Immigration Issues
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Policy on Immigration
218th General Assembly (2008)
Immigration is not an issue only in cities and towns near the United States’ northern and southern borders. Presbyteries across the country are frequently contacted by churches for advice and referrals to resources to help address immigration problems at the local level. The PC(USA) manager of Immigration Issues, Julia Thorne, receives calls daily from pastors and presbyters in regions far from any national border and has visited with most presbyteries to discuss opportunities to help church members and pastors who are coping with immigration status questions.
At the 218th General Assembly (2008), held in San Jose, California, this past summer, this range in voices concerned about immigration became apparent. Several resolutions were approved, and through this action the General Assembly has tried to create a way for local churches to become educated and take action on this important issue. The information in these resolutions and the actions they suggest will go a long way in helping us to understand the church’s role in seeking justice for the “strangers” in our midst.
The resolutions address issues of human trafficking, detention centers, and the treatment of immigrants. All appreciate the complex nature of immigration laws while at the same time urging Christians and political leaders to work toward understanding.
Immigration is the great civil rights’ issue facing the church today. How we respond to this issue will determine what the history books of the next generation have to say about society’s response to this latest chapter in U.S. immigration history.
A Resolution to Study Immigration Detention in the United States (Item 09-11)
Over the last several years there has been a surge in the detention and deportation of immigrants in the United States. Detention is the usual result of the many workplace raids that have taken place across the country, which are often reported in the media. However, few people are aware of where detention centers are located, how they are managed, and their impacts on communities and immigrant families.
The use of detention centers for undocumented immigrants has many pitfalls and there are other alternatives. By approving this resolution, the General Assembly will review policies surrounding this issue as well as work with ecumenical organizations to advocate for alternatives to detention. View the full text of Item 09-11.
Find out if a detention center is located near your home by visiting the Detention Watch Network. An interactive map will help you locate areas where immigrant families are jailed until their civil hearing is held.
You can help by educating yourself on the reality of detention centers and talking to your congregation about these issues. Recently 60 Minutes hosted a piece on detention centers and medical care for detainees. The coverage can be viewed on the CBS News Web site.
Help your community prepare for a raid and possible detention. Download the PC(USA) Family Care Plan  to assist families in your congregation who could be impacted by detention.
A Resolution to Expand the Church’s Ministry with and Advocacy Against Human Trafficking (Item 11-13)
The sale and trade of people for forced labor and prostitution is a thriving business around the world. The United Nations estimates that there are 12.3 million people in forced labor at any given time. This is not a phenomenon that occurs exclusively in foreign or exotic countries. Here in the United States it is estimated that between 14,500 and 17,500 people, primarily women and children are trafficked to the United States each year.
This resolution seeks to integrate the concern for human trafficking to PC(USA) departments and offices by seeking to bring together departments working on issues that could influence/support work to curtail human trafficking.
A few of the goals include the development of educational materials for congregations, support for those working with trafficked persons, and building partnerships with other denominations working to end trafficking. To begin the conversation in your congregation, consider utilizing the adult curriculum entitled Sex Trafficking by Martha Bettis-Gee, which is available at the Thoughtful Christian Web site.
Across the country there are networks of organizations working with federal agencies to identify and assist victims of human trafficking. Visit the Administration for Children and Families’ Web site and click on “Coalition Information” to learn if a network is active in your area.
For more information on human trafficking visit the Human Trafficking Web site.
View the full text of Item 11-13.
Resolution On Preventing the Trafficking of Women, Internationally and Nationally (Item 11-12)
In 2000, the United States adopted the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) to assist victims of human trafficking who are in the United States. However, often this law and other programs lack the resources to assist victims of human trafficking to offer real hope of solving the exploitation of victims. This resolution urges education and advocacy in communities to reach out to suspected victims.
Presbyterians have a vocational and constitutional obligation to end injustice, especially against the vulnerable and weak. Perhaps the weakest among us are the voiceless victims of trafficking who are abused and threatened with violence toward their families if they do not comply with their captors.
This resolution helps Christians live into these obligations and provides a way for local congregations to understand how they can become involved in the effort to bring freedom to the captives. To begin the conversation in your congregation, consider utilizing the adult curriculum entitled Sex Trafficking by Martha Bettis-Gee, which is available at the Thoughtful Christian Web site.
Across the country there are networks of organizations working with federal agencies to identify and assist victims of human trafficking. Visit the Administration for Children and Families’ Web site and click on “Coalition Information” to learn if a network is active in your area.
For more information on Human Trafficking visit the Human Trafficking Web site.
View the full text of Item 11-12.
Resolution on Local Enforcement of National Immigration Laws that Adversely Affect Local Congregations (Item 09-21)
As the debates surrounding immigration increase, pressure mounts on immigrant communities and often the hostility they experience is unseen by those outside the circle. While church congregations and members may disagree about the scope of immigration laws, the treatment of God’s children should not be open for debate in the Christian community.
This resolution was drafted by the Hispanic Caucus of the PC(USA) as a response to the concerns voiced by many new immigrant members of Presbyterian churches. Brothers and sisters in Christ have had to cope with the experience of being the target of racial profiling, victims of raids, and being held up by roadblocks, which are often employed for the purpose of detaining undocumented immigrants. These strategies impact the entire community because immigrants, documented and undocumented, become fearful. They will resist traveling thereby cutting off their access to community and spiritual resources. Further, immigrants fearful of intervention by community resources may not report crimes or seek medical attention when necessary.
You can help by reaching out to immigrant churches in your community to understand their struggles as they find a home in the United States. Resist the culture surrounding the issue of immigration that seems to promote racist language and the denial of human rights to all who live in the United States.
View the full text of Item 09-21.
Join Presbyterians For Just Immigration
PFJI is a network of Presbyterians interested in various immigration issues and how these issues impact their communities, churches and presbyteries. PFJI is committed to fostering discussion, sharing resources, promoting advocacy, and writing liturgy on various immigration topics. As large numbers of people enter the United States and participate in our communities and churches, members of PFJI hope to empower Presbyterians to share vision, best practices, resources, and a passionate concern for those coming to the United States to live and work.
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