Faithful Actions in the struggle for human rights of immigrants
Consider taking one action in the month leading up to the Oct. 14-21 Food Week of Action and during that week.
Give money and/or time to immigrant-led and immigrant advocacy groups that have been grantee partners of the Presbyterian Hunger Program: CATA, Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Food Chain Workers Alliance, KIWA Workers for Justice, Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural, Rural & Migrant Ministry, Student Action With Farmworkers, and Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition.
And to groups that we join with in justice work: Community to Community Development, Migrant Justice, Worker Justice Center of NY, Mano en Mano, Mijente, Movimiento Cosecha, Pioneer Valley Workers Center, and United We Dream.
Contact your elected officials and ask them to:
- Call on Congress to release children from incarceration and reunite families [Read and share the – End Family Separation: Decriminalize Migration Grassroots Toolkit – from Presbyterian Church (USA)]
- Defund and abolish ICE (not PCUSA policy, but many partners are pushing for this and the House bill that follows)
- Tell your Representative to co-sponsor Representative Pocan’s (D-WI) ‘Abolish ICE’ Bill
- Decriminalize immigration
- Reject upcoming agricultural immigration bill: House Republicans hope to introduce an agricultural immigration bill, sponsored by Representative Newhouse (R-WA), onto the floor this month. This bill is expected to replace or expand the existing H-2A visa program, which has been criticized by agricultural workers rights groups for enabling guestworker exploitation and abuse. The bill also plans to require all employers, including farms, to start using the E-Verify system to check the legal status of their workers. Tell your Representative to reject this bill when it is introduced.
- Support the Agricultural Worker Program Act ( 1034, H.R. 2690), introduced by Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. Guttierez (D-IL). This bill would provide a path toward permanent residency and possible citizenship for some experienced agricultural workers and their families.
Contact companies profiting from ICE and Department of Homeland Security activities separating families. Visit Movimiento Cosecha and Sleeping Giants to get involved.
Publicly demonstrate your support. Attend vigils, rallies, protests, put a sign on your lawn, etc. Get trained in direct action. Now is not the time to remain silent. Follow immigrant organizations on social media and show up when they ask.
Know your rights and defend them. Watch this ACLU video for how to de-escalate and defend our constitutional rights.
Get educated about white supremacy. Many group resources exist but this website is specifically for white people who are seeking resources to address white supremacy in their institutions, families, and culture.
Videos, information and more from the PC(USA) Office of Immigration Issues