MCC, Refugees & Immigration

Why are we here? Our sacred texts guide us Our values of Community, Inclusion, Social Action, and Spiritual Transformation form us Refugee and immigration crisis is a global concern Recent U.S. Presidential Executive Orders create deep concern

Sacred Texts – First Testament "When an immigrant resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress that person. The immigrant who resides with you shall be the same to you as a citizen among you; you shall love the immigrant as yourself, for you were once immigrants in the land of Egypt: I am your God." Leviticus 19:33-34

Sacred Texts – First Testament You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. Exodus 23:9 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. Ezekiel 16:49

Sacred Texts – Second Testament And Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. 1 John 4:20-21

Living out MCC’s Values As people of faith we are both Church and Movement. Our work is to be Aware Prepare ACT

U.S. Executive Order on Refugees Aware U.S. Executive Order on Refugees The order indefinitely barred Syrian refugees from entering the United States, suspended all refugee admissions for 120 days and blocked citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, refugees or otherwise, from entering the United States for 90 days: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/us/trump-refugee-ban-muslim-executive-order.html

Aware – Refugee and Asylum Status The United Nations defines a refugee as “someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence.”  In the U.S. “Refugee status or asylum may be granted to people who have been persecuted or fear they will be persecuted on account of race, religion, nationality, and/or membership in a particular social group or political opinion.”  U.S. Asylum status is a form of protection available to people who: Meet the definition of refugee Are already in the United States Are seeking admission at a port of entry You may apply for asylum in the United States regardless of your country of origin or your current immigration status. https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-asylum

Aware Global Impact Lebanon has more than 1 million and Turkey has more than 2.5 million Syrian refugees http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/how-lebanon-is-coping-with-more- than-a-million-syrian-refugees/ Citizens of 146 countries sought asylum for the first time in the EU in the third quarter of 2016 U.S. Impact In 2016, the US took in 85,000 refugees total mostly from Syria, Congo, Iraq, and Somalia settling in 10 US states. Trump slashed the 2017 number of refugees the United States will accept down to 50,000 http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/27/politics/donald-trump-refugees-executive-order/index.html 28 Jan 2017 Customs and Boarder Patrol began reviewing personal social media accounts for political views and asking opinion of President Trump to detainees. https://www.cnet.com/news/border-patrol-agents-checking-facebook-profiles-trump-immigration-ban/

Aware What may come soon: Executive Order regarding general green cards and work visas Draft leaked includes “Under the order, companies would have to prioritize hiring American workers, and if they must hire foreign workers, then they must prioritize the most highly compensated, according to the report.” http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/30/trumps-next-executive-order- draft-to-target-tech-companies.html Local Church Impact MCC Churches around the world include refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants U.S. MCC clergy and MCC denominational staff include immigrants on both Visa and Green Cards Concerns about upcoming Executive Orders limiting general green cards and visas, extending ban on persons from 7 nations, expanding the ban to include more nations

Sanctuary Cities and the U.S. Sanctuary Movement – to stop deportations and provide sanctuary to immigrants Push among universities to become Sanctuaries U.S. Sanctuary Cities are resisting block of Federal money http://cis.org/Sanctuary-Cities-Map

Sanctuary and Churches U.S. Churches and Synagogues http://www.groundswell-mvmt.org/sanctuary-101-how-churches-and-synagogues-are-stopping-deportations/ Find a Sanctuary Movement near you or learn about this social action at https://action.groundswell-mvmt.org/efforts/sanctuary2014

Prepare – A Place to Begin Global Who are your community partners? Identify 2-3 U.S. – or adapt for anywhere 10 actions in the First 100 days – EVERY 10 DAYS TAKE ACTION ON AN ISSUE WE ALL CARE ABOUT, STARTING TODAY. Visit: https://www.womensmarch.com/100/ Print cards and bring to church, work, neighbors, etc… to sign and mail Local Set up a gathering to discuss top concerns and plan to act Make banners, posters, signs, and videos together.

Act Global Social Media - Use #holyresistance #beMCC Blog, write, record/video your story and share with MCC and others U.S. Call National, State and Local representatives Set up a visit to National, State and Local representatives Report Hate – all types ReportHate@MCCchurch.net Local church Host education and activist events and activities with other organizations March and provide hospitality or communion to protesters