Leadership Team shares LCWR statement on DHS funding

The Leadership Team and Justice Promoter wanted to share this message from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR):

Dear Friends,

Congress must decide by Dec. 7, 2018, how to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the rest of fiscal year 2019. Right now is a critical time for people of faith and conscience to make our voices heard and say all people deserve to be treated humanely. Every additional dollar for immigration detention and enforcement allows the administration to carry out policies that erode the rights and safety of immigrants, refugees, and migrants.

The administration is illegally banning asylum seekers who enter in between ports of entry. They are separating and incarcerating families seeking protection. They are keeping people in immigrant detention centers in abusive conditions. They are infringing on the civil and human rights of border communities, and they are locking out people looking for a safe place to call home. They are trying to expand the construction of border walls and fences.

Trump’s policies violate each of our faith traditions of welcome, love and justice. It’s up to people of faith to urge Congress to enact compassionate and humane immigration laws that respect the dignity of every human being.

Call on Congress to Protect Immigrant Families

• Join us for a National Call in Day today. Ask Congress to make the right choice to protect families and uphold our moral and legal obligations. Tell our national leaders to protect families and reduce funding for Detention, Deportations, and Border Militarization.

Call 202-224-3121 three times to be connected to your two Senators and one Representative.

Here is a sample script: “I am your constituent from (City or Town), and I urge Senator/Representative (NAME) to reject any increases in funding for immigration enforcement and to ensure we uphold our moral and legal obligations to protect people from harm. As a person of faith, I think Congress spends too much money on deportation agents, detention beds, wall construction, and militarization of border communities. We need additional oversight of enforcement and investment in community-based alternatives to detention. I urge you to cut spending that tears families apart, leaves vulnerable populations unprotected, and erodes our nation’s responsibility to welcome the stranger. My community welcomes and values immigrants, and I urge you to do the same.”

• Amplify on Social Media: Share the same message with your Senators and Representatives on social media. Graphics opposing the asylum ban are available here.
• Write a Letter to the Editor or Opinion Editorial: Call on your Member of Congress by name to cut funding and expand oversight over detention, deportation, and border enforcement. Urge them to direct the administration to utilize community-based alternatives to detention for families, asylum seekers, and immigrants. Submit a letter to the editor using this tool.
• Organize Local Public Witness and Community Events: Hosting public witness events, like interfaith vigils, provides the opportunity for faith leaders to express how welcoming immigrants is part of all faith traditions, and to reflect on the deep scriptural and spiritual roots of our work to support immigrants. Even small events, multiplied across the country, will send a powerful message to the Trump administration and Congress that upholding family unity and welcoming immigrants is a moral issue that is important to people of faith and conscience. Click here for a toolkit to organize a local event and lift up the power of prayer.

December 4 Press Conference

On Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 11:30 a.m., Carol Zinn, SSJ, Executive Director of LCWR, will join other faith leaders at a press conference in front of the United Methodist Building facing the U.S. Capitol. They will be calling on Congress to refuse to give one more cent to President Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda.

Please help us spread the word about the press conference. Share this press advisory with your organization’s press contacts or share this Facebook event page. We will be live-streaming the event from Washington, D.C.