Immigration Ministry Team News
News from The Immigration Ministry Team, a group of FCCB members and friends addressing US immigration issues.
Immigration has become a burning issue in our community, state and country. Most of the current administration’s policies have been geared towards increased border enforcement and deportation of undocumented people. Currently there estimated to be 12 million undocumented people in the United States. Without legal status, they are subject to exploitation, hazardous working conditions, and inhumane treatment.
The New Sanctuary Movement, a resurgence of a faith based response to undocumented people that began in the 1980’s, aims to protect a small group of the undocumented population. It’s goal is to advocate for systemic change to regularize the status of undocumented workers in the US, halt deportations that split up families, enforce all labor laws justly, and change the trade policies that have crippled Mexican and Latin American economies. Churches are invited to join this movement and consider providing support, shelter, and safe haven to families who may be split up because of deportation. This ministry team is helping FCCB to study and prayerfully discern its participation in the New Sanctuary Movement. Three other Berkeley churches are engaging in the same process in hopes of working together to share resources. Contact: Debbie Woods.
Bay Area Rallies to Protest Immigration Laws
July 23, 2010
The Immigration Ministry Team of FCCB announces that two community actions protesting the implementation of SB 1070, the new Arizona immigration law, will be held on July 28 & 29, 2010. FCCB members are encouraged to get involved. SB 1070 is slated to take effect on July 29.
On Wednesday, July 28, from 4–6pm a non-violent civil disobedience action will take place at the New Federal Building at 7th & Mission in San Francisco.
On Thursday a demonstration and rally will be held at the Fruitvale BART plaza in Oakland. The event will feature testimony from undocumented workers, street theater, Mayan and Aztecan dances and spoken word/poetry. The program is from 3–4:30pm with dancing beforehand from 2–3pm.
In the last few months, a number of Bay Area counties, including both Alameda and Contra Costa, have implemented the national program known as the “Secure Communities” program. Like SB 1070 in Arizona, the “S-Com” program puts immigration enforcement in the hands of local police and subsequently increases the potential for racial profiling. Every time that someone is arrested by local police, their fingerprints must now be run through the homeland security database to determine their immigration status. Those who are undocumented can be automatically detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In places like Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco, “S-Com” severely threatens the notion of sanctuary city status.
July 1st Fast for Immigration Justice
July 1, 2010
The Immigration Ministry Team invites everyone to join them for a Bay Area fast and day of public prayer on Thursday, July 1. People of faith from across the state are fasting during the week, and a number of Bay Area congregations, including FCCB, have specifically chosen to make July 1 their day of public fasting and prayer. Over a dozen FCCB members have signed the pledge to fast that day with others sure to join.
We grieve for those who are dying and suffering under current immigration policies—families who live in terror of arrest, deportation and being torn apart from loved ones. Join us as we refuse the hateful and fearful ideas and laws in our nation which hurt our immigrant brothers and sisters—and call for our nation to morally stand for fairness, equality and humane treatment.
Immigration Issues Highlight April 19 Worship
April 19, 2009
On April 19, participants in the Immigration Immersion Trip shared their stories during and after worship. Trip leader Rev. Adam Blons preached a powerful sermon on the subject, trip participants sang and prayed during the service and Chris McCoy, an FCCB member and UC San Diego student read one of the poems he wrote in response to the trip. You can read more about the partipants and their experiences on the Immigration Trip Blog.
Listen to Adam Blon’s April 19 sermon on immigration issues.
Read two poems Chris McCoy wrote on the Immigration Immersion trip entitled “Barred” and “The Crossing”.
Listen to Chris read “Barred” during the April 19 worship service.
Immigration Trip Participants Share Stories during “Second Hour”
April 19, 2009
During the adult education “Second Hour” on April 19, the 13 Immigration Immersion Trip participants presented reflections on their experiences at the San Ysidro/Tijuana border. They explained the genesis and goals of the journey, recapped an overview of the program, and explored key issues surrounding the economic and human aspects of immigration. Students and congregation members offered stories of both immigrants and those living in the impoverished and exploitative circumstances of border towns.
The group challenged the congregation to consider its own agency in the unjust practices of multinational corporations that provide cheap comforts at the expense of laborers in Mexico. Said UC Berkeley student Sara Mizner, “If we examine the ways in which our lives are integrated with the lives of those in other spaces, positions, classes, then we can begin to establish and hold more humane and compassionate connections closer to our said ethics and morals.” If you are looking for ways to establish those compassionate connections, here are some ways to get involved:
- Urge your representatives to support the DREAM Act, which allows young undocumented people a conditional path to citizenship through a minimum of two years higher education or military service. Visit dreamact.info for more information.
- Support a repeal of section 102 of the Real ID act, which allows the Department of Homeland Security to disregard any state and federal law in order to build the border fence.
- Join the Immigration Ministry Team! Contact Adam Blons for more information.
- As trip participant Desteni Smith quoted, “Live simply so that others may simply live.”
Border Immersion Team Gets Firsthand Look at Immigration Issues
March 20, 2009
Read the Blog! On Friday, March 20, a team of 8 students, 3 church members, and leaders Tinley Ireland and Adam Blons embarked on a service-learning border immersion experience at the San Ysidro/Tijuana border. The trip has been organized and sponsored by the Immigration Ministry Team. On Sunday, March 15, the congregation commissioned the group (see video below), and then the group had a final meeting to explore the topic of immigration, create a community covenant, and personalize their reflection journals with images that speak of transcending borders.
The group which has diverse religious, cultural, and national backgrounds and experiences was united by a commitment to be immersed in the situation at the border, discern how to better be agents of justice, and return ready to make change in our communities. Their experience on the trip was powerful. Adam Blons, Minister of Community Life and one of the teams leaders, had this to say about his experience: “Personally, this trip fueled my desire to expand my sense of community in Berkeley by reaching across the racial borders that exist there. The five walls separating Tijuana and the US are not just about citizenship, but also race. And the border is not just here. It is in our communities, it is in our conversations, it is in our economic system, and it is in our church, and it is in our hearts. I am called to try to heal those divisions in my own life and community through the power and possibility of loving relationships.”
Check out the Immigration Trip Blog for wonderful reflections on the trip.
Read more about the Centro Romero, an organization run by the Justice & Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ, which the group visited on their immersion trip.
Watch the blessing of the group that took place on Sunday, March 15, below.
Immigration Hearing Report
April 8, 2009
Minister of Community Life Adam Blons attended an immigration hearing last week for a family that has been part of the Immigration Sanctuary Movement. Maria and Augustin Sanchez are threatened with deportation even though some of their children are legal residents of the United States. Adam writes, “The judge for this case was very compassionate and the government’s lawyer was benign. I felt that the dignity of the family was honored during the hearing. That said, it is still shameful that the government would even consider splitting up a family. In addition, I observed many times today how misunderstanding created doubt during the testimonies. The language barrier in these situation goes beyond words.” The hearing was not completed and will continue this week. Read Adam’s full report of the hearing. It provides an inside look at what deportation hearings are like. Also you can download an Interfaith Immigration Platform, which provides a framework for immigration policy reform.
First Congregational Hosts Immigration Teach-In
May 3, 2008
The Immigration Ministry Team presented a free Teach-In on Saturday, May 3, with Prof. Margaret Hunter. The event began with an interactive, multimedia historical overview of immigration policy in the U.S. by Prof. Hunter, followed by a testimony from a local family. Margaret Hunter is an author and Asst. Prof. of Sociology at Mills College.