members of one family how do we talk about immigration in the church? jake castro, tammy alexander...
TRANSCRIPT
Members of One FamilyHow do we talk about immigration in the church?
Jake Castro, Tammy Alexandercogdogblog/Flikr
Agenda
• Reflection
• Migration stories / root causes (video)
• Economics
• Rule of law (scenarios)
• Review / reflection
• Action
• Closing prayer
OUR STORIES: How did we get here?
• BREAK-OUT GROUPS– Brief introductions
– Questions:
• When did you or your ancestors arrive in the US?
• From where?
• Why did you/they migrate?
Migration stories
• Biblical figures
– Abraham: opportunity
– Israelites during Babylonian Exile: safety
– Ruth & Naomi: famine
– Mary, Joseph and Jesus: safety
Why do people move?
• Basic needs faminepoverty
• Safetywar/violencepolitical persecution
• Opportunitieslack of economic and
educational opportunities
Freedom of expressionreligious persecution
Exploitation/environmentminingdeforestation
U.S. policiesNAFTA/subsidies --
cheap U.S. food drives Mexican farmers out of business
• BREAK-OUT GROUPS
– What are the economic costs of undocumented immigration?
– What are economic benefits of undocumented immigration?
ECONOMICS
• Costs
– Public school
– Emergency services
– Public spaces – use roads, sidewalks, parks
ECONOMICS
• Costs
– Public benefits (e.g., food stamps and welfare)
• Undocumented immigrants are NOT eligible (though, their U.S. citizen children may be)
• Documented immigrants must wait until they have been in the U.S. for 5 years
ECONOMICS
• Benefits
– Taxes
• Sales taxes
• Gas taxes
• Property taxes (through home ownership or rent)
• Income taxes– Majority pay federal, state, local
– Social Security & Medicare ($6-7 billion/yr)
ECONOMICS
• Costs vs. Benefits
– National studies (including one from CATO) show a large net positive benefit
– State studies as well show immigrants pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits
• Texas• Iowa• Colorado
ECONOMICS
Other Economic Costs
• Border security– $10 billion/yr
• Family separation– Almost 400,000 deported/yr
– Many are parents of U.S. citizen children
• Private prison industry– 30,000+ detention beds
– Multi-billion dollar industry (CCA, GeoGroup)
• Deaths– 4000+ have died crossing dessert since 1998
Economic impacts on countries of origin
• BenefitsRemittancesPotential to bring familySkills learned in college
CostsBrain drainCost of crossingLoss of income when
migrant can’t find job or is exploited
Loss of life
The immigration process
• U.S. Citizens:– Child/spouse/parent: 3-4 years– Adult children: 10-20 years
The Law
• Romans 13– “Let every person be subject to the
governing authorities…”
• Matthew, Leviticus – Care for those in need– Love the “alien” as yourself
What would you do?
• To feed your child?• To care for a sick parent?
• Move away to find work?• Cross a desert?• Break the law?
• Quality of life choices• Life and death choices
• What would “welcoming the stranger” look like for you and your family? What about for your church? What about for U.S. laws and policies?
• Do you think the command to welcome immigrants and the command to be subject to governing authorities can be reconciled together? How?
• How would you respond if you were born into a situation where you were struggling to live on $2 a day?
• What voices or ideas have influenced your views on immigration? Have any been from a Christian perspective?
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
• Pray
– For immigrants
– For the church
– For political leaders
– Prayer/worship resources
TAKE ACTION
• Engage: Action alerts
– Federal legislation – U.S. Congress• DREAM Act, eVerify, border militarization
– Obama administration• Family separation, DREAM students
– Campaigns • “Let My People Stay”, “DREAM Sabbath”
– Webinars• DREAM, Supreme Court, Secure Communities
JUSTICE: Advocacy & Education
• Engage: Partners
– Western District Conference Immigration Task Force
– washington.mcc.org/stateimmigration
JUSTICE: Advocacy & Education
• Teach– Small group– Community forum
• Learn– immigration.mcc.org– washington.mcc.org/immigration– Sister church– Your family’s migration story
JUSTICE: Advocacy & Education
• Money– Programs that address root causes
• MCC Guatemala
– Documentation services
• Time– Volunteer at a local organization– Visitation programs– English classes– Documentation services
MERCY: Giving time and money