Immigration Justice

Immigration justice is one of the core justice ministries of the Wisconsin Conference. Congregations and individuals throughout the state are working to put our faith value of loving our immigrant neighbors as ourselves into practice by educating ourselves about immigration justice issues, advocating for immigrants and just immigration policies, and acting to support our immigrant neighbors with our time, our talent, and our donations.

Immigrant Welcoming Conference / Immigration Working Group

The Wisconsin Conference is an Immigrant Welcoming Conference. To learn more about what this means and how your congregation and you can get involved in immigration justice work: Immigrant Welcoming Conference page.

The Immigration Working Group is sponsoring a workshop on Thursday, September 29, from 6:30-8pm:

What does it mean to be immigrant-welcoming in 2022?

The Wisconsin Conference’s Immigration Working Group is inviting congregations around the state to a conversation about the many ways we are living into our 2017 resolution to be an Immigrant Welcoming Conference. A discussion of what we are doing now–sponsoring refugees, accompanying asylum seekers, raising money, advocating for reform, and partnering with resettlement and other agencies to provide volunteer and financial support–will lead into ideas for specific actions for congregations to take or explore. Register to attend the workshop here.

Responding to the migrant bus emergency

Migrants to our southern border are being bused (and in some cases, flown) to sanctuary cities and other locations. To learn more about this ongoing humanitarian crisis, including ways that you and your congregation can respond:

Read this September 15, 2022 UCC press release for an excellent description of the crisis and some responses to it.
Download the UCC Team Global HOPE’s Migrant bus toolkit and take action on its suggestions!

UCC Refugee and Migration Ministries hosted a video series in July, “Responding faithfully to multiple refugee crises”

The series was designed to help local congregations discern their most faithful and appropriate response to the new waves of forced migration that cycle the news almost daily. Access recordings of the sessions (along with other valuable resources) here

June 20 was World Refugee Day

It is never too late to consider honoring World Refugee Day with these resources, recommended by UCC Global H.O.P.E. Refugee and Migration Ministries:

World Refugee Day Ecumenical Worship Service, recorded June 1. (40 minutes; faith communnities are welcome to use any part of this recording.)
World Refugee Day 2022 Faith Toolkit, prepared by the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, with a wealth of resources for use all year long.
“Holy Voices: WRD Welcome for All!” Recording of the webinar first offered June 13 by the Interfaith Immigration Coalition and partners.

Humanitarian crisis in Ukraine

UCC response
UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) press release on refugee data from Ukraine, including link to Ukraine Refugee Situation data portal

How to help Ukrainian arrivals to the United States

Up to 1000,000 Ukrainians are being admitted to the United States. Ukrainians require a private sponsor; the sponsor needs to file a I-134, a legally binding document: this allows families to reunite. Some Ukrainians do not have family and can be matched.

To get more information on becoming a “welcomer” (for example, by donating money, airline miles, temporary housing through an AirBnb, supplies for setting up a household in your state) through Welcome.US: https://ukraine.welcome.us/
The U.S. government has made Ukrainians eligible for benefits and services (for 12 months as of May 21), as outlined in this document: “Benefits for Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees“. These benefits include Refugee Cash Assistance, BadgerCare, FoodShare, and employment programs.
Dept. of Homeland Security:
- Uniting for Ukraine page
- “Fact Sheet: DHS Efforts to Assist Ukrainian Nationals” (March, 2022, updated May, 2022)

Other information:

Ukarianians at US border with Mexico:
- Two April 2022 news videos: DW News, a German public broadcast service (4/19/22): “US speeds entry for Ukrainian refugees as more reach Mexico border.” (8 minutes) and Democracy Now (4/20/22): “U.S. welcome Ukrainians at border, uses Title 42 as “Political Tool’ to block other asylum seekers.” (15 minutes)
- NY Times article (4/6/22) on Ukrainians at US border with Mexico

(Please be aware that the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine is rapidly-changing and information shared here may be outdated by the time it is posted.)

