News and Views

UMs meet with Sen. Cardin on immigration

Posted by on

 By Neal Christie

When will God step in and bring relief to those suffering under an unfair and broken immigration system? “When you get up and march forward,” said the Rev. Cassandra Nuñez, of Salem-Baltimore Hispanic UMC. “It is you who brings God into places where change happens.”

This was the message that Nuñez brought to Senator Ben Cardin’s office Feb. 11. She was joined by the Revs. Will Newton of St. Paul UMC in Laytonsville, Neal Christie, the Executive Minister for Connected Engagement for the Baltimore-Washington Conference, and Laura Kigweba James, Director of Grassroots Organizing for the General Board of Church and Society.

The purpose of this meeting with Helen Rogers, who serves on Cardin’s legislative staff to the Judiciary Committee, was to join with ecumenical representatives to advocate for a permanent pathway to citizenship for the thousands of immigrants and to make this a priority within the 2022 Build Back Better Bill and other legislation supporting U.S. economic recovery. 

 We met to affirm the worth, dignity, and inherent value and rights of all persons regardless of their nationality or legal status. The United Methodist Church has for years supported legislation that provides a pathway to citizenship for our undocumented family, friends, and community who have waited for far too long for a just and permanent pathway to citizenship. The lack of permanent protections and solutions for status is deeply impacting our communities.

 Nuñez shared her own story growing up in the U.S. as a DACA recipient. Rogers stressed that Cardin is a strong supporter of a pathway to citizenship and supports President Biden’s plan. However, she also noted that many legislators have pulled away from the full bill, and are focusing on specific provisions for immigration.

 The denomination’s Social Principles urge United Methodists to “recognize the gifts, contributions, and struggles of those who are immigrants and to advocate for justice for all. 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.”

 A successful legalization program for the undocumented population must be attainable, affordable, expedient, unifying and equitable. With Congress considering the Build Back Better legislative package, there is an opportunity to help provide 6-7 million immigrants with legal status while also satisfying these core principles.

 To that end, updating the “Registry Date”, which would make green cards available to longtime residents, can help realize this goal.

 “With a new registry date, millions of individuals “who have set down roots here, those who have lived and worked in service to our communities,”could be eligible for a green card. Rather than creating a patchwork of provisions and adding further complexity to existing immigration law, a single update to the registry date would offer a form of universal relief to DREAMers, TPS-holders, and other long-time community members. By way of example, the Migration Policy Institute estimates that at least 6.5 million have lived in the U.S. for 10 years or longer and could eligible for this form of relief.

 Given the massive social and economic benefits that come with legalizing the immigration status of millions of immigrants, updating the cut-off date for registry is a logical and reasonable exercise of the Senate’s power to enact legislation through reconciliation.

 The ecumenical community is calling on Congress to Reinstate Permanent Protections through a Registry Update back into Build Back Better as a pathway to citizenship can be included in reconciliation. We remain committed and determined to ensure that the Build Back Better reconciliation bill delivers for millions of immigrants who call this country home and for those who have risked their lives and the lives of their loved ones to promote the health, safety, and prosperity of all Americans throughout the coronavirus pandemic. A pathway to citizenship is long-overdue and is critical for the country’s continued health response and economic recovery, and our efforts to rebuild our communities’ infrastructure.

 The Action and Advocacy ministry of the Baltimore-Washington Conference is calling on United Methodists to take a stand on this issue and to continue to answer God’s call to justice and peace. People’s lives depend on it.

 Resources:

 

Comments

Name: