News from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America June 6, 1996 Title: LUTHERANS COMMITTED TO IMMIGRATION The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America "has its roots in the immigration of past generations and takes its commitment to refugees and immigrants very seriously," Kay S. Dowhower wrote May 22 to members of Congress working on compromise legislation for the Immigration Control and Financial Responsibility Act. Dowhower directs the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs, the ELCA's federal public policy advocacy office in Washington, D.C. The U.S. House and Senate passed similar immigration bills, and Dowhower wants the final version to include parts of each. A House amendment would exempt the sponsors of legal immigrants from financial responsibility, to avoid a sponsor's neglect resulting in legal immigrants being denied benefits that are provided illegal immigrants. A Senate amendment would exempt certain charitable organizations from verifying the immigration status of the people they serve. Dowhower also asked the conference committee to oppose five amendments, including one that would deny education to undocumented children. "We believe that regardless of their citizenship, all human beings are equally entitled to what they need to live in meaningful relationship to God and neighbor," wrote Dowhower. "A society's health can be measured by how it treats those in its midst who are most impoverished, who often are refugees and non-citizens." [ELCA News and Information: 8765 W. Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631; phone 312/380-2963]