fbpx
Skip to Content

200 Evangelical Leaders Say Trump and Congress Must Move Toward Humane Immigration Reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 7, 2017

 

CONTACT

Michelle Nealy, mnealy@faithinpubliclife.org, 202-735-7123

200 Evangelical Leaders Say Trump and Congress Must Move Toward Humane Immigration Reform

 

Faith leaders call on president and other lawmakers to protect DACA and advance Bridge Act

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than 200 evangelical leaders have released an open letter calling on President Trump and Congress to protect immigrant youth and families by preserving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) executive action and advancing the Bridge Act, bipartisan immigration legislation that allows people who are eligible for or who have received work authorization and temporary relief from deportation to continue living in the U.S. with permission from the federal government.

 

“The repeal of DACA would force thousands of immigrant youth, who worship in our pews, attend our schools, and work in our communities, back into the shadows,” evangelical leaders said in their national petition released today. “Made in the image and likeness of God, Dreamers are inextricably woven into the fabric of our nation and play an invaluable role in our society. We pray for both leaders and for legislation that will mitigate threats to our national security and embrace all of the undocumented immigrants who currently contribute to this great nation.”

Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero, Founder, National Latino Evangelical Coalition, NaLEC:

“‘Dreamers’ in this country are not nameless or faceless children living in the shadows. They are our neighbors, our co-workers and integral members of my congregation. As a community of faith, we are urging President Trump to demonstrate compassion and embrace inclusion. The lives of millions of families are at stake. Lawmakers throughout the country must do the right thing and maintain DACA until humane immigration reform with a path to citizenship can be achieved.”

 

Rev. Dr. Noel Castellanos, President, Christian Community Development Association:

“As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We know that protecting families from being torn apart by deportation is the right thing to do. Preserving DACA until fair and humane immigration legislation can be reached means  standing on the side of family, community, compassion and justice. Instead of repealing DACA, our prayer is that both President Trump and Congress would advance the BRIDGE ACT, a bill introduced in both the House and the Senate and co-sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats.”

 

Read the sign-on letter here.

 

###

Back to top