Learn about what you and your congregation can do to help refugees from Afghanistan

Mary Kuenning Gross is serving as the Welcoming Our Afghan Allies Partner in Service Volunteer for the Wisconsin Conference. Mary is working to establish relationships with government-designated resettlement agencies and with Wisconsin conference congregations enaged in the ministry of Afghan refugee resettlement. Email Mary or call (262) 271-8990

More general information on helping Afghan (and other) refugees:

Afghan Adjustment Act: “…The Afghan Adjustment Act continues to languish in congress and our Afghan neighbors continue to face a difficult situation regarding legal status and a secure future. This recent article [June 3, 2022]from a Utah publication offers a helpful description of the situation and how this legislation would make a difference.” (From the Rev. Peder Johanson of the Wisconsin Council of Churches)
Information from the Office of Refugee Resettlement: Afghan Assistance Resources
Information on helping refugees from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families: How Can I Help?
Whenever possible, congregations interested in exploring what it would mean to sponsor or otherwise actively support an Afghan refugee are encouraged to work with the refugee resettlement agency in their part of the state:
- International Institute of Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
- Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan (Milwaukee)
- World Relief Fox Valley (Oshkosh and Appleton)
- Jewish Social Services (Madison)
- New Beginnings for Refugees (Wausau)
- Catholic Charities of Green Bay
- The Rev. Peder Johanson, Wisconsin Council of Churches Afghan Refugee Response & Relief Coordinator), has information on other local groups working to resettle refugees in Wisconsin.
Another option is the Sponsor Circle Program.
UCC resources:
- Toolkit for congregations on welcoming and advocating for Afghan refugees
- The UCC’s Global H.O.P.E. Refugee and Migration Ministries page includes lots of good information
- Spring 2022 Learning Series for Churches: Ramadan In a New Country with Rev. Irene Willis Hassan (each video recording is 45 minutes to an hour long):
  - Part 1: Intro to Islam and Ramadan
  - Part 2: Islam and Women, the “Stuff” of Ramadan
  - Part 3: Lent, Advent, and Ramadan
  - Part 4: Racism and Islam in the Refugee Resettlement System
- February 2022 videorecording, “Trauma-informed reflection on inviting vulnerable persons to speak on their experiences” and presentation slides
Wisconsin Council of Churches: “Helping Refugees from Afghanistan” (Includes sign up for the excellent weekly e-newsletter by Rev. Peder Johanson, WCC Afghan Refugee Response & Relief Volunteer Coordinator.)
Resources from Church World Service (CWS): Learn More About Welcoming Afghans and How to Help Afghans
Welcome.US, per its website: “Welcome.US is a new national initiative built to inspire, mobilize, and empower Americans from all corners of the country to welcome and support those seeking refuge here. We began with our new Afghan neighbors and have expanded to those fleeing Ukraine, while also building a durable capacity and ability to welcome other newcomers….”
Information from refugee assistance organization, HIAS, including its “How you can help” webpage

Learn more about Title 42

Per “Key Facts About Title 42” by the Pew Research , Title 42 is “… a pandemic-era policy that has led the Border Patrol to turn away hundreds of thousands of migrants attempting to enter the United States at the U.S.-Mexico border over the past two years.” Other resources include:

A Lawfare blog article; Lawfare (June, 2022)
“A Guide to Title 42 Expulsions“; American Immigration Council fact sheet (October, 2021, updated May, 2022)
“Title 42 and Its Impact on Migrant Families“, analysis by KFF (May, 2022)
“Title 42 Explainer” from CNN (May, 2022)

Other relevant immigration information

Learn more about “We the People Ride for Common Good Immigration & Border Practices” bike ride described on their website: “We finished our 3,200 mile ride along the entire U.S. / Mexico border and the U.S. coastline—66 days straight to listen, learn, and advocate for Common Good immigration practices and policies.”
Read and apply critical thinking skills to:
- US immigration enforcement priorities, “Guidelines for the Enforcement of Civil Immigration Law”, announced on September 30, 2021 by Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
- These July 2021 White House releases about the Biden/Harris Collaborative Migration Management Strategy and U.S. Strategy for Addressing the Root Causes of Migration in Central America
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition newsletter contains a wealth of relevant advocacy information. To sign up for the newsletter, visit the Interfaith Immigration Coalition webpage.
Educate yourself about U.S. refugee admissions:
- For current and historical information on U.S. refugee admissions:
  - The Refugee Processing Center’s Admissions and Arrivals page posts monthly reports on refugee admissions.
  - This data tool created by the Migration Policy Institute tracks refugee ceilings and arrival numbers from 1980 to the present.

Links to organizations involved with immigration and immigration justice

For links to numerous state, national, and international organizations involved with immigration and immigration justice: Immigration links page