Members of One FamilyHow do we talk about immigration in the church?

Jake Castro, Tammy Alexandercogdogblog/Flikr

Agenda

• Reflection

• Migration stories / root causes (video)

• Economics

• Rule of law (scenarios)

• Review / reflection

• Action

• Closing prayer

OPENING REFLECTION

• Prayer and scripture

• Brief word about dialogue

OUR STORIES: How did we get here?

• BREAK-OUT GROUPS– Brief introductions

– Questions:

• When did you or your ancestors arrive in the US?

• From where?

• Why did you/they migrate?

Migration stories

• Biblical figures

– Abraham: opportunity

– Israelites during Babylonian Exile: safety

– Ruth & Naomi: famine

– Mary, Joseph and Jesus: safety

Migration stories

• Migrants today

– Video: The Invisibles

Why do people move?

• Basic needs faminepoverty

• Safetywar/violencepolitical persecution

• Opportunitieslack of economic and

educational opportunities

Freedom of expressionreligious persecution

Exploitation/environmentminingdeforestation

U.S. policiesNAFTA/subsidies --

cheap U.S. food drives Mexican farmers out of business

Per capita income (2007)

U.S. - $38,000

• BREAK-OUT GROUPS

– What are the economic costs of undocumented immigration?

– What are economic benefits of undocumented immigration?

ECONOMICS

• Costs

– Public school

– Emergency services

– Public spaces – use roads, sidewalks, parks

ECONOMICS

• Costs

– Public benefits (e.g., food stamps and welfare)

• Undocumented immigrants are NOT eligible (though, their U.S. citizen children may be)

• Documented immigrants must wait until they have been in the U.S. for 5 years

ECONOMICS

• Benefits

– Taxes

• Sales taxes

• Gas taxes

• Property taxes (through home ownership or rent)

• Income taxes– Majority pay federal, state, local

– Social Security & Medicare ($6-7 billion/yr)

ECONOMICS

• Costs vs. Benefits

– National studies (including one from CATO) show a large net positive benefit

– State studies as well show immigrants pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits

• Texas• Iowa• Colorado

ECONOMICS

Other Economic Costs

• Border security– $10 billion/yr

• Family separation– Almost 400,000 deported/yr

– Many are parents of U.S. citizen children

• Private prison industry– 30,000+ detention beds

– Multi-billion dollar industry (CCA, GeoGroup)

• Deaths– 4000+ have died crossing dessert since 1998

Economic impacts on countries of origin

• BenefitsRemittancesPotential to bring familySkills learned in college

CostsBrain drainCost of crossingLoss of income when

migrant can’t find job or is exploited

Loss of life

• BREAK-OUT GROUPS– Scenarios / flow chart

RULE OF LAW

The immigration process

• U.S. Citizens:– Child/spouse/parent: 3-4 years– Adult children: 10-20 years

The immigration process

– No Family?

– No “skills”?

– No green card

The Law

• Romans 13– “Let every person be subject to the

governing authorities…”

• Matthew, Leviticus – Care for those in need– Love the “alien” as yourself

What would you do?

• To feed your child?• To care for a sick parent?

• Move away to find work?• Cross a desert?• Break the law?

• Quality of life choices• Life and death choices

• What would “welcoming the stranger” look like for you and your family? What about for your church? What about for U.S. laws and policies?

• Do you think the command to welcome immigrants and the command to be subject to governing authorities can be reconciled together? How?

• How would you respond if you were born into a situation where you were struggling to live on $2 a day?

• What voices or ideas have influenced your views on immigration? Have any been from a Christian perspective?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• Prayer

• Acts of Justice

• Acts of Mercy

TAKE ACTION

• Pray

– For immigrants

– For the church

– For political leaders

– Prayer/worship resources

TAKE ACTION

• Engage: Action alerts

– Federal legislation – U.S. Congress• DREAM Act, eVerify, border militarization

– Obama administration• Family separation, DREAM students

– Campaigns • “Let My People Stay”, “DREAM Sabbath”

– Webinars• DREAM, Supreme Court, Secure Communities

JUSTICE: Advocacy & Education

• Engage: Partners

– Western District Conference Immigration Task Force

– washington.mcc.org/stateimmigration

JUSTICE: Advocacy & Education

• Teach– Small group– Community forum

• Learn– immigration.mcc.org– washington.mcc.org/immigration– Sister church– Your family’s migration story

JUSTICE: Advocacy & Education

• Money– Programs that address root causes

• MCC Guatemala

– Documentation services

• Time– Volunteer at a local organization– Visitation programs– English classes– Documentation services

MERCY: Giving time and money

FINAL QUESTIONS / THOUGHTS?

CLOSING PRAYER

© 2012 Mennonite Central Committee

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