Migration, Refugees, & Immigration
The Episcopal Church seeks to address issues of global migration and its root causes as the number of displaced people surpasses 70 million worldwide. We work to protect the human rights and safety of refugees by supporting the refugee resettlement work of Episcopal Migration Ministries. Further, we are committed to advocating for humane immigration policies that respect the dignity and worth of every human being and for comprehensive immigration reform.
COVID-19
- The Dangers of Detention During COVID-19
- Statement on President Trump’s Recent Immigration Executive Order
- Refugees and COVID-19
- Immigrants and COVID-19
Sign-on Letter: Refugee-related requests for future COVID-19 legislation
Immigration
Begin your advocacy with this Overview of Advocacy on Refugee and Immigration Issues, then scroll down for more specific issue areas.
READ: Immigration Update August 2020
WATCH: Immigration Policy Update with Episcopal Migration Ministries, January 2020
Episcopal Church Resources
Diocesan Opportunities to Engage
Access to Asylum and Protecting Family Unity
The Episcopal Church supports access to asylum (protection granted by a nation) and family unity as key parts of our humanitarian protection system. Learn more about how to take action to defend access to asylum and to stop families from being separated.
Episcopal Church Resources
Webinar
Walking with Asylum Seekers: Ministry Opportunities for Congregations (October 2020)
Toolkit
Supporting Asylum Seekers: A Toolkit for Congregations
Dreamers and Advancing Immigration Reform
The Episcopal Church supports Dreamers, immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children, and recognizes them as part of our churches, communities, and part of our nation. Learn how to advocate for a legislative solution that would allow Dreamers and their families to obtain permanent status in the U.S. to continue contributing to our society, culture and economy.
Episcopal Church Resources
Action Alert
Tell Congress to pass protections for Dreamers!
Love God, Love Neighbor: Episcopal Month of Action
In June 2020, the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations and Episcopal Migration Ministries hosted Love God, Love Neighbor: Episcopal Month of Action, a series of webinars to help people learn and advocate with and on behalf of immigrants, DACA recipients, refugees, and asylum seekers.
DACA
Watch: Episcopal Action on DACA
Act: DACA Action Toolkit
Pray: A Litany for Episcopal Action on DACA
Refugee Resettlement
Watch: Episcopal Action on Resettlement
Act: Resettlement Action Toolkit
9 things your congregation can do to support refugees
Asylum
Watch: Episcopal Action on Asylum
Act: Asylum Action Toolkit
9 things your congregation can do to support asylum seekers
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
TPS offers protection for hundreds of thousands of individuals who had to flee or were unable to return to their home countries due to natural disasters or armed conflict. TPS folders are authorized to work in the U.S. and protected from deportation. Learn how to advocate for a solution for TPS holders.
Partner Resources
Action Alerts
There are no active alerts on this issue at this time. Please check back soon or go to our main action alerts page.
Refugee Resettlement and Protection
We have long supported a robust refugee resettlement program for those who have fled their native countries to escape persecution, oppression, and war. Through The Episcopal Church’s resettlement agency Episcopal Migration Ministries, refugees are resettled to the U.S. and make a new life here with the support of the communities that welcome them. Learn how you can help continue this tradition of welcoming refugees to new homes in the U.S. and to advancing peacemaking and protection for refugees around the world.
Episcopal Church Resources
Action Alerts
There are no active alerts on this issue at this time. Please check back soon or go to our main action alerts page.
Episcopal Migration Ministries
The refugee resettlement agency operated by The Episcopal Church works in partnership with the U.S. government to support refugees, immigrants, and the communities that embrace them by offering a wide variety of programs and services as part of its ministry.
Hometown podcast: Check it out in Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or SoundCloud, and on their website.
Ongoing Work
Immigration is a complex and multifaceted issue with far-reaching impacts for our families, communities, local economies, national security, and the role of the U.S. in the world.. Due to the array of policies and laws that make up the U.S. immigration system, as well as the unexpected and new root causes of migration like natural disasters and conflict, we will highlight other immigration issues that require our attention as they come up, which are distinct from the other areas of advocacy listed above.
Sanctuary
Learn how you and your congregation can be a part of the Sanctuary Movement
Public Charge
While the period for public comment on the proposed changes to public charge has ended, here are the statements and resources we shared on the issue.
- Backgrounder on Public Charge Rule Changes
- Join the Protecting Immigrant Families campaign
- Episcopal Church’s Submitted Comment Opposing Public Charge Rule
The Episcopal Church Responds to Harmful Changes on Public Charge Determination
The Episcopal Church is deeply concerned by this proposed rule significantly altering the public charge determination, which will have lasting negative impacts on the health and dignity of large numbers of immigrants providing for themselves and their families. The rule would essentially force immigrants to do the impossible: to choose between utilizing public benefits they and their children may need, such as food assistance and health care, and obtaining permanent legal status in the United States in order to keep their family together long-term.
As a Church, we must support parents who want to provide for their children and keep families together. Our faith calls us to help the strangers in our midst by ensuring that we provide basic assistance to our neighbors irrespective of their immigration status. This extreme and unprecedented measure is not aligned with our Church’s commitment to supporting compassionate and reasonable immigration policies, nor our commitment to helping the most vulnerable among us.
Contact:
The Office of Government Relations
eppn@episcopalchurch.org