members of one family how do we talk about immigration in the church? jake castro, tammy alexander...
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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
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