News and Views

“We recognize, embrace, and affirm all persons, regardless of country of origin, as members of the family of God...We oppose immigration policies that separate family members from each other or that include detention of families with children, and we call on local churches to be in ministry with immigrant families.” (United Methodist Social Principles, ¶162.H). 

 The time is now to end our country’s cruel and inhumane policies that separate families and prevent children, families, and adults from exercising their right to seek asylum at the U.S. border.  Hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers continue to be expelled from this country through Title 42, which misuses public health authority to deny refugees seeking U.S. protection access to the U.S. asylum process. Under Title 42, the Department of Homeland Security is also deporting or detaining non-parent relatives arriving with a child, driving an increase in the number of children designated as unaccompanied. This forces non-parent family members to leave behind the children in their care to go through an inhumane asylum process alone.

Our current Presidential administration has all the power and resources they need to enact humane and just policies and practices that guarantee adults and children their human rights, care, safety and an expedited process for asylum in our country. Our current administration has the power to immediately end Title 42 to stop harming thousands of children, adults and families seeking asylum. Our country can do better; our country must do better.  

 TAKE ACTION:

Call on the Biden administration to immediately end Title 42:
Call the White House Comment Line at 202-456-1111 (Call within business hours. There is a recording message when office is closed)
or Send an email to the White House at https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Call/Email Script:

My name is _______. I’m a United Methodist from [City], [STATE]. I urge the Biden administration to immediately end Title 42 to protect the rights of adults and children seeking asylum in the United States. I also call on the administration to equip Health and Human Services and the Office of Refugee Resettlement with the resources they need to expedite the reunification process for unaccompanied children and offer incentives and support to sponsors. It is our moral obligation to keep families together as they go through the asylum process in our country. It is their human right to be guaranteed safety, care, and protection. 

 Amplify your message on Social Media: 

• @POTUS @AliMayorkas @DHSgov @ABlinken @StateDept -->Children and families coming to the border are not a “surge” they’re people in need seeking safety and we’re ready to welcome them. #EndTitle42 #StopExpulsions #WelcomeWithDignity
• We call on you @POTUS @AliMayorkas @DHSgov @ABlinken @StateDept to work w/Congress to end Title 42 expulsions, restore asylum, and invest in the capacity to humanely welcome and process asylum seekers and unaccompanied children. #EndTitle42 #StopExpulsions #WelcomeWithDignity