Immigration Resources and Advocacy

Posted: June 21, 2018

Learn more about the ELCA’s response to the Trump Administration’s immigration policies and how you can be an advocate for these children and their families. We also invite you to read Samaritas’ statement on the zero tolerance deterrent policy and how you can get involved in their refugee foster care program.

What has the ELCA done about immigration and separating children?

• Bishop Eaton asked interfaith leaders to stand with her against family separation at the border. Find the statement here. In total, 21 interfaith leaders signed this statement.
• Bishop Eaton will visit a child detention facility on July 28^th. Stay posted on more actions that come out of this visit!
• ELCA Advocacy has continuously called for the Administration to end family separation and met with members of congress.
• ELCA AMMPARO commits to walking alongside children and families fleeing their communities, the same families that are being separated. You can become a welcoming congregation and join the movement as a church.
• ELCA Advocacy put out a blog explaining family separation and other immigration policies
• ELCA Advocacy put out an action alert on the DHS budget and family separation: People should take action telling congress to support a budget that keeps families together
• The ELCA, through the AMMPARO Program, has seen cases of family separation since 2017. We have worked together with LIRS and other organizations to flag those cases for official complaints.

Why is the ELCA speaking out now and did not before, when families were being detained?

• Through Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and its advocacy office, the ELCA has continuously stood alongside vulnerable children.
• The ELCA released this statement on June 30, 2014 against family detention.
• ELCA Advocacy sent an action alert to reach out to President Obama to stand against family detention on July, 2015
• Lutheran leaders toured a detention facility in 2015 and spoke strongly against the practice.

How can you advocate?

• ELCA Advocacy put out an action alert on the DHS budget and family separation: People should take action telling congress to support a budget that keeps families together.
• The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations has an action alert related to this issue.
• ELCA Advocacy sent out another action alert against two harmful House bills that will come up for vote the week of June 18, 2018. Take action here (this alert will expire when votes are done):  Please check the ELCA Advocacy Facebook page for updates.
• Sign as Women of Faith, Clergy and Lay Persons: Click here to call upon DHS Secretary Nielsen to stop separating children from their parents at the border.

How can you continue to walk alongside these migrants through the ELCA?

• Become a welcoming congregation and/or join the AMMPARO network. Reach out to Mary Campbell at Campbell@elca.org.
• Become a Guardian Angel and be the physical presence of the church in the courtroom. Contact Mary Campbell.
• If you are in Chicago, on the first Friday of every month, the Interfaith community in Chicago does a short prayer vigil at 7:15 AM at the Broadview Detention Center. Join the ICDI together with other ELCA members on Friday July 6^th . The vigil is about 30 minutes in length.
• Learn more by attending the Wednesday, June 20 screening of Brightness of Noon: the intersect of Faith, Immigration and Refugees in Chicago or Cincinnati.
• Follow ELCA Advocacy at elca.org/advocacy, facebook.com/ELCAAdvocacy and facebook.com/ELCAammparo
• Join the ELCA Action Center