Today many of us link the image of the word "dreamer" to those young women and men who were welcomed into this country under DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) beginning in 2012. Through General Convention resolutions, The Episcopal Church has expressed support for DREAMers and DACA. (Link here and here.) As a church that seeks to be welcoming and inclusive, we open our hearts as well as our doors to offer hospitality to these young people seeking education, a new life, and peace. Over 800,000 young people have been welcomed into this country through DACA and over 10,000 of the DREAMers live in Connecticut. Fleeing persecution and insurmountable challenges they arrived in this country as children and this is the only home they have ever known. As your bishops we have been blessed to walk with some of the DREAMers in Connecticut and we can share with you that our hearts have been transformed by their stories and their hopes.

As Christians, Holy Scripture and Jesus call us to welcome the stranger, opening our hearts in love. Our Episcopal Church leaders, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and President of the House of Deputies Gay Jennings, have written in their September 5 statement: "we call on our nation to live up to its highest ideals and most deeply held values, and we call on Congress to take action to protect these young people and to formulate a comprehensive immigration policy that is moral and consistent and that allows immigrants who want to contribute to this country the chance to do so while keeping our borders secure from those whose business is in drugs, human trafficking or terror." ( Link here to full statement in English and Spanish.) We are committed to supporting the DREAMers and walking with them to find opportunities for education and new life in this their home.