Workshop agenda Welcome and introductions History Central America – root causes The journey What happens in the U.S. AMMPARO What can you do? Wrap-up

History of AMMPARO Consultation, June 2015 Conference of Bishops, October 2015 Synodical vice presidents, October 2015 Latino Ministry Strategy, October 2015 ELCA Church Council in April 2016 Projected for ELCA Churchwide Assembly, August 2016

Central American Situation According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports in the year ended Sept. 30, 2014, there were detentions of 68,541 children aged 17 and under who crossed the border unaccompanied by a parent or relative.reports This compared to 38,759 the year before. Source: New York Times, 14/us/ mobile.html 14/us/ mobile.html

Central America – root causes Violence Poverty and economic hardship Family reunification Internal displacement is significant

Central American situation 2015 homicide rates in Northern Triangle countries El Salvador – per 100,000 Honduras – 62.5 Guatemala – 29.2 Compared to 2014 U.S. rate of 4.5 per 100,000 (2015 rate not available) Source: David Gagne, InSight Crimes 2015 Latin American Roundup Homicide Rate, Insight Crime, January 14, 2016

Northern Triangle cities with highest homicide rates San Pedro Sula, Honduras – 111 per 100,000 San Salvador, El Salvador – per 100,000 Distrito Federal, Honduras – 73.5 per 100,000 Source: Citizen Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice, “Caracas, Venezuela: The Most Violent City in the World”.

World femicide rates ( ) 1 El Salvador – Honduras – South Africa – Guatemala – 9.1 Compared to U.S. rate of 1.9 Source: Geneva Declaration, Global Burden of Armed Violence, 2015, Female Homicide Victims

Or by train, or truck

The journey: In-transit countries Virtually everyone who has contact with the migrant population in Mexico reports an increase in the number of entire families who are now making the perilous journey. This means that more women and children are exposed to dangerous situations, including human trafficking. Detentions and deportations are up dramatically in southern Mexico.

The Journey: Issues The dramatic increase in detentions and deportations in Mexico is a direct result of the Southern Border Plan, financed partly and supported by the U.S. government. While human trafficking is the most egregious example, “ border as industry, ” where everyone takes advantage of the migrant population, is the reality in southern Mexico. Migrants have been forced to seek new routes that are more isolated, more dangerous and that lengthen the time required to pass through Mexico.

Selected Videos A Mother and Child’s Story, ELCA Guardian Angel Program, ELCA, The Journey, LIRS,

U.S. situation Updated numbers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection Comparisons for Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 Southwest Border total Children Fiscal Year 2014Fiscal Year 2015Fiscal Year ,977 39,97020,255 * Families 62,84839,83824,616* (*4 months)

U.S. situation From1/1/15 to 7/7/15, more than 30,000 unaccompanied minors were placed with sponsors, usually parents or relatives. They remain there while their cases are processed. The majority of the children are in states where immigrants have traditionally settled, like Texas, New York, California and Florida. A large number were also sent to Maryland, Virginia, Georgia and Louisiana. Source: New York Times, see above

The ELCA AMMPARO Initiative 4 commitments 3 moments of the journey 3 guiding principles 4 activities

AMMPARO commitments “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1 Uphold and guarantee basic the human rights and safety of migrant children and their families; Address the root causes of migration in countries from Central America’s Northern Triangle and Mexico and the treatment of migrants in transit; Work toward just and humane policies affecting migrants in and outside the U.S.; and Engage as a church body with all of its companions, affiliates and partners to respond to the migration situation as a whole context and to advocate for migrant children and their families. In a whole church response, we will:

In order to fulfill these commitments, the ELCA will work with companions and partners, through strategies for ministry with: 1.those in the countries of origin: ILS, El Salvador, ICLH, CASM and LWF/WS, Honduras, ILAG and LWF/WS, Guatemala 2.those in countries of transit: ILM, AMEXTRA, Mexico 3.those in the U.S.: LIRS, LSS organizations, CWS

Independent guiding principles Accompaniment – projects, immersion visits Awareness building – learning opportunities, communication Advocacy – Alaide Vilchis Ibarra, ELCA Washington D.C. Office, state public policy offices

AMMPARO Protection Advocacy Representation Opportunities

Welcoming Congregations From the ELCA Southwest California Synod, commitments of a Welcoming Congregation: In obedience to Matthew 25:35 to welcome everyone Listen to the stories of our guests with respect and receive the divine blessings that they bring Share the gospel with our guests Provide our guests with emotional and spiritual support in times of disaster Help our guests access local and institutional services as needed Advocate for justice for and with our guests

Asylum applications skyrocket 1,179.4 percent more applications from Northern Triangle countries to Mexico, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama 369 percent more applications in the U.S. from the Northern Triangle Source: USHCR, Population Statistics, February 2016

ELCA Guardian Angel program for unaccompanied and migrant children This program provides spiritual and physical accompaniment of unaccompanied migrant children and families through their immigration court process.

Objectives Spiritual accompaniment – To provide spiritual support and prayer for them at court hearings Physical accompaniment – To be a visible sign of the church in immigration court to watch and document the court process, especially as the cases are subjected to a possible “rocket docket” Court watch – To monitor and document the court process, especially if there are violations of the process Resource sharing – If requested, to provide information about local resources to assist migrants in their transition to life in the United States

Advocacy Learn how you can make a difference at ELCA.org/ammparo ELCA.org/ammparo Sign up for the ELCA Advocacy Network: RED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=1621 &_ga= RED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=1621 &_ga=

Questions? Thank you!