1. Members of One Family How do we talk about immigration in the church? Jake Castro, Tammy Alexander cogdogblog/Flikr

2. Agenda Reflection Migration stories / root causes (video) Economics Rule of law (scenarios) Review / reflection Action Closing prayer

3. OPENING REFLECTION Prayer and scripture Brief word about dialogue

4. OUR STORIES: How did we get here? BREAK-OUT GROUPS –Brief introductions –Questions: When did you or your ancestors arrive in the US? From where? Why did you/they migrate?

5. Migration stories Biblical figures –Abraham: opportunity –Israelites during Babylonian Exile: safety –Ruth & Naomi: famine –Mary, Joseph and Jesus: safety

6. Migration stories Migrants today –Video: The Invisibles

7. Why do people move? Basic needs famine poverty Safety war/violence political persecution Opportunities lack of economic and educational opportunities Freedom of expression religious persecution Exploitation/environment mining deforestation U.S. policies NAFTA/subsidies -- cheap U.S. food drives Mexican farmers out of business

8. Per capita income (2007) U.S. - $38,000

9. BREAK-OUT GROUPS –What are the economic costs of undocumented immigration? –What are economic benefits of undocumented immigration? ECONOMICS

10. Costs –Public school –Emergency services –Public spaces – use roads, sidewalks, parks ECONOMICS

11. Costs –Public benefits (e.g., food stamps and welfare) Undocumented immigrants are NOT eligible (though, their U.S. citizen children may be) Documented immigrants must wait until they have been in the U.S. for 5 years ECONOMICS

12. Benefits –Taxes Sales taxes Gas taxes Property taxes (through home ownership or rent) Income taxes –Majority pay federal, state, local –Social Security & Medicare ($6-7 billion/yr) ECONOMICS

13. Costs vs. Benefits –National studies (including one from CATO) show a large net positive benefit –State studies as well show immigrants pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits Texas Iowa Colorado ECONOMICS

14. Other Economic Costs Border security –$10 billion/yr Family separation –Almost 400,000 deported/yr –Many are parents of U.S. citizen children Private prison industry –30,000+ detention beds –Multi-billion dollar industry (CCA, GeoGroup) Deaths –4000+ have died crossing dessert since 1998

15. Economic impacts on countries of origin Benefits Remittances Potential to bring family Skills learned in college Costs Brain drain Cost of crossing Loss of income when migrant can’t find job or is exploited Loss of life

16. BREAK-OUT GROUPS –Scenarios / flow chart RULE OF LAW

17. The immigration process U.S. Citizens: –Child/spouse/parent: 3-4 years –Adult children: 10-20 years

18. The immigration process –No Family? –No “skills”? –No green card

19. The Law Romans 13 –“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities…” Matthew, Leviticus –Care for those in need –Love the “alien” as yourself

20. What would you do? To feed your child? To care for a sick parent? Move away to find work? Cross a desert? Break the law? Quality of life choices Life and death choices

21. What would “welcoming the stranger” look like for you and your family? What about for your church? What about for U.S. laws and policies? Do you think the command to welcome immigrants and the command to be subject to governing authorities can be reconciled together? How? How would you respond if you were born into a situation where you were struggling to live on $2 a day? What voices or ideas have influenced your views on immigration? Have any been from a Christian perspective? REFLECTION QUESTIONS

22. Prayer Acts of Justice Acts of Mercy TAKE ACTION

23. Pray –For immigrants –For the church –For political leaders –Prayer/worship resources TAKE ACTION

24. Engage: Action alerts –Federal legislation – U.S. Congress DREAM Act, eVerify, border militarization –Obama administration Family separation, DREAM students –Campaigns “Let My People Stay”, “DREAM Sabbath” –Webinars DREAM, Supreme Court, Secure Communities JUSTICE: Advocacy & Education

25. Engage: Partners –Western District Conference Immigration Task Force –washington.mcc.org/stateimmigration JUSTICE: Advocacy & Education

26. Teach –Small group –Community forum Learn –immigration.mcc.org –washington.mcc.org/immigration –Sister church –Your family’s migration story JUSTICE: Advocacy & Education

27. Money –Programs that address root causes MCC Guatemala –Documentation services Time –Volunteer at a local organization –Visitation programs –English classes –Documentation services MERCY: Giving time and money

28. FINAL QUESTIONS / THOUGHTS?

29. CLOSING PRAYER

30. © 2012 Mennonite Central Committee centralstates.mcc.org washington.mcc.org (facebook, twitter)