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Success is sweet, but it also serves as a reminder of how much more there is to accomplish. As Christians continue to advocate for sensible, fair immigration reform based on policies that are just and humane, recent developments again teach us this lesson.
The recent Supreme Court decision striking down most of Arizona’s SB 1070 is an important victory for the dignity of immigrants in this country, as three harsh measures of the law were rightfully ruled unconstitutional. However, the Court withheld judgment on a morally troubling piece of the law known as 2(b) or the “show me your papers” provision, which allows law enforcement to check the immigration status of individuals apprehended for non-immigration offenses if law enforcement has a “reasonable suspicion” that the person violated U.S. immigration laws in entering the country.
While the Court’s recent decisions affirmed the federal government’s authority to determine and implement national immigration laws, it remains to be seen whether additional cases advancing through the legal system, which challenge section 2(b) of SB 1070 for causing civil liberties violations, will succeed. Laws that are morally indefensible and racially motivated sow division and create harm within our communities, which means Christians must continue to monitor developments about SB 1070 and to oppose efforts in other states to copy the Arizona legislation.
The relative success of challenges to Arizona’s SB 1070 reminds us that a real solution to our broken immigration system can only occur when Congress gives this issue the attention it needs and deserves. As advocates for immigrants, we must continue to pressure our elected officials to act.
Jim Wallis: Immigration: Unity, Morality, and Common Sense“Nearly 150 evangelical leaders signed onto an ‘Evangelical Statement of Immigration Reform.’ Signers came from across the spectrum of evangelicalism ... Sojourners stood side by side with Focus on the Family to draw attention to the plight of millions who have been caught up in our broken immigration system ... This coming together to help fix a broken immigration system on behalf of those who most suffer from it is just what politics needs and could begin to affect other issues, too.”
Ivone Guillen: Reactions to Supreme Court Ruling on Anti-Immigrant Law (PHOTO & VIDEO)“Today, as I stood on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court eagerly following Arizona’s SB 1070 ruling, I had the opportunity to interview some advocates of the immigration reform movement. The message that seemed to resonate among those present was that although three of the four provisions were struck down, the fourth—the so-called ‘show me your papers’ clause—is very harmful to communities.”
Kyle Dechant: DREAMers- Not So Different From Me“I am a foreign-born, U.S. citizen who was adopted as an infant. In many ways, my story is not much different from that of DREAMers—the 1.4 million unauthorized immigrants, between the ages of 15 and 30, who were brought to this country by their parents when they were under the age of 16 ... I believe that as people of faith, we should consider a federal DREAM Act as a rendering of justice and restoration to an injustice in our time.”
Blocking Parts of Arizona Law, Justices Allow Its CenterpieceIn its long-awaited decision, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its split verdict in a 5-3 vote to strike down three of the four provisions of Arizona’s SB 1070 immigration law. The court upheld the more hotly debated provision known as the “show me your papers” section, which allows for racial profiling to occur. In addition, the court declared that immigration policy is the federal government’s responsibility and not the states’.
U.S. will stop deporting some undocumented immigrants who came here as childrenThe Obama administration recently announced that it would provide relief from deportation to an estimated 800,000 young undocumented immigrants and allow them to file for work permits. This group of immigrants has to meet a number of criteria that show applicants are productive and law-abiding residents of this country before they can qualify for the relief.
With the new announcement come fears and restrictions:
- Obama Deportation Policy Change: Groups Help Immigrants Prepare To Apply For Reprieve
- Fraud a danger for immigrants offered work permits
- For Young Immigrants With a Past, A Fear of Falling Into Policy’s Grey Area
- Few Undocumented Immigrants Qualify for Military Exception Under New Rules
Leaders from across the faith community are joining the pleas of our immigrant brothers and sisters to urge an end to unjust structures and the enactment of real solutions when it comes to immigration policy. Some of these diverse voices include:
- Pope Benedict supports US bishops’ work for immigration reform
- Focus on the Family president comes out in favor of immigration reform
- Liberal, Conservative Evangelicals Unite for Immigration Reform
- Jewish groups praise, question high court’s immigration ruling
- Immigrant Women Speak Out Against SB 1070, Copycat Laws
- Police warn Arizona law will incite crime
- Immigration enforcement is on wrong side of history
- Chris Hayes to Ariz. immigration law architect: 'Convince me ... this is not motivated by racial animus'
- Deportations Continue Despite U.S. Review of Backlog
- Arizona police see immigration law as enforcement headache
- Immigrant Detention Center Rejected in Chicago Suburb
- Secure Communities Immigration Checks Resisted In District Of Columbia
- Coalition opposing immigration law outlines plans of attacking it
- AB 1081 limits local enforcement's immigration check
- Why ‘illegal immigrant’ is a slur
- Perception vs. reality in immigration debate
- Our enduring love-hate relationship with immigrants
As we continue to provide useful resources for your ongoing efforts, here are a few that have been recently developed. Please feel free to share widely!
- VIDEO: A six-minute film on the plight of the undocumented by John X. Carey
- DISCUSSION GUIDE: For a limited time get Sojourners' "Christians and Immigration" discussion guide at 50% off. Use coupon code "halfoffci."
- CALL (7/30) with Department of Homeland Security on recent Administration decision: To join in this significant call on Monday, July 30 from 3-4:30 p.m. EST, please call 1-800-920-7487 and use the code 155851.
- Hotline set up by Department of Justice to report civil rights violations in Arizona after the Supreme Court decision.
- Report: Children in Immigrant Families: Essential to America’s Future.
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