ELCA NEWS SERVICE

January 30, 2012  

ELCA leaders' effort to protect families pays off
12-02-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) - Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) believe progress has been made with a recent policy change
that would keep some families living in the United States, without legal
residency, to remain here while applying for legal status -- a step
intended to keeping families together.
     Such "policies have significant human consequences that affect the
lives and well-being of our neighbors," said the Rev. H. Julian Gordy,
bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Synod, Atlanta, and chair of the ELCA
Immigration Ready Bench.
     Before the policy change, people living in the U.S. undocumented who
return to their country of origin to apply for legal U.S. residency or
green card face years of separation from their family. The U.S.
Department of Homeland Security announced the new regulation Jan. 6.
     "There are many people who were brought to the United States without
documents as children. They've grown up here, gone to school, landed a
job, paid taxes, married and had children. They are Americans in every
way except for place of birth. Having to go back to their country of
origin and apply for residency could take years, posing hardship to their
families and communities," Gordy said.
     Although the policy change is considered a step in the right
direction in keeping families together, ELCA leaders still believe a
complete federal overhaul of the U.S. immigration system is needed.
     "What we really need in this country is comprehensive immigration
reform," Gordy said.
     Along with other ELCA members and synod bishops, Gordy advocated for
the policy change in Washington, D.C., this past fall. He also helped
initiate a letter to members of Congress and President Barack Obama to
express concern over new state immigration laws. Nearly 60 of the 65
synod bishops of the ELCA endorsed the letter in November 2011, which
said that federal reform should restore trust in communities and include:
+ An earned pathway to lawful permanent residency and eventual U.S.
citizenship for immigrants and their families who learn English and pay
back taxes.
+ Expeditious reunification of families and protection against separating
families.
+ Expansion of legal avenues for workers to allow immigrants to migrate
to the United States in a safe and legal manner.
+ Decreased use of immigration detention, improvement in detention
conditions with increased access to medical assistance, pastoral care and
legal council and the increased use of community-based programs that
assist immigrants who do need to be incarcerated.
+ Improved border policies that treat all individuals with respect and
allow the U.S. government to focus on individuals involved in the
trafficking of people, drugs, weapons or other dangerous people seeking
entry.
+ Increased programs and resources to help immigrants participate fully
in U.S. social and civic life.
     The Nov. 30 meetings with Congress and the White House were
organized by the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, one of the
United States' leading agencies in welcoming and advocating for refugees
and immigrants. Based in Baltimore, it works on behalf of the ELCA, The
Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America.
     "We wanted to underscore the work of Lutheran Immigration and
Refugee Service and the ELCA's concern about the broken immigration
system, and to move forward with ways to help and keep families and
communities intact," said Eric Sigmon, director for advocacy at Lutheran
Immigration and Refugee Service.
     "This Congress has been unable to agree upon fair and humane
immigration reform legislation," said Sigmon. The ELCA, Lutheran
Immigration and Refugee Service and other groups have worked with the
Obama administration in the past year "to make good policy changes that
help families (and) do not necessarily require Congress to pass new laws.
The administration can make decisions given the authority provided," he
said.
     ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson, who serves on Obama's advisory
council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, also wrote Congress
and the president this past November, calling for immigration reform and
support for the DREAM Act (the Development, Relief and Education for
Alien Minors Act) -- legislation that would provide a path for
citizenship for undocumented high school graduates.
     The 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the chief legislative authority
of this church, called on its leaders to support comprehensive U.S.
immigration reform and the DREAM Act.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United
States, with 4.2 million members in 10,000 congregations across the 50
states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work.
Our hands," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in
Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's
roots are in the writings of the German church reformer, Martin Luther.

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