Christian Churches Together Latino Network
Immigration Reform Principles
Introduction
As Hispanic/Latino/a Christian leaders representing a wide range of Evangelical, Pentecostal, Historic Protestant churches, we celebrate and support the Biden administration Executive Orders and the proposed legislation concerning immigration.
Our churches and communities are full of families negatively impacted by ineffective, illogical, and inhumane immigration policies. The high percentages of Hispanics/Latinos/as essential workers or small business owners as well as health care disparities have caused us to suffer disproportionately from COVID, which has only increased the burden and pain of draconic changes in our immigration system. The Executive Orders will improve our asylum and refugee policies, family reunification, response to Dreamers and enforcement priorities, recognize the contribution of agricultural workers and ensure reasonable border policies – all of which will provide immediate relief to our communities. We also applaud the general commitment to a consistent and just system evident in the proposed legislation, which would benefit immigrants and citizens alike. As a community with direct and daily contact with the immigration crisis, we are committed to working with the administration and Congress on a bipartisan basis to develop and advocate for an immigration system that works for all. A system that fully recognizes the dignity of all of God’s people.
All our leaders support the Declaration of Values and principles below, and we will use the statement as the foundation for our advocacy efforts.
Declaration of Values and Principles in Support of Immigration Reform
Christian Churches Together Latino Network leaders are committed to advocacy that seeks justice for the migrant, the immigrant, the asylee and the refugee among us. We believe and hope our Christian values of welcoming the stranger and loving our neighbor will inform our country’s policies. The scriptures are not silent regarding the treatment of immigrants: “When a stranger sojourn with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” (Lev. 19:33-34, ESV). We also believe that the best of our American tradition has been compatible with these values.
The United States is a nation of immigrants. Throughout its history our nation has welcomed people from all over the world have contributed to our communities and our national life. Today, as in the past, immigrants are also creating prosperity and contributing to the economy of our nation. Additionally, second generation immigrants are among the strongest contributors to the U.S. economy and pay more in taxes than the rest of the native-born population.
In numerous ways, our current immigration system is broken and no longer addresses the needs of immigrants and refugees, as well as the economic and workforce realities in our own country.
As Christians leaders from diverse traditions, we urge the US Congress to enact immigration policy that embodies these key principles:
Respects the God-given dignity, worth, and rights of all people who desire to come to the United States to contribute to our country and way of life.
Respects the safety of our citizens and protection of our country’s sovereignty, through a nondiscriminatory, humane, and modern border security and enforcement system.
Recognizes the right of every human being to seek asylum from persecution in our country and the guarantee that no person will be deported to a country where they could face torture or persecution.
Addresses the root causes of migration and the conditions that generate the forced displacement of families to our borders.
Protects the unity of the immediate family, including the care and protection of migrant children and their well-being.
Establishes a timely path toward legal status and/or citizenship for:
DREAMers, according to DACA requirements
Recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Parents of American citizen children
Military personnel and servicemembers
Those who qualify and who wish to become permanent residents.
Advances immigrant integration: by providing and facilitating access to programs -- from language learning to financial literacy -- that helps them develop their talents and contribute to our society.
May 10, 2021
Signatories
Rev. Dr. Angel Marcial – General Bishop of Church of God for Latin America
Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra - Matthew 24 and Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies Fuller Theological Seminary
Dr. Antonio Cediel - Live Free National Campaign Manager for Faith in Action
The Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén - Latino/Hispanic Ministries and Director, Ethnic Ministries / The Episcopal Church
Agustin Quiles - President and Founder, Mission Talk
Rev. Eddy Alemán - General Secretary, Reformed Church in America
Rev. Carlos L. Malave - executive director, Christian Churches Together
Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Conde-Frazier -Coordinator of Relations with Entities of Theological Education, Association for Hispanic Theological Education
Dr. Fernando Cascante - Executive Director AETH, Director of The Justo Center
Rev. Iris de Leon-Hartshorn - associate executive director of Operations and director of Human Resources, Mennonite Church USA
Jesse Rincones, J.D. - Executive Director, Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas (Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas)
Rev. Jose Garcia - Bishop, Church of God of the Prophesy
Lisa Cummins - President of Urban Strategies
Bishop Efrain Pineda, Jr. – Congreso Red & Vida Church Founder & Lead Pastor
Bishop Jesse Yañez - Bishop Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota. Church of God of the Prophecy
Rev. Lori Tapia - National Pastor for Hispanic Ministries Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Dr. Luis Avila - Director of Hispanic Ministries, International Pentecostal Holiness Church
Dr. Michael Mata - First Church of the Nazarene Los Angeles
Marco Grimaldo - Deputy Director of Church Relations, Bread for the World
Noel Castellanos – President of Camino Alliance
Rev. Roberto Ochoa – Associate for Congregations of Color & Ethnic Identified Congregations United Church of Christ
Rev. Rubén Ortiz - Latino Field Ministries Coordinator, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Dr. Robert Chao Romero, PhD Assistant professor César E. Chávez Department
of Chicana and Chicano Studies UCLA
Rev. Rosa Miranda – Coordinator Hispanic Ministries, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Sergio Navarrete - Southeastern Pacific Superintendent for the Assemblies of God Spanish District
Sandy Ovalle – Director of Campaigns and Mobilizing, Sojourners
Vince Gonzalez - Mitigation Specialist, National Leader United Methodist Church
Elket Rodriguez – Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Immigrant and Refugee Specialist
Rev. Salvador Orellana - Director of Intercultural Ministries; Latino Ministries; and Rebuilding, Restoring, Renewing Puerto Rico. American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS)