Immigration

Bishops of the United Methodist Church applauded President Barack Obama on Friday for his intention to start the immigration reform process this year.

“We join other religious leaders in thanking President Obama for placing immigration reform on his political agenda for 2009,” said the 28 UMC bishops who signed the statement as of Friday. “As United Methodists we believe that immigration is a human rights issue that needs serious attention.”

Speaking from Mexico City, Obama had said on Thursday that he favors a common sense approach to immigration reform that would help people on both side of the U.S.-Mexico border, according to The Associated Press. The president wants a new system that would streamline the process for immigrants who want to come to the United States, and create a pathway for illegal immigrants already in the country to become legal residents. more >>

A diverse group of Christian leaders and organizations voiced support for plans by the Obama administration to address immigration reform this year, a move that has riled opponents who argue that he should first focus on fixing the economy.

"Christians throughout the United States are energized and encouraged by the courageous steps taken by the Obama administration to prioritize reform of our broken immigration laws," said Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CCIR) in a statement released on Thursday.

"Today's statements from the administration indicate that Obama will make good on his campaign promise by committing to reform within the first year of his term," said the coalition, which consists of diverse Christian organizations, churches, and leaders united in support of comprehensive U.S. immigration reform. more >>

WASHINGTON – Usually, conservative evangelicals are not known to support immigration reform. But several prominent leaders of the movement made their case Tuesday evening for new immigration laws, joining a growing number of Christians who refer to the Bible for support in "welcoming the stranger."

The evangelical leaders – including Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals – urged American evangelicals to engage in the immigration debate and call upon the U.S. government to work on new immigration laws this year.

Immigrants, having become the fastest growing evangelical church in the United States, are not “the others,” but they are “us,” the leaders pointed out. more >>

WASHINGTON – Immigration reform, an issue that has been pushed to the backburner due to the state of the economy, was revived Wednesday when a diverse group of faith leaders launched a large-scale campaign to push U.S. lawmakers to quickly tackle the complex and emotionally charged problem.

Five religious leaders from Christian and Jewish traditions were joined by two U.S. congressmen to launch the “Prayer, Renewal and Action on Immigration” campaign. The campaign seeks to engage and educate congregations and people of faith on the immigration reform debate.

It includes, among its first set of actions, holding over 100 prayer vigils across the country in the month of February. more >>

Christian leaders in Postville, Iowa – site of the largest immigration raid in U.S. history – discussed the sadness that now pervades the rural town and why U.S. laws should be changed to avoid another humanitarian disaster like the one the town experienced.

“Our community is worn out after seven months of fear, chaos, and on-going demands,” said the Rev. David Vasquez, campus pastor of Luther College in nearby Decorah, Iowa, on Wednesday during a teleconference.

Vasquez and other Iowa church leaders, including Paul Rael of St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, have been at the forefront of caring for the immigrants working at Agriprocessors Inc. – the nation’s largest kosher slaughterhouse – which was raided in May. more >>