Nearly 100 asylum-seekers are arriving daily in Phoenix, fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries for the safety and freedom of the United States. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and our partner organizations are providing critical humanitarian assistance to these families when they arrive, including food, shelter, and medical assistance.
Read more to learn about who asylum-seekers are, what help we are providing, and how you can help!
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The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has joined more than 500 ELCA rostered ministers and the CEOs of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and Lutheran Services in America (LSA) in calling on Congress to support the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021. In a March 4 letter, the leaders urge lawmakers to work collaboratively to advance legislation "around a long overdue solution that reflects our shared values as a nation."
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All ELCA rostered faith leaders are invited to join a letter, drafted by the ELCA and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), which will be sent to members of Congress in support of the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021.
View the letter and more info in this post, or visit this page to sign on to the letter. Deadline to sign on is Friday, February 26, 2021.
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In her Christmas message, Bishop Eaton shares a story of gathering with women from Honduras: “I told the young Honduran woman about another young woman who was forced to leave home because of a government decree. She, too, was pregnant and made a long and difficult journey.”
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The allegations of medical neglect and invasive gynecological procedures in a privately-run detention center in Irwin County, Ocilla, Ga.—including coerced sterilization—quickly drew disbelief and condemnation worldwide this fall. Far from unique, these shocking allegations echo the historic and current reality of cruel and inhumane treatment towards migrant women.
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The 2020 Mohrenweiser Lecture Series presents Learning to Love Other People's Children: Climate Justice, Migration, and the Ethics of Care with Nancy Berlinger, PhD, MDiv.
Friday, December 4, 2020, 10am MST, 9am PST via Zoom, free to join, registration required.
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“As people of faith, we believe that we must honor the dignity of every human, regardless of national origin,” reads the letter. “We have a commitment to follow the teachings of Jesus and to uphold our nation’s tradition of protecting the persecuted.”
Read the full press release for this letter on the LIRS website here. The letter with complete signatures is posted here.
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With unprecedented access to ICE operations, as well as humanizing portraits of officers and immigrants, this docuseries takes a deep look at the state of U.S. immigration. Watch Immigration Nation on Netflix.
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AMMPARO (Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities) shares a comprehensive infographic summarizing the history of U.S. immigration from designer Kathleen Kowal.
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The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is continually updating a Google spreadsheet of resources available to migrants suffering from the pandemic.
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ELCA Advocacy provides some timely questions and talking points based upon ELCA Advocacy priorities of hunger, police reform, housing and homelessness, migration, international aid, and inequality.
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For those of you who have discovered this and are not familiar with the ELCA AMMPARO strategy, it the ELCA strategy to accompany migrant children and families with protection, advocacy, representation and opportunities. As a holistic, whole church response, AMMPARO accompanies migrants in countries of origin, transit, destination and return!
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Visit the Arizona World Refugee Day Facebook page on June 20 from 10-11 AM for the celebration.
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As COVID-19 spreads around the world, refugee communities in Arizona and worldwide are among the most vulnerable. Many refugees that you serve at LSS-SW work in industries especially devastated by the crisis. Families with multiple children, still learning English, are thrust into homeschooling. Linguistic and cultural differences can heighten confusion and fear.
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As COVID-19 spreads around the world, refugee communities in Arizona and worldwide are among the most vulnerable. Many refugees that you serve at LSS-SW work in industries especially devastated by the crisis and have high rates of unemployment, hunger, and poverty.
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Congrats to New Spirit Lutheran Church, Tucson, and All Saints Lutheran Church, Phoenix!
Recipients of the Servant of Christ Award from Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, they have truly shown the love of our Savior and embodied the mission of Lutheran Social Services—showing kindness, doing justice, and serving those in need.
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Crisis and urgency bordering on chaos are common themes of most news outlets’ headlines. Violence, climate change, hunger, migration… Are we faced with hopeless situations as the headlines seem to indicate? Absolutely not.
Addressing crises of the world may be urgent but must be expediently tactical. God has gifted us with many tools to help us navigate toward viable solutions. The Talanoa Dialogue process is one such tool.
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In 2013, Juan began the journey to the United States, spurred by extreme poverty and lack of opportunities in El Salvador. He attempted to get on “La Bestia” (The Beast) – a network oftrains used by migrants to travel towards the U.S. border. During his attempt to climb aboard, his legs were trapped by the wheels of the train, causing him to lose both his legs. He almost died.
A block from Juan’s home is Our Redeemer, a congregation of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church (ILS). The pastor, Francisco Aguilar, heard about Juan’s story. Read the full story »
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From the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington, D.C. comes the latest updates on: Disaster Aid | Dream and Promise Act | Equality Act | HUD Noncitizen Rule | Immigration Funding | Webinar: Moving Forward | Global Fragility Act Faith-Voices at Climate Summit | Hunger Advocacy Fellowship
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