Parent/Child Separation at the Border: Resources and How To Help

Dear Parishioners,

Many of you have expressed sadness and deep concern about the current situation on our southern border, and have asked how to help.

Our Presiding Bishop Curry has made several TV appearances on the subject, one as late as last evening, deploring the current policy of family separation: https://tinyurl.com/ybs8aaoo. The Episcopal Church as a whole, together with many Christian denominations, has made a statement regarding child separation as a government policy, and calling for its immediate end. At General Convention, July 5-13 in Austin TX, resolutions on immigration will be considered, including D009, – viewable at https://tinyurl.com/yagdugo6 – examining Christian principles for responding to human migration. Last month, the Office of Government Relations hosted a webinar on immigration policies and advocacy. It can be viewed here: https://tinyurl.com/y8tvml8s. Furthermore, Episcopal Bishops all over the US are speaking out: https://tinyurl.com/yccmawo3.

Suggested actions are:

1. Email the White House – https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/, and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, DHSSecretary@hq.dhs.gov courteously expressing your displeasure with the current situation;

2. Participate in local “Families Belong Together” rallies on June 30th – check with local news sources for places and times;

3. Donate to agencies on the ground.  Two that have been in the news are RAICES Texas (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services) and the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project (legal representation for children in Arizona). Please do your due diligence before contributing to any fund.

Most of all, pray. Pray for the children and their parents, pray for all providing legal aid and those caring for the children, pray for conversion of heart for all involved in originating and carrying out these “zero tolerance” policies which mandate family separation, and for our leaders and legislators to put aside partisan differences and cooperate to enact just, sensible, and compassionate immigration reform in our country.

In faith and hope,

Anna+