Gustavo Torres (center), Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño (right), and other activists lead a march in front of the White House as members of the United Methodist Church along with Unitarian Universalists, Quakers, Catholics, Baptists, Jews, and other faiths participate in a “Day of Prophetic Action” on immigration policies at the White House. More than 110 were arrested, the largest such action outside the White House to date. Photo by Jay Mallin, United Methodist Board of Church and Society Photo: United Methodist News Service
Last Wednesday, CWS celebrated another year of working toward a more just world for refugees and immigrants by honoring three recipients with the John Backer Champion 4 Change Award. Among the recipients was United Methodist Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño, a long-time advocate for immigrant rights.
While Bishop Carcaño was unable to attend the Benefit 4 Change in person, she recorded an acceptance speech that included important words on the role of people of faith in immigration advocacy.
I believe there is no greater cause, no greater sacred task in the history of our country than to work for immigration reform. To work on behalf of immigrant families who have been broken apart, who have been separated by cruel laws and cruel implementation of our immigration policies. We need to walk alongside our immigrant brothers and sisters. We need to be welcoming to those immigrants yet coming, among them the unaccompanied children from Central America. Human suffering should touch our hearts, and human suffering is all around us, particularly with our immigrant families… I’ve been told if the United States is bold and courageous, we will transform the world in terms of immigrants and immigration. Let us be bold and courageous.
With President Obama’s announcement on administrative relief scheduled for 8pm EST this evening, these words are particularly timely.
Earlier today faith leaders and immigration activists met by teleconference to discuss the President’s announcement, which many anticipate will provide limited and temporary relief from deportation for up to 5 million undocumented.
Pablo Alvarado, Director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), reminded participants to remember those who risked so much to make change possible. “We are grateful for the labor, the courage, the risk, and the sacrifice of so many undocumented migrants who have gotten us to this moment, and we will judge the President’s policy on the merits, by measuring whether it helps or hurts those who we know and love.”
Those who might potentially benefit from administrative relief are hopeful not just for themselves but for their families. “I don’t know if President Obama’s action will help my mom,” said Gerardo Grijalva, Jr. whose mother, Rosa Robles Loreto, has been in Sanctuary in Southside Presbyterian church in Tucson AZ for more than three months in an effort to avoid deportation. “I do know my mom is a good person. I know that I want my mom at home with me, my brother, and my dad. It’s not my fault that I’m not 15 yet and can’t get DACA for four more years. But my mom shouldn’t be deported because of that.”
Bishop Carcaño continued her call for immigration reform and promised not to forget those not covered by the relief promised by the President’s announcement. “People of faith all over the country are praying that President Obama’s action…will be bold and undeterred by any who would seek to undermine this long overdue justice…We certainly will continue to advocate for the millions who may not be protected from deportation.”
President Obama’s announcement will be streaming at http://WhiteHouse.gov/Immigration-Action at 8pm EST tonight.
To learn more about immigration advocacy at CWS, visit our website and follow us on Twitter @CWS_global.