///Rapid Response 08/08/07
Just, Humane, and Compassionate Immigration Legislation

General Assembly Resolution No. 0729 called on all Disciples to, from a faith perspective with intentionality, "advocate immigration reform legislation that is just, humane, and compassionate."

Comprehensive immigration reform legislation failed to move forward in Congress this year. As a result, anti-immigrant legislators have been emboldened to offer amendment after amendment to other bills to further their enforcement-only approach. The public frustration with illegal immigration has been used as a cover for attempts to also strike at legal immigrants and to derail policy initiatives for poor people in general.

For example, a recent attempt was made to attach an amendment to another bill that would bar Social Security benefits to the foreign-born, unless the Social Security Administration could determine they had never contributed to Social Security when they were out of immigration status. Additionally, democratic representatives that voted for the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act were listed in Republican-funded ads that said they "would allow illegal immigrants access to government benefits," because the act includes the Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act.

Senators McCain and Graham, who were key supporters of comprehensive reform are now aligning with anti-immigrant legislators to sponsor a new bill that relates only to enforcement issues. It would make being out of immigration status a misdemeanor criminal offense, detain anyone who overstays their visa by 30 days, create a police data base of persons present in the United States without documentation, expand the crimes for which persons could be deported, add 14,000 additional Border Patrol agents, etc.

All of this is happening because legislators hear a lot from constituents who want an immigration crackdown. They don't hear much from those who want more just, humane, and compassionate responses to immigrants. For the remainder of the month of August, Members of Congress will be in their home districts. This is an important time to visit your Representative's or Senator's district office or to attend a "town hall" meeting. If, during this month, Members of Congress do not hear from more tolerant voices, it will be exceedingly difficult for them to fend off the anti-immigrant enforcement-only amendments they will face this fall.

The Church World Service Statement on Comprehensive Immigration reform, which may be helpful to your advocacy, can be found at www.churchworldservice.org/Immigration/archives/2007/01/106.html.