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/What We Do/Service and Advocacy/Immigration Resources

Service and Advocacy > Immigration Resources
 

Woman holds sign at rally

Welcome the Stranger 2.0

A Resource Hub for United Methodist Women

Showing hospitality and advocating for justice for immigrants are ways United Methodist Women responds to the biblical mandates to welcome the strangers and love our neighbors as ourselves.

This webpage is a resource to help United Methodist Women members respond to the urgent needs of immigrant neighbors and advocate for just immigration policies.

What You Can Do

Pray

Pray for compassion by our elected leaders. Pray for families that are separated, for those appearing before judges to seek asylum, to those on the journey, to the lawyers and volunteers who are supporting them. Pray that we might have compassion.

Give

Give a special Mission Giving Gift for National Mission Institutions addressing the needs of immigrant women and children on the border and with immigrant and refugee resettlement.

  • Holding Institute Community Center, Laredo, Texas, provides temporary housing for families seeking asylum who face special risks, including the very young. It is an officially recognized immigrant assistance point through the International Committee of the Red Cross and is also working with the UNHCR—the United Nations’ refugee agency—in setting up a border network of aid centers. 
  • Good Neighbor Settlement House, Brownsville, Texas, provides respite for families released from immigration detention centers to rest, have a warm meal, a shower, and change into clean clothing as well as receive necessary supplies before continuing on their journey across the United States to be with their family members.
  • Neighborhood House, Calexico, California, provides respite for families released from immigration detention centers, including meals, showers, clean clothing and need supplies needed for cross-country travel to relatives living in the United States.
  • United Community Centers, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, supports families, including immigrants, living in border towns.
  • Neighborhood Center, Inc., Utica, New York, provides support for families living in border towns, including many new immigrants.
  • David & Margaret Youth and Family Services, LaVerne, California, assists immigrant families and advocate for their wellbeing.
  • Della Lamb Community Services, Kansas City, Missouri, assist immigrant families and advocate for their wellbeing.
  • InterServ, St. Joseph, Missouri, assist immigrant families and advocate for their wellbeing.
  • Susannah Wesley Community Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, provides assistance for immigrant families and advocacy for their needs.
  • Tacoma Community House in Tacoma, Washington, assists immigrant families and advocates for their wellbeing.
Support Justice for Our Neighbors, a United Methodist ministry providing critical legal support for immigrant families. Go to National Justice for Our Neighbors.

Help United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) provide for immigrant families by purchasing needed items on the Amazon registry

Advocate

  • Demand the reunification of children and parents separated at the border children.
  • Urge your Senate and Congressional representatives to pass a Dream Act—which expires March 5—with a path to citizenship to protect youth brought to this country as children.
  • Use “Ways United Methodists Can Stand with Immigrants”
  • Sign up for interfaith action with The Poor People’s Campaign for Moral Revival. United Methodist Women is a national co-sponsor of the Poor People’s Campaign.
  • Urge your Congressional representatives to act to protect immigrants with Temporary Protected Status who may now face deportation. Learn more at www.alianzaamericas.org/take-action
  • Speak up. Write letters to the editor in your local paper. Speak up for those seeking asylum.
  • Share and discuss this information with friends, your congregation and your community.

Volunteer

  • Volunteer locally with Justice for Our Neighbors, a United Methodist Church ministry providing critical legal assistance for immigrant families. 
  • Contact your state or local immigration coalitions for information on how to help.  A listing is here:  www.nilc.org/get-involved/links/ircoalitions
  • Volunteer to teach in ESL (English as a Second Language) classes in your community—this is an ongoing reality, not just a momentary flash point.  Ask your congregation to host classes.
  • Find out if there is a congregation in your community that is offering sanctuary to an immigrant. They need considerable volunteer and material support.

Educate

  • Seeking asylum is a legal right, and offering asylum is a legal obligation of the United States under international law. Get the facts and share this information in conversations with your family, church, community.
    • “Global Migration: Moving from one place to another is a protected human right", Church and Society, The United Methodist Church 
    •  Faith and Facts card—Global Migration, Church and Society.  En Español
  • Read and share statement by the Council of Bishops with Bishops of Methodist churches of Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras, Nov. 7, 2018. 
  • Learn about roots of the crisis in Central America. Read “What Is the Hondurans Caravan Really Telling Us” by Oscar Chacon.
  • Study and share "Immigration and the Bible." For a limited free resource from United Methodist Women contact: JUzumefune@unitedmethodistwomen.org; Also available in e-book format.

Share Your Actions at www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/mystory

Learn more about the Immigrant and Civil Rights Initiative:

*cbarton@unitedmethodistwomen.org
* facebook.com/UMWimmigration


Articles and Resources:

  • Women’s Faith Group Signs Amicus Brief for Ban on Indefinite Detention of Immigrant Children and Fam"immigration resources", "press release"
  • A Call to Action for United Methodists in Response to the Plight of Migrantsimmigration, "immigration resources"
  • United Methodist Women Statement Demanding an End to Child Detention and Family Separation at U.S. B"border crisis", "immigration resources", "press release"
  • United Methodist Women Stands with DREAMERSimmigration, "immigration resources", "press release"
  • Anxiety, Fear, and Family Separation: Immigrants Respond to Executive Orders "action alert", immigration, "immigration resources"
  • United Methodist Women CEO Joins Interfaith Opposition to Refugee Ban Based on Religion, Nationalityimmigration, "immigration resources", "press release", rjnews
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