OFFERING REFUGE: A DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR FAITHFUL AMERICANS ON IMMIGRATION POLICIES AND PRACTICES TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE Welcome from the Executive Director of Religions for Peace USA.............................................1 Welcome from the Moderator of Religions for Peace USA.........................................................2 Introduction from the Editors of “Offering Refuge”......................................................................3 About Religions for Peace USA...................................................................................................5 A Joint Statement from U.S. Religious Leaders and Communities Regarding U.S. Immigration and Refugee Policies and Practices............................................................................................8 Member Religious Communities of Religions for Peace USA...................................................10 ORIENTATION Week 1 Background and Definitions of Immigration Terms....................................................................11 Key United States Agencies That Deal With Immigration..........................................................14 Creating Some Ground Rules for Respectful Dialogue..............................................................15 Discerning the Sources That We Use........................................................................................17 THE DISCUSSION GUIDE Week 2 | Introduction..................................................................................................................21 Week 3 | The State of the Global Migration Crisis......................................................................23 Week 4 | Migration is a Matter of Faith.......................................................................................26 Week 5 | Closing the U.S.’s Golden Door.................................................................................. 28 Week 6 | Refugee Resettlement Reductions and Bias.............................................................. 31 Week 7 | Terrorism, Violence, and Hate Crimes.........................................................................35 Week 8 | On the Wall and Deportations......................................................................................38 COVID-19 and Immigration........................................................................................................41 Conclusion and Commitments...................................................................................................42 Resources for Learning More....................................................................................................43 FRONT COVER: The French photographer and street artist JR created this artwork along the border fence in the Mexican city of Tecate in 2017, about an hour southeast of San Diego. The smiling toddler it depicts peeking out of his crib to the US side is named Kikito. BACK COVER: A cross-border picnic takes place on French photographer and street artist JR’s “Giant Picnic” table. The long strip photo that makes the table’s design is meant to depict the eyes of Mayra, a DACA “Dreamer.” It appeared over the U.S.-Mexico border in Tecate, Mexico in October 2017. Attendees from both sides of the border shared a meal across the border and through the fence. Cover photos are ©JR Photographer. See: https://www.jr-art.net/projects/migrants-picnic-across-the-border and the video explaining the project: https://vimeo.com/410614239. October 2020 Dear Reader, Thank you for picking up this booklet and works to engage Americans to join with one considering these matters. another across lines of difference, religious and The U.S. is a nation of immigrants. Except for otherwise. We are our nation’s broadest coalition the indigenous peoples that were here before St. of religious communities and leaders working Augustine, Jamestown, or Plymouth, and those together for peace. brought as slaves, every one of us is an immigrant This booklet is designed to serve as a helping or the child of immigrants. I know, because guide for Americans of faith willing to engage I am one. in respectful discussions about immigration. In I am a proud American. I am a faithful these pages, persons in intentional community Sikh. I am a thankful leader in the movement for with one another can thoughtfully explore interfaith cooperation and care deeply about how together faithful responses to refugees, asylum we approach immigration. seekers, and displaced persons. Immigration is repeatedly listed in surveys as We are non-partisan, so we aren’t trying to being amongst the top five issues Americans want have you decide on any specific political position. to talk