MCC, Refugees & Immigration - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

MCC, Refugees & ImmigrationSlide2

Why are we here?

Our sacred texts guide us

Our values of Community, Inclusion, Social Action, and Spiritual Transformation form us

Refugee and immigration crisis is a global concern

Recent U.S. Presidential Executive Orders create deep concernSlide3

Sacred Texts – First Testament

"When an immigrant resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress that person. The immigrant who resides with you shall be the same to you as a citizen among you; you shall love the immigrant as yourself, for you were once immigrants in the land of Egypt: I am your God."

Leviticus 19:33-34Slide4

Sacred Texts – First Testament

You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 23:9

Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.

Ezekiel 16:49Slide5

Sacred Texts – Second Testament

And Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Luke 10:27

Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters

also.

1 John 4:20-21Slide6

Living out MCC’s Values

As people of faith we are both Church and Movement. Our work is to be

Aware

Prepare

ACTSlide7

Aware

U.S. Executive Order on Refugees

The order indefinitely barred Syrian refugees from entering the United States, suspended all refugee admissions for 120 days and blocked citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, refugees or otherwise, from entering the United States for 90 days: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/us/trump-refugee-ban-muslim-executive-order.html

Slide8

Aware – Refugee and Asylum Status

The 

United Nations

 defines a refugee as “someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence.” 

In the U.S. “Refugee status or asylum may be granted to people who have been persecuted or fear they will be persecuted on account of race, religion, nationality, and/or membership in a particular social group or political opinion.” 

U.S. Asylum status is a form of protection available to people who:

Meet the definition of refugee

Are already in the United States

Are seeking admission at a port of entry

You may apply for asylum in the United States regardless of your country of origin or your current immigration status.

https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-asylum

Slide9

Aware

Global ImpactLebanon has more than 

1 million

 and Turkey has more than 2.5 million Syrian refugees

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/how-lebanon-is-coping-with-more-than-a-million-syrian-refugees/

Citizens of 146 countries sought asylum for the first time in the EU in the third quarter of 2016

U.S. Impact

In 2016, the US took in 85,000 refugees total mostly from Syria, Congo, Iraq, and Somalia settling in 10 US states.

Trump slashed the 2017 number of refugees the United States will accept down to 

50,000

http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/27/politics/donald-trump-refugees-executive-order/index.html

28 Jan 2017 Customs and Boarder Patrol began reviewing personal social media accounts for political views and asking opinion of President Trump to detainees.

https://www.cnet.com/news/border-patrol-agents-checking-facebook-profiles-trump-immigration-ban

/

Slide10

Aware

What may come soon:

Executive Order regarding general green cards and work visas

Draft leaked includes “Under the order, companies would have to prioritize hiring American workers, and if they must hire foreign workers, then they must prioritize the most highly compensated, according to the report.”

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/30/trumps-next-executive-order-draft-to-target-tech-companies.html

Local Church Impact

MCC Churches around the world include refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants

U.S. MCC clergy and MCC denominational staff include immigrants on both Visa and Green Cards

Concerns about upcoming Executive Orders limiting general green cards and visas, extending ban on persons from 7 nations, expanding the ban to include more nationsSlide11

Sanctuary Cities and the U.S.

Sanctuary Movement – to stop deportations and provide sanctuary to immigrants

Push among universities to become Sanctuaries

U.S. Sanctuary Cities are resisting block of Federal money

http://cis.org/Sanctuary-Cities-MapSlide12

Sanctuary and Churches

U.S. Churches and Synagogues http://www.groundswell-mvmt.org/sanctuary-101-how-churches-and-synagogues-are-stopping-deportations/

Find a Sanctuary Movement near you or learn about this social action at

https://action.groundswell-mvmt.org/efforts/sanctuary2014

Slide13

Prepare – A Place to Begin

Global

Who are your community partners? Identify 2-3

U.S. – or adapt for anywhere

10 actions in the First 100 days –

EVERY 10 DAYS TAKE ACTION ON AN ISSUE WE ALL CARE ABOUT, 

STARTING TODAY.

Visit:

https://www.womensmarch.com/100/

Print cards and bring to church, work, neighbors,

etc

… to sign and mail

Local

Set up a gathering to discuss top concerns and plan to act

Make banners, posters, signs, and videos together. Slide14

Act

Global

Social Media - Use #

holyresistance

#

beMCC

Blog, write, record

/video

your story and share with MCC and others

U.S.

Call National, State and Local representatives

Set up a visit to National, State and Local representatives

Report Hate – all types

ReportHate@MCCchurch.net

Local church

Host education and activist events and activities with other organizations

March and provide hospitality or communion to protesters