Rescind the Resolution

Response to a Letter to the Editor written by Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies entitled, The Case Against Immigration in the Washington Post.

How can ‘Center for Immigration Studies(CIS)’ claim to be ‘pro-immigrant’ when they write books entitled, - ‘The Case Against Immigration’ which are clearly anti-immigrant?  Largely the immigration debate today focuses on the ‘legality’ of immigrants but it’s very clear from your letter that the Federation for American Immigration Reform(FAIR) network including CIS opposes all forms of immigration.

In researching FAIR, one learns that all of the anti-immigration groups over a dozen in all have been created by and are connected to FAIR.  Additionally, the true motivating factors for FAIR are population growth control and the environment.  It just so happens that ‘illegals’ are the easiest ones to target but as your letter proves then legal immigrants will be addressed and lastly once FAIR has accomplished ‘immigration issue’ they will turn their attention to address the Catholics, Christians and others of faith to curb their reproductive ways. It reminds me of the saying by Martin Niemöller -

“First they came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak up for me.”

Let this serve as a warning for all people of faith, the motivation for the FAIR network is suspect and it’s time for us to speak up.

A reader reminded me of the Christian movement called - ’New Sanctuary Movement.’  There have been members of this movement that have spoken in opposition to the ’Immigration Resolution’ at the Prince William County Board of Supervisor’s Meetings. 

According to their pledge, -

The New Sanctuary Movement is a coalition of interfaith religious leaders and participating congregations, called by our faith to respond actively and publicly to the suffering of our immigrant brothers and sisters residing in the United States.

We acknowledge that the large-scale immigration of workers and their families to the United States is a complex historical, global and economic phenomenon that has many causes and does not lend itself to simplistic or purely reactive public policy solutions.

We stand together in our faith that everyone, regardless of national origin, has basic common rights, including but not limited to: 1) livelihood; 2) family unity; and 3) physical and emotional safety. We witness the violation of these rights under current immigration policy, particularly in the separation of children from their parents due to unjust deportations, and in the exploitation of immigrant workers. We are deeply grieved by the violence done to families through immigration raids. We cannot in good conscience ignore such suffering and injustice.

Therefore, We Covenant To:

• Take a public, moral stand for immigrants’ rights
• Reveal, through education and advocacy, the actual suffering of immigrant workers and families under current and proposed legislation
• Protect immigrants against hate, workplace discrimination, and unjust deportation