{"id":27384,"date":"2026-06-29T22:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T22:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=27384"},"modified":"2026-06-30T04:48:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T04:48:20","slug":"loving-our-immigrant-neighbors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/loving-our-immigrant-neighbors\/","title":{"rendered":"Loving our immigrant neighbors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n

By Frank Ramirez<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was already a timely topic when it was scheduled as one of the Equipping Sessions at the 2026 Annual Conference\u2014but the events of the past few days led \u201cLoving Our Immigrant Neighbors: Legal Updates, Ally Resources, and US Militarism\u201d to be a standing-room-only session, with the seats filled and many people leaning on walls and sitting on the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Church of the Brethren members, though, these issues concern us as a matter of God’s justice but they are even more personal because so many of us are Haitian.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The session featured input from Founa Augustin Badet, director of Intercultural Ministries for the Church of the Brethren, along with staff of the denomination\u2019s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy including director Nathan Hosler, legal advisor Marcia Sowles, and office associate and Brethren Volunteer Service worker Hannah Nelson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Photo by Keith Hollenberg<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur default position should always be care and compassion,\u201d<\/strong> said Hosler, in the midst of presentations on law, changing government policy, recent court decisions, and the role of the church in caring for immigrant sisters and brothers within and beyond our faith. \u201cThis is not a political issue,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is relational and involves our churches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reiterating the words of Jesus, \u201cWhoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me,\u201d Badet opened the program by saying, \u201cWe stay faithful to the Word and the call.\u201d Citing statistics that over 60,000 immigrants were incarcerated as of April this year, she said, \u201cIt is increasing. It has doubled since last year. Most of these people are not criminal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ministries in which the four speakers take part, she assured her listeners, were all part of the 2021 Compelling Vision Statement: Jesus in the Neighborhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sowles likened the legal protections for immigrants to rocks and lily pads in a pond, with some more solid than others. Immigrants have been demonized despite the fact that so many have carefully obeyed the law with regard to the standards for asylum seekers. Since the arbitrary termination of the legal status of many, Sowles said, \u201cthe rocks are disappearing and the lily pads are getting slipperier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of legal asylum seekers allowed into the US has sunk to a record low of 7,500 a year\u2014and when that number was raised, almost all of those slots went to white South Africans. Even more confusing, several contradictory rulings recently have been issued. People who already have been vetted and passed are suddenly being vetted again. Then the Supreme Court removed the Temporary Protective Status for Haitians and Syrians despite the fact that there is no question that it is dangerous for them to be forcibly returned. Especially troubling was Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito\u2019s comments seemingly discounting racial discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One hopeful sign is the possibility of the Senate passing a bill that already has been passed by the House, restoring Temporary Protective Status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The session included a reminder that ICE may not enter a church to search for individuals unless they have a legal warrant issued and signed by a judge. ICE warrants are not a valid warrant. However, abuses have included harsh and violent enforcement tactics, detentions without due process, sudden removal to unknown locations of those detained by ICE, detention of people who have shown up for immigration hearings with proper documents in hand. The latter is a catch-22, since if people don\u2019t show up for hearings they are in violation of the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Badet urged churches, \u201cKnow your rights.\u201d The Intercultural Ministries website at www.brethren.org\/intercultural<\/a> is constantly updated with latest information and helpful resources. She reminded congregations to create private space in their church buildings that is marked with a sign, to use as sheltered space if ICE enters the building. If ICE detains someone in your church, tell them do not sign anything without a lawyer. Those who are detained may ask to receive proper legal counsel in their own language. Vulnerable people should always carry their documents and take photos of them and leave those photos with a trusted person. Have a family preparedness plan. And see a lawyer for a \u201cmigration checkup.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nelson reviewed the \u201cWays to Engage\u201d page on the Office of Peacebuilding Policy website and encouraged attendees to go to www.brethren.org\/peacebuilding<\/a>. She added that there will be a Prayer Vigil for immigration on Tuesday, July 30, at 4:45 p.m., following the end of business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Frank Ramirez is a member of the 2026 Annual Conference Press Team.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

———-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find more Church of the Brethren news:<\/p>\n\n\n