“I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35, NRSVue)
“The Intercultural Ministries office and Intercultural Ministries Advisory Committee (IMAC) are encouraging our congregations and districts to help members to know their constitutional rights. As a denomination, we are striving to be a resource and referral space providing tangible information.
“Our goal is to support the districts with a plan to help guide our undocumented, and even our documented Brethren. We are also noting that even those Brethren who are US citizens who have darker skin and/or accents are being accosted and threatened with detainment!
“The districts should be very intentional. We are encouraging church members to make electronic copies of all legal documents and add them to their emails and the cloud (in case they lose the originals or do not have access to their phones). Any Brethren people of color outside of the US who are returning or leaving should also have paper and cloud copies of documents of their status in the US, contracts for work, congregational membership, etc. to minimize re-entry hassles.” Read more from the Intercultural Ministries Advisory Committee
Resources and links
USCIS – United States Citizenship and Immigration Services – implemented new fees for some services, as mandated by HR1 – the tax and spending law signed by President Trump.
The following fees were implemented on July 22, 2025:
- Asylum applications (I-589): $100 filing + $100 annual fee
- Work permits (I-765): $550 new/$275 renewal
- Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions: $250
- TPS registration: Now $500 (up from $50)
For the complete fee schedule: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/g-1055_0.pdf
Learn more about the termination of humanitarian parole processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.
Search for someone detained (ICE online detainee locator system)
Lawsuit that the Church of the Brethren supports, with other faith groups. From the lawsuit: “They bring this suit unified on a fundamental belief: Every human being, regardless of birthplace, is a child of God worthy of dignity, care, and love. Welcoming the stranger, or immigrant, is thus a central precept of
their faith practices.”
Understanding the differences between a subpoena and a warrant — documents that immigration agencies rely on as part of their tactics to coerce cooperation — is critical and enables people to exercise their rights in an informed manner. More information on warrants and subpoenas
Please share with your districts and churches for legal help in their areas: https://readytostay.org/find-help
Know your rights information from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in various languages
Information on Harboring from the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC)
“Know Your Rights” from CLINIC (click below)
Sanctuary information for faith groups from the ACLU
Guidance on Immigration Enforcement Actions from the Illinois State Board of Education
Know your rights cards
