Back to Resolutions
|
|
Churchwide
Statement on Immigration, 2003
Mennonite Church USA
Introduction
Mennonite Church USA has roots
in seventeenth-century churches planted by immigrants from Europe.
Our church continues to grow and be enlivened by immigrants who
join us from many countries. As Christians, we believe we are
called to welcome these sojourners in our congregations and communities,
especially as our government creates increasingly harsh immigration
laws in the name of fighting terrorism. Assumptions about identity
make some people more vulnerable to political biases and discrimination
than others. Our concerns about the status of immigrants in this
country relate to how people are treated based on race, nationality,
ethnicity, and religious identity. 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.
Biblical Background
The Bible offers us some valuable
insights about welcoming strangers, and in our context immigrants
are viewed as strangers. "When a stranger sojourns with
you in your land, you shall not do [the stranger] wrong. The
stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native
among you, and you shall love [the stranger] as yourself; for
you were strangers in the land of Egypt…" (Leviticus
19:33, 34). We affirm that God has called us to welcome immigrants,
because all of us are sojourners (Exodus 23:9, Deuteronomy 24:17,
18). We believe that when we welcome strangers, we welcome Jesus
(Matthew 25:35).
Immigrants in the United States
We may not realize it, but our
nation depends economically and culturally on the contributions
of immigrants. Immigrant entrepreneurs, professionals, and artists
contribute to the United States' wealth and diverse culture.
Immigrant laborers often work the least desirable jobs. For many
immigrants, however, the opportunities of living in the United
States are offset by hardship and discrimination. They work the
most difficult and dangerous jobs for the lowest pay, and immigrants
without documents are frequently cheated out of wages and denied
compensation for work-related injuries. Unfair immigration policies
make it difficult to travel across borders, unjust quota systems
discriminate against citizens from some countries, and families
are divided by long delays in document processing. Immigrants
in poverty are denied most welfare and healthcare benefits. Because
our society tells us to fear some immigrants more than others,
an increasingly militarized U.S./Mexico border has led to reports
of abuse by border guards and hundreds of deaths in the desert.a
Since September 11, 2001, the
Bush Administration, with the support of others in the government,
has issued new policies and enforced old laws that strike fear
in the hearts of immigrant communities, creating the perception
that any contact with government officials or social service
agencies might result in arrest or deportation. Middle Eastern
males across the United States are being forced to register and
are deported if their papers are not in order. Haitians and other
Caribbean peoples arriving by boat are being detained without
regard for their civil rights and deported even when they have
credible fear of persecution at home. The new Department of Homeland
Security, whose stated mission is to guard the nation against
terrorists, now handles immigration and refugee enforcement and
services. Our government's policies lead us to view these strangers
as a threat to our safety and economic security.
Immigrants in our congregations
Immigrants - documented and undocumented
- are members of many Mennonite Church USA congregations. Immigrant
churches face a society whose policies and practices discriminate
against immigrants and people of color. Immigrant churches with
undocumented members are deeply affected by the poverty and fear
experienced by many members of their communities; often churches
share the costs of food, shelter, and clothing, assist in job
searches, and support families when members are deported. Undocumented
church leaders are often unable or afraid to travel to larger
church gatherings without identification. Congregations without
immigrant members are finding their communities changed by immigration
and are struggling with how to respond.
Our commitment
We affirm individuals and churches
that are already working against poverty and fear in immigrant
communities. We affirm those who are speaking to the government
about our nation's unjust immigration policies. We affirm the
church's work with anti-racism, while we acknowledge that much
more work remains. We also affirm the church's support of agencies
that are addressing the roots of international inequality, which
cause people to emigrate. However, we understand that because
the United States controls more material resources than any other
country, people will continue to immigrate here in search of
economic and political stability. Because of our nation's abundance,
because God has called us to welcome the sojourner, and because
of the richness that immigrants bring to the Mennonite Church
USA, we commit ourselves to action with and on behalf of our
immigrant brothers and sisters.
We invite Mennonite Church
USA congregations to consider the following actions (resources
listed below):
1. Build relationships with newcomers
in our communities. Facilitate the mutual sharing of immigrants'
stories and contributions in our churches and neighborhoods.
2. Plan congregational learning tours in our communities, including
immigrant neighborhoods, churches, and workplaces, as well as
government offices that serve immigrants.
3. Partner with immigrant congregations to plan church services
or community events.
4. Offer church facilities and volunteers for documentation services,
English classes, ethnic celebrations, or other outreach programs.
