{"id":28038,"date":"2026-10-23T21:45:16","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T21:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=28038"},"modified":"2026-10-23T21:45:16","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T21:45:16","slug":"just-come-here-the-right-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/just-come-here-the-right-way\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Just come here the right way!\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Image by StockSnap from Pixabay<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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By Julie Avila<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[This is the first in an occasional series of immigration stories from Church of the Brethren members and attendees. Look for more stories to be featured in upcoming issues of Newsline. To submit an immigration story for this series, email cobnews@brethren.org<\/a>.]<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last May, my husband became a US citizen.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both of us received comments around that time from well-intentioned people along the lines of, \u201cI\u2019m glad he did it the right way!\u201d When I explained to someone that the only way he was able to become a US citizen was because he married me, a US citizen, she was taken aback. \u201cThere aren\u2019t education courses he could take or something?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many don\u2019t understand there are very few avenues to gain legal permanent residency and then citizenship, and that the immigration processes take many years and thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The unfortunate irony is that some who are here legally, or who are in the process of obtaining legal status, still end up targeted by immigration enforcement and are sent to ICE detention; the \u201cright way\u201d is disregarded altogether<\/a>. (1) But I\u2019d like to address two other reasons this phrase is problematic:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. There are few pathways to come to the US \u201cthe right way\u201d and for the most vulnerable, like refugees and asylum seekers who are fleeing dangerous situations, it is nearly impossible.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The primary pathways to legal residency<\/a> are through family or employment sponsorship, or protection based on unsafe conditions in one\u2019s home country. (2) Currently, those seeking safety are the least prioritized. This administration has set the lowest cap<\/a> on refugees admitted since the US refugee resettlement program began in 1980, going from 125,000 down to 7,500 as of earlier this year, while prioritizing white South Africans over others fleeing real danger. (3) Recently, it was decided that an additional 10,000 white South Africans be admitted<\/a>, while more than 120,000 refugees already conditionally approved have been waiting for a safe home. (4) Effectively, there is an indefinite refugee ban<\/a>, along with refugees currently here who are undergoing further restrictions and needless re-vetting. (5) Furthermore, our Haitian sisters and brothers who received Temporary Protected Status (TPS) due to ongoing natural disasters and humanitarian crises, lost that protection<\/a> this summer. (6) Those from other countries also have lost TPS<\/a>, and those seeking asylum have faced pauses in processing, denials, or even the closing of their case before a full hearing. (7) Ultimately, most who are able to \u201ccome the right way\u201d are those with family and work connections in the US and with access to financial and legal resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. The assumption is that people who \u201ccome here the right way\u201d should be treated with more dignity, while those who are desperate, without resources or a legal pathway, or awaiting documentation should be incarcerated, abused, deported, and separated from their families.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      As Christians we all should agree that every human being is made in the image of God. Therefore, there is absolutely no justification for the harsh treatment of human beings across the country, from getting arrested outside of immigration court<\/a> as they are trying to do things \u201cthe right way,\u201d (8) to many reports from detention centers<\/a> of physical abuse and extreme medical neglect that have led to multiple deaths. (9) Scholars have argued ICE detention centers meet the criteria for concentration camps<\/a>. (10) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      This should appall us. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      As followers of Jesus, we should be leading the fight for human rights in this country, championing the dignity of all people. No one, with or without legal status, should be subject to the horrors the US immigration system has created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      So whenever someone says that immigrants should \u201cjust come here the right way,\u201d please correct them. Use your voice to speak out, support the Deportation Defense Response Legal and Mutual Aid Fund, join a local campaign or protest, accompany someone to court, organize a vigil, and pray for justice, in Jesus\u2019 name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      — Julie Avila is an educator and organizer for the Church of the Brethren Deportation Defense Response (DDR) Team.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

      Bibliography<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      (1) Morley E. NILC. 2025. ICE is detaining indiscriminately. And releasing almost no one. https:\/\/www.nilc.org\/articles\/ice-is-detaining-indiscriminately-and-releasing-almost-no-one\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      (2) Welcome.us. 2026 [cited June 22, 2026]. Who qualifies for citizenship? https:\/\/welcome.us\/explainers\/who-qualifies-for-citizenship<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      (3) Walker J. Axios. 2025. Trump sets lowest-ever refugee cap. See how other presidents compare. https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2025\/10\/30\/trump-refugee-record-humanitarian-aid-south-africans<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      (4) Refugeerights.org. International Refugee Assistance Project; 2026 [cited June 22, 2026]. IRAP Decries Expansion of Refugee Ceiling Exclusively for White Afrikaners. https:\/\/refugeerights.org\/news-resources\/irap-decries-expansion-of-refugee-ceiling-exclusively-for-white-afrikaners<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      (5) Church World Service. Oct. 15, 2026 [cited Oct. 21, 2026]. Daily State of Play: Trump\u2019s Indefinite Refugee Ban and Funding Halt. https:\/\/cwsglobal.org\/blog\/daily-state-of-play-trumps-indefinite-refugee-ban-and-funding-halt\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      (6) USCIS. 2026 [cited Aug. 25, 2026]. Update on Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti (Release: July 29,\u202f2026). https:\/\/www.uscis.gov\/i-9-central\/form-i-9-related-news\/update-on-termination-of-temporary-protected-status-for-haiti-release-july-29-2026<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      (7) ASAP Together. 2025. How are laws changing for asylum seekers? https:\/\/asaptogether.org\/en\/law-changes-jan-2025\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      (8) Presa L.R., Mahr J. Chicago Tribune. 2026 [cited June 22, 2026]. ICE arrests shift to courthouses and immigration check-ins as enforcement intensifies in Chicago area. https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2026\/06\/19\/chicago-ice-arrests-uptick\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      (9) Wright K. NPR. 2026. Immigrant detainees sue over \u201chorrific\u201d conditions at Texas ICE facility. https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/30\/nx-s1-5841359\/immigrant-detainees-sue-texas-camp-east-montana<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      (10) Braithwaite A. Van Nostrand R.D. When immigration detention becomes a system of concentration: Lessons from research on 150 historical cases. The Conversation. May 1, 2026 [cited Oct. 21, 2026]. https:\/\/theconversation.com\/when-immigration-detention-becomes-a-system-of-concentration-lessons-from-research-on-150-historical-cases-277728<\/a> doi:10.64628\/AAI.ruq6nquwe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      #MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      ———-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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