor Rev. Persida Rivera-Mendez, Ministerio Nueva Creacion
Norma Rocklage, OSF, Executive Director: Education Formation Outreach Marian University
Susan Saudek, Social Justice Committee, First Congregational UCC, Washington DC
Reverend Toni Saul, Interfaith
Celia Saunders, Women of Reform Judaism National Board Member
Senior Minister Donna Schaper, Judson Memorial Church
Pastor Sally Scheib, Bethel United Church of Christ
Rev. Ruth Sheets, UCC Minister
The Rev. Martha Shiverick, Riviera Presbyterian Church
Christian Jackie Showalter, Rolling Hills United Methodist Church
Missions Chair Debra Shrader, Rolling Hills United Methodist Church
Ruling Elder Maria Studer, First Presbyterian Church of Levittown, NY (PCUSA)
Sandy Sypherd, Chair, Rapid Response Immigration Team, United Methodist Church
Deacon (GHBCF) Van Thawng, R&P Case Manager, Greater Houston Burmese Christian Fellowship
Rev Maren Tirabassi, Second Christian Church, UCC
Mr. Larry Trent, United Church of Christ
The Rev. Nick Utphall, Advent Lutheran/Madison Christian Community
Jane Uzzell, Lay Leader, First Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Amy Wharton, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Greg Wright, Plymouth Congregational UCC
Chaplain Rev. Christina Wright
Rev. Michael Yoshii, Buena Vista United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Paul Ziese, MacArthur Park Lutheran Church
