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| Migrants: And Where Would The World Be Now |
As Christians who believe in the dignity of every human
being, we have established a set of principles that drive our work and call us
to love and respect our immigrant brothers and sisters:
· We
believe all people, regardless of national origin or citizenship status, are
made in the "image of God" and deserve to be treated with dignity and
respect (Genesis 1:26-27, 9:6).
· We
believe there is an undeniable responsibility to love and show compassion for
the stranger among us (Deuteronomy 10:18-19, Leviticus 19:33-34, Matthew
25:31-46).
· We
believe that immigrants are our neighbors-both literally and figuratively-and
we are to love our neighbors as ourselves and show mercy to neighbors in need
(Leviticus 19:18, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:25-37).
· We
believe in the rule of law, but we also believe that we are to oppose unjust
laws and systems that harm and oppress people made in God's image, especially
the vulnerable (Isaiah 10:1-4, Jeremiah 7:1-7, Acts 5:29, Romans 13:1-7).
As we strive to faithfully live out these values, we also
recognize that the current U.S. immigration system is broken and reform is
urgently needed. The stories are endless of those who face the detrimental
effects of our impractical immigration system. The biblical principles
above compel us to support immigration reform legislation that includes the
following elements that will help remedy the many injustices happening around
the country:
· Enforcement
initiatives that are consistent with humanitarian values
· Reforms
in our family-based immigration system that reduce waiting times for separated
families to be reunited
· A
process for all immigrant workers and their families already in the U.S. to
earn citizenship upon satisfaction of specific criteria
· An
expansion of legal avenues for workers and families to enter our country and
work in a safe and legal manner with their rights and due process fully
protected
· Examining
solutions to address the root causes of migration, such as economic disparities
between sending and receiving nations
(Campaign for Comprehensive
Immigration Reform- Sojourners)