5. Engage in mutual aid to offer food, shelter, clothing, and
other resources to undocumented and documented immigrants.
6. Learn about issues affecting immigrants by reading newspapers
or magazines, joining
national immigration rights organizations, or contacting church
agencies that work with immigration issues.
7. Join study tours to the U.S./Mexico border, refugee camps,
or detention centers to learn more about U.S. immigration and
refugee policies.
8. Advocate for just and humane policies for immigrants and refugees
by contacting local, state, and national elected officials.
These groups helped write
and support this resolution:
o Iglesia Menonita Hispana: Marco
Guete, moderator; and Juan Montes, direcor
o MCC US: Jose Ortiz, executive director; Rebeca Jimenez Yoder,
immigration education and
advocacy director; Bethany Spicher, Washington Office legislative
assistant for domestic affairs; Felipe Hinojosa, MCC Central
States staff associate
o Executive Board Office of Cross Cultural Relations, Kenyetta
Aduma, director
o Executive Board Directors Office, Susan Mark Landis, peace
advocate
o Pacific Southwest Conference, Jeff Wright, conference minister,
southern California
o PSMC/CAL Mission Team and the PSMC Pastoral Leadership Committee
o MultiEthnic Ministries, Mennonite Mission Network: Kuaying
Teng, minister
o Mission Association Center for Anabaptist Leadership: Rev.
Femi Fatunmbi
o Mennonite Church USA Executive Board Executive Board
o Mennonite Church USA Constituency Leaders Council
Resources:
Mennonite Central Committee Immigration
Office
Offers two packets: "Welcoming the Newcomer: Doing Advocacy
with Immigrants," for general immigration information, and
"Immigration Information Packet" about the basics of
immigration law. Conducts periodic workshops on documentation,
citizenship, the responsibilities of immigrant sponsors, the
rights of battered immigrant women and children, and the rights
of workers in employment raids. Contact Rebeca Jimenez Yoder,
(717) 859-1151, rjy@mcc.org, http://www.mcc.org/us/peaceandjustice/immigrat.html
Mennonite Central Committee Washington
Office
Offers a primer on immigration advocacy. Contact Bethany Spicher,
(202) 544-6564, bspicher@mcc.org, http//www.mcc.org/us/peaceandjustice/immigrat.html
Mennonite Central Committee Resource
Catalog
Includes various immigration-related videos with study guides,
packets, and posters
Mennonite Central Committee Web
site
"Love in Action" page includes suggestions for hands-on
assistance, education, and advocacy http://www.mcc.org/themes/us-immigration/index.html
New Bridges Immigrant Resource
Center
Hosts community immigration learning tours in Harrisonburg, Va.
Contact Susannah Gerber Lepley, (540) 438-8295, newbridges1@aol.com
BorderLinks
A non-profit organization that conducts travel seminars focusing
on the issues of Mexican border
communities. Contact Katie Hudak, (520) 628-8263, Katie@borderlinks.org,
www.borderlinks.org
Third Way Café
A collection of insightful interviews with a variety of immigrants
and church workers who work with
immigrants http://www.thirdway.com/BTN/immigration/
National Immigration Forum
Advocates and builds public support for public policies that
welcome immigrants and refugees.Offers a series of short papers
featuring useful statistical and historical information related
toimmigration. Visit http://ww.immigrationforum.org
National Immigration Law Center
Specializes in immigration law, immigrant employment and public
benefits rights of immigrants. Provides publications, technical
advice and trainings on immigration. Visit www.nilc.org.
April 21, 2003
a The Mexico Foreign Relations
Office records 1870 deaths from 1995-2001. (There are no statistics
for Arizona or Texas until 1996. The U.S. Border Patrol did not
begin keeping comprehensive migrant death statistics until FY
1998.)"However, during the Bush Administration a fairly
systematic pattern of increased rights abuses on the part of
Border Patrol and other INS agents emerged more plainly from
a diverse and much more-expanded body of evidence. This information
was reported by human rights groups, the press, congressional
committees, the Mexican government, Mexican academic researchers,
and even the U.S. Department of Justice. Recorded offenses included
beatings, shootings and inappropriate use of firearms, sexual
assault, destruction of property, denial of due process, verbal
abuse and harassment, inappropriate and illegal searches, substandard
detention conditions, and reckless high-speed chases." The
militarization of the US-Mexico Border by Timothy J. Dunn
 Back to Resolutions Index
|
|