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Dear Michelle,
"Our immigration system is broken, and our political leaders have done a disservice to our country by not fixing it long ago. We believe that immigration is not merely a political issue, but a moral imperative. The refusal to offer asylum or refuge to those fleeing violence and oppression violates the dignity of the human beings and betrays our call to be a nation that welcomes the weary and oppressed."
In its statement, the Colorado Council of Churches echoed the sentiments of many, but not all, who call themselves Christians. Immigration in the United States has become a controversial and polarizing issue; that should not be the case.
Christians cannot deny that the Bible teaches us that the Golden Rule to love your neighbor as yourself (Galatians 5:14) extends to not only those we know but also to those we don't know. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt (Leviticus 19:33). Several other passages teach and inform us that our actions should welcome the stranger. In Luke 10, Jesus reminds us of this and instructs us to have mercy towards our neighbors.
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This mercy Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde so urgently asked of the President of the United States has been praised; sadly, it has also brought her death threats. People must be able to express their faith without fear of government harassment, coercion or duress. We are living in a very dangerous time, not just for this experiment called democracy, but for the very moral soul of our country. For those of us who are concerned, we must gather in our communities and ask ourselves how we as people of faith can be more inclusive and help define the future.
At Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, we value diversity, inclusiveness and equity. We have put our statement on the front page of our website, while many have taken theirs down out of fear. We must not kowtow to the fear. We must be courageous and continue to show love to the stranger, welcome the newcomer and practice acts of mercy, as EMO has been doing for more than 50 years.
In solidarity with our immigrant siblings,
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Frank So
Executive Director
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TAKING ACTION FOR REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT | |
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On Jan. 20, 2025, the Trump Administration rescinded a Biden-era policy that protected certain areas—such as places of worship, schools and hospitals—from immigration enforcement, replacing it with an unreleased directive that gives ICE agents unbridled power to take enforcement actions in any of these spaces using so-called “common sense.” On Feb. 11, interfaith partners filed a lawsuit to challenge Trump's ICE enforcement actions, calling them a violation of religious freedom.
Protecting sensitive locations from immigration enforcement is essential to ensuring all our community members can access basic services and support without fear.
EMO's SOAR Immigration Legal Services has compiled resources on a "Know Your Rights" web page on soarlegal.org. Resources include a PowerPoint presentation, "Immigrant Rights in a New Enforcement Era," that can be downloaded. A video version of the presentation (translated into several languages) will be available soon on the website.
Another useful resource is the National Immigration Law Center's Fact Sheet that explains the protected areas policy, laws that currently apply to these areas, and steps advocates and communities can take to help immigrants maintain access to essential community spaces and services. View fact sheet.
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Have you noticed that EMO has been in the news a lot lately? If not, you should follow us on Facebook! With recent and ongoing confusion over funding at a federal level, many news outlets have reached out to EMO for comments and interviews. Despite federal funding uncertainty, we continue to deliver direct services to Oregon’s most vulnerable including refugees and immigrants.
- Feb.10, "Judge finds Trump administration hasn’t fully followed his order to unfreeze federal spending," Associated Press
- Feb. 10, "‘Scaring our community’: Oregon immigration nonprofits face funding freeze under Trump administration," KOIN
- Feb. 5, "Portland nonprofit helping immigrants gain legal status sees funding freeze," KGW
- Feb. 5, "Feds freeze grant funding for some Oregon nonprofits ‘effective immediately’" (view PDF of the article), Oregonian
- Feb. 4, "Oregon lawmakers push bill to fund immigrants' path to citizenship," KGW
- Jan. 30, 2025, "Ahead of Trump, lawyers raced to protect Oregon families from ‘threat of imminent deportation'" Oregonian
- Jan. 28, 2025, "Federal funding freeze sends Portland refugee organizations scrambling," Oregonian
- Jan. 27, 2025, "Several hundred gather in Portland’s Augustana church to show support for immigrant Oregonians," Oregonian
- Jan. 27, 2025, "Some Portland area faith communities vow to protect undocumented immigrants," KATU
- Jan. 26, 2025, "Portland faith communities gather, offer sanctuary regardless of federal order," FOX12
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To learn more about upcoming EMO events and faith community events, visit our Event Calendar. | |
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Oregon Interfaith Earth Summit: Climate Safety & Health
March 16, 2025, 1 to 4 p.m.
Explore how climate change affects your safety and health—and what you can do about it. Connect with your community and key organizations. Learn how to protect yourself and your neighbors. Sign up to take the next step with others. This gathering is both in-person and on Zoom, held simultaneously with 15 other locations across the state. Learn more and register at emoregon.org/events.
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Save the date for Interfaith Advocacy Day 2025
Wednesday, April 30, at St. Mark Lutheran in Salem. There is power in knowledge and strength in numbers. Attend issue briefs and workshops on advocating for compassionate legislation followed by meetings with state legislators. Talking points and legislative appointments will be provided. More more details coming soon, including registration.
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