Webinar on seeking asylum in the United States coming Tuesday

Office of Public Witness to host ‘Speaking Truth to Power’

by Office of Public Witness | Special to Presbyterian News Service

View of the Sulphur Springs Valley, looking west from International Boundary Marker 83, along the U.S.-Mexico border. (Photo by Christy Bergdoerf)

LOUISVILLE — The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Office of Public Witness will host a webinar to provide timely information about U.S. detention and asylum policies, which have contributed to the deaths of more than 20 people in detention centers and the separation of thousands of families seeking asylum in the U.S.

“Speaking Truth to Power: A Faithful Response to U.S. Detention and Asylum Policies” is set for 3 p.m. Tuesday. Click here to register.

The current administration’s asylum policies have vastly reduced the number of asylum seekers accepted into the U.S. and have forced many seeking asylum to wait for months in exceedingly dangerous situations while their cases are processed through U.S. courts.

These U.S. policies are inhumane, according to the Office of Public Witness, and go directly against the Christian call to love and care for our neighbors.

Webinar speakers will discuss ways in which the PC(USA) and other organizations are speaking out in opposition to U.S. government policies and how people can get involved in these efforts. Speakers will help webinar participants learn more about our migrant brothers and sisters, why they are seeking asylum and how people can advocate for justice on their behalf.

Speakers will include Daniella Burgi-Palomi, senior associate, Latin America Working Group; Hannah Graf Evans, legislative representative, Friends Committee on National Legislation; Ruth Noel, activist council member, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship; and Emily Sutphin, summer international policy intern, Office of Public Witness.

The webinar will be moderated by Catherine Gordon, representative for international issues, Office of Public Witness.