February 4, 2015
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Today, in the spirit of "marching forth" for justice on March 4th...
CELEBRATE A "CLEAN" HOMELAND SECURITY BILL--
WITH NO ANTI-IMMIGRANT BILLS ATTACHED!
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After weeks of anxieties about a potential Department of Homeland Security shutdown with multiple anti-immigrant bills attached, celebrations are due for the March 3rd passage of a "clean" Homeland Security bill-without any anti-immigrant actions appended! Together with the Senate's "clean" Homeland Security action passed last week, funding for DHS has now been extended for the whole of the fiscal year (through September 2015) and does not include the immigration provisions that aim to repeal the DACA+ and DAPA programs.
BUT NOW, THE ANTI-IMMIGRANT BILLS ARE RE-EMERGING
Even while we briefly celebrate, we likewise have been working hard to ensure that multiple anti-immigrant bills do NOT now get pushed towards passage. See Disciples statements Comments to the Judiciary Committee regarding Immigration Bills Markup and Collins Bill Letter released this week that summarize concerns about four anti-immigrant bills being discussed by the House Judiciary Committee, and one being introduced in the Senate.
PLEASE CALL IN TODAY TO PROTECT KIDS FLEEING VIOLENCE!
TWO of the House bills under discussion threaten to remove the long term protections offered through the bi-partisan TVPRA (Trafficking Victims Protections Reauthorization Act. Disciples Women and MANY of our congregations and leaders have fought similar moves to dismantle its protections for children fleeing the violence of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador for many months. Your 94 second call could save the lives of many-see our faith community alert with background, phone number, and a sample script.
ALSO, CALL NOW TO STOP POTENTIAL HARM TO CHURCHES & COMMUNITIES WHO HELP UNDOCUMENTED FAMILIES
The previously called "SAFE Act" in the House, now HR-1148, is actually modeled after Arizona's AB-1070 and would force local law enforcement to function as immigration officials; diminishing community safety, criminalizing faith communities who may transport an undocumented person to worship or English classes, and removing current protections for DREAMers, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable populations. See more information here (in Spanish) to join with other faith voices and the Major Cities Chiefs Association in opposition to this effort.
Stay tuned for ongoing updates as we continue to "march forth" throughout the season to support immigrants and farm workers together!
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For further information, please contact: Rev. Dr. Sharon Stanley-Rea, Director, Refugee & Immigration Ministries/Disciples Home Missions, sstanley@dhm.disciples.org, 202-957-7826
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