Immigration Reform
A Statement by Hispanic Ministries and the PC(USA)
July 2006

Hispanic Ministries of Miami Presbytery has taken leadership in our presbytery in calling for comprehensive, just, and humane immigration reform. Old Testament teachings challenge Israel to remember the time when they were “aliens” in the land of Egypt. We are called to love the strangers and to show hospitality and treat them as fellow citizens. This mandate has come from our biblical understanding of faith, our concern for our immigrant brothers and sisters with whom God has called us to minister, and in accordance with the policies passed by the 216th General Assembly in Richmond, Virginia.  In 2004, the Assembly approved the following Resolution (Item 10-05): 

Resolution Calling for a Comprehensive Legalization Program
for Immigrants Living and Working in the United States. 

The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) recommends that the 216th General Assembly (2004) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) do the following: 

1.      Approve the Resolution Calling for a Comprehensive Legalization Program for Immigrants Living and Working in the United States and call upon the members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its governing bodies to take the following actions: 

  1. Advocate for the establishment by law of a comprehensive legalization program for undocumented persons already living and working in the United States.
     
  1. Advocate the reform of current immigration policies and procedures to ensure a more timely and humane process, with special attention to family reunification and to those persons who have been waiting for their immigrant visas and for naturalization.
     
  1. Adamantly oppose the exploitation of any and all workers as a violation of the humane and just treatment due to all children of God.
     
  1. Join with interfaith and secular organizations that are working for comprehensive legalization.
     
  1. Direct the Office of the General Assembly (OGA) to communicate the above actions to the President of the United States, members of the United States Congress, the United States Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS), and the national and international ecumenical organizations to which the Presbyterian Church (U.S. A.) relates.

The PC (USA)’s Office of Immigration and the position of an Immigration Attorney were created by the 216th General Assembly. Attorney Julia Thorne was hired in July of 2005 to oversee this office addressing immigration issues that face the entire church. 

Hispanic Ministries will keep you posted concerning new resolutions that are passed at the 217th General Assembly in Birmingham, Alabama, concerning comprehensive legalization and humane treatment of immigrants within the next few days.  

Hispanic Ministries stands with the national church and in partnership with immigrants in our midst who are often abused and not treated with the hospitality and justice due all God’s children.  Immigrants come from a variety of racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. The issue is very complex. We work for legal solutions and stand against people who are illegally profiting from the abuse of immigrants in our nation and ask that all be treated with dignity and respect. We offer evangelistic outreach, pastoral care, and advocacy, and are called to bear the burdens of our sisters and brothers in all circumstances as Christ commands us so to do. 

Therefore, Hispanic Ministries of Miami Presbytery will: 

·         Work in partnership with other church and community agencies to host an immigration forum for debate. 

·         Host a workshop bringing together immigrants from our churches with other church members to discuss issues and strategy for ministry together. 

·         Continue to be strong voices in support of just, humane, and comprehensive immigration reform. 

·         Reach out to all immigrants sharing the good news of the gospel as Christ commands us so to do. 

Copies of the PCUSA’s Resolution Calling for a Comprehensive Legalization Program for Immigrants Living and Working in the United States, along with a Study Guide, have been placed in the Miami Presbytery Resource Center. You may also download the full text of the resolution along with a study guide.

We have invited Attorney Julia Thorne to come, sometime in 2006, to discuss, listen, and educate us all on comprehensive immigration reform and how this relates to ministry.  Hispanic Ministries hopes to bring a resolution to the Council, and then to Presbytery.