November 7, 2017
Dear Members of Congress,
We, the undersigned 37 faith-based organizations, write to urge members of Congress to offer Dreamers the same compassion and commitment they have given to this country. It is time for Congress to immediately enact the Dream Act of 2017 (S. 1615/H.R. 3440), which provides a long overdue pathway to citizenship for our beloved immigrant youth.
With the cancellation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, almost 700,000 Dreamers are at renewed risk of deportation. We are deeply concerned by recent comments suggesting that protection for DACA recipients can wait until next year. Despite the six-month delay in enforcement, the consequences of terminating the DACA program are immediate, devastating, and profound.
Leaving Dreamers in prolonged limbo violates our nation’s values and sends a message of exclusion to immigrant youth. Dreamers cannot wait, our businesses cannot wait, our places of worship cannot wait, and our country cannot wait; Congress must act now.
It is a matter of moral urgency that Congress enacts a permanent solution. We implore Congress not to use Dreamers as bargaining chips to further entrench existing injustices in our immigration system. We urge Congress to enact the Dream Act before the end of this year.
Sincerely,
African American Ministers in Action
Alliance of Baptists
Bend the Arc Jewish Action
Bread for the World
Church World Service
Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, US Provinces
Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries Office
Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice
Esperanza
Faith in Public Life
Franciscan Action Network
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Interfaith Worker Justice
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Missionary Oblates Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Council of Churches
National Council of Jewish Women
National Justice for Our Neighbors
National Latino Evangelical Coalition
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Office of Social Justice, Christian Reformed Church in North America
Pax Christi USA
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A)
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Sojourners
The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
T’ruah:The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
Union for Reformed Judaism
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
Unitarian Universalist Association
Unitarian Universalist Refugee & Immigration Services & Education
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice
