Members of One Family How do we talk about immigration in the church? Jake Castro, Tammy Alexander cogdogblog/Flikr

Agenda Reflection Migration stories / root causes (video) Economics Rule of law (scenarios) Review / reflection Action Closing prayer

OPENING REFLECTION Prayer and scripture Brief word about dialogue

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

Migration stories Migrants today –Video: The Invisibles

Why do people move? Basic needs famine poverty Safety war/violence political persecution Opportunities lack of economic and educational opportunities Freedom of expression religious persecution Exploitation/environment mining deforestation U.S. policies NAFTA/subsidies -- cheap U.S. food drives Mexican farmers out of business

Per capita income (2007) U.S. - $38,000

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 Benefits Remittances Potential to bring family Skills learned in college Costs Brain drain Cost of crossing Loss of income when migrant can’t find job or is exploited Loss of life

BREAK-OUT GROUPS –Scenarios / flow chart RULE OF LAW

The immigration process U.S. Citizens: –Child/spouse/parent: 3-4 years –Adult children: years

The immigration process –No Family? –No “skills”? –No green card

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

Prayer Acts of Justice Acts of Mercy TAKE ACTION

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

FINAL QUESTIONS / THOUGHTS?

CLOSING PRAYER

© 2012 Mennonite Central Committee centralstates.mcc.org washington.mcc.org (facebook, twitter)