Guide to Immigration Reform
Why the system is brokenYou, like many Americans, may proudly trace your heritage to an ancestor who immigrated to the US to make a better life for your family. Can immigrants today do the same thing? For many, the answer is no, due to a broken immigration system. The US once welcomed immigrants with open arms as long as they were not convicts, prostitutes, ill, or members of a certain racial group – most notably the Chinese. However, many of our ancestors—who were largely poor, unskilled, and without family in the US—would be denied green cards today. Under the current system, access to immigration visas are generally limited to those who are highly skilled or closely related to US citizens or permanent residents. Since 1965, immigration law has developed into an arbitrary, piecemeal system of enforcement and category limits, which is complicated and ineffective for the US and unjust for immigrants. Read on for a summery of the current system's problems, and what we can do to fix them.
Why do we care?You've probably heard the phrase "welcome the stranger" when talking about immigration reform. The fact is, the experience of being displaced as a migrant and a refugee lies at the very heart of the biblical narrative. We've pulled some key examples from the 2010 migration report to synod to help explain God's will in this divisive issue.
What Synod has saidThe matter regarding the migration of workers came onto the agenda of the denomination through the work of a study committee commissioned by Classis Zeeland in 2006 to address a pastoral concern arising from one of its congregations. This local church had engaged in ministry to mainly Latino migrant workers for several years, offering classes in English as a second language, Bible studies, and other kinds of practical help to families in need, including, on some occasions, legal assistance regarding immigration and work status. The congregation wanted to receive into membership some of these families who professed faith in Christ, but given the strong Reformed tradition of “fencing the table” from those who are known to persist in sinful behavior, they asked for advice from classis to determine if living without status in a country was inconsistent with the demands for life lived according to God’s will. Unhappily, due to the presentation in the overture, the broader issue of ministering to immigrant neighbors and addressing their needs was eclipsed by a discussion that focused on church discipline. Synod 2007 rejected Overture 6, apologizing for the hurt caused by the tone and thrust of the overture, its lack of inclusive language, and its narrow focus. However, Synod 2007 did recognize the need to address the conditions under which undocumented migrants in both Canada and the United States live, and thus it formed a committee to report and recommend how the Christian Reformed Church in North America might better address the needs of those who are marginalized by their lack of legal status. In 2010, the committee presented its report to Synod on “the issue of migration of workers as it relates to the church’s ministries of inclusion, compassion, and hospitality, and to propose ways for the church to advocate on behalf of those who are marginalized" (Acts of Synod 2007, p. 596). How is the church working toward comprehensive immigration reform? Keep reading!
Is it dangerous to for my church to help undocumented immigrants?The US bill aiming to make it a crime to assist an undocumented immigrant did not pass -- so churches continue to provide food, medical assistance, even financial support for immigrants. Many churches, for example, help to pay an immigrant's legal fees, or support a family after a primary breadwinner is deported. There is no requirement that churches limit the assistance that they provide with private funds, and so there is no requirement that churches verify the immigration status of those whom they assist. That being said, in many states there are often laws being considered that aim to change this. Most immigrant have some kind of documentation in Canada, though it may be pending or out of status -- for example, a refugee claim being processed, or a temporary or seasonal worker who has overstayed his visa. Churches can offer support to workers and refugees in those situations. Further, there have been churches in Canada which have offered sanctuary to refugees whose requests for asylum have been denied by the government of Canada and the refugee believes he/she will be tortured or killed if returned to his or her native country. In general, this sanctuary has respected by the government of Canada, though there have been a few cases of law enforcement entering churches to remove refugee.
In an economy like this, can we afford to welcome immigrants?Yes. Studies show that immigration is good for economic growth -- in fact, some economists maintain that welcoming more immigrants is the best way to ensure economic recovery. A 2009 study by the conservative Cato Institute found that legalization of low-skilled workers would boost the incomes of American workers and households by $180 billion over ten years. Immigrant labor complements both sides of the economic spectrum -- our employers need high-skilled workers (engineers, Ph.D.-holders), of which an increasing number are immigrants in today's economy. We also need "low-skilled" workers in our agricultural, construction, and hospitality industries -- jobs which don't suit the employment needs of the native-born work force which is becoming more and more educated. Employers from both sides of this spectrum agree: our government simply does not provide enough visas for these jobs to be filled legally by immigrants. This is why they are filled illegally.
Is Comprehensive Immigration Reform amnesty?Many people are concerned about "amnesty" for undocumented immigrants -- allowing legalization without penalty of those who are in the US and Canada illegally. Comprehensive Immigration Reform would include an earned path to citizenship for the undocumented. In fact, conservatives and liberals agree that reform of the system must include this; a deportation of the 12 million undocumented people who are in the U.S. would never be possible, and it would cause major harm to our economy. However, how immigrants would earn this privilege is up for debate. Some believe they should pay a fine. Others believe they should "touch back" to their home country to "wait in line" to immigrate again. Others think they should plead guilty to a criminal charge. While there are pros and cons to all of these ideas, what is clear is that we must find a way for immigrants to come out of the shadows, free of fear, and be allowed to contribute to society and have their rights protected.
Wouldn't tightening security at the border solve this problem?In a word: no. It's a wide-spread myth that all undocumented immigrants have "snuck across" a border. This isn't the case -- it is estimated that 40% have overstayed a visa that they obtained legally. And studies show that increased border security -- through fences, militarization, patrols, technology, and other means has not made a dent in the number of undocumented immigrants. While fences make crossing less safe (and increase the rate of migrant deaths and human trafficking), and pouring money into patroling the border diverts funds from other much-needed government projects, neither addresses the root cause of migration: when you can provide for your family on one side of a border but not the other, a fence won't stop you from trying.
Don't immigrants take advantage of welfare, and contribute to the crime rate?No. Click here to learn the truth, putting false and malicious myths about immigrants to rest.
PartnersChristians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
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