Listen, Learn, Lament
On loving our immigrant neighbors
A couple weeks ago, I participated in an immigration workshop at One Life City Church. It was a sacred space shared by a group of people compelled by Christ’s love and compassion to learn about recent changes in immigration policy in our country and its very real impacts on our immigrant neighbors.
We learned about the history of our immigration system which has been marked by exploitation in times of expansion and exclusion in times of perceived scarcity.
Naturalization Act of 1790 which granted citizenship to “free white persons” of “good moral character”
Alien Enemies Act of 1798 which is a wartime authority that allows the President to detain and deport natives of an enemy nation without due process
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 which prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the US for 10 years
Immigration Act of 1929 which targeted Mexican nationals and criminalized “unlawful entry”
Executive Order 9066 of 1942 which invoked the Alien Enemies Act to justify Japanese internment
Bracero Program of 1942 which provided temporary agricultural worker visas for Mexican nationals to support the labor shortage caused by WWII
Operation Wetback of 1954-56 which was a targeted enforcement campaign against over 1 million Mexicans, many of whom arrived under the Bracero Program
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996 which expanded the grounds for inadmissibility and deportation, created expedited removal, and expanded mandatory detention
USA Patriot Act of 2001 which broadened terrorism grounds, expanded the government’s surveillance powers, and eased restrictions on sharing of information between federal agencies
We heard about the recent changes under the current administration.
Cancellation of protected areas (schools, hospitals, churches, etc.)
Redefining of the term “criminal”
Push to self-deport
Increased scrutiny of those with legal status (Temporary Protected Status, student visas, Legal Permanent Residents)
Shutdown of the Refugee Resettlement program
Attempt to end Birthright Citizenship
Lack of accountability and due process
We considered the ways that we can respond.
Contacting our elected officials regularly to advocate for fair and humane treatment of our immigrant neighbors
Connecting with immigrant friends
Donating to organizations that are advocating for immigrant rights and providing legal services and other resources to the immigrant community
Joining a local Rapid Response Network
Building mutual aid movements in our communities
Staying engaged locally
We also took time to lament the injustice, confess our own complicity and/or ignorance to the plight of our neighbors, and cry out to a God who sees our pain, hears our prayers, and is present with those who have been cast down by society. I had the opportunity to share a prayer of lament with our community, and I invite you to engage with the prayer as well.
God of the Sojourner, We confess that we’ve turned a blind eye to the plight of the foreigner. We’ve failed to see the impacts of our country’s actions on our global neighbors. We’ve denied welcome and compassion to those who flee atrocity. God of the Sojourner, Teach us to value the collective flourishing of all. God of Abundance, We confess that we’ve believed the lie of scarcity. We’ve grasped for more while others have gone without. We’ve denied access and aid to those who need it most. God of Abundance, Help us to believe that there is enough to go around. Creator of All, We confess that we’ve failed to see your image in all people. We’ve made a hierarchy of the value of human life. We’ve denied dignity and belonging to our fellow brothers and sisters. Creator of All, Give us eyes to see the belovedness of all humanity. Amen
If you’re interested in learning more about immigration policy, how it impacts our immigrant neighbors, and ways to respond, check out the resource list below.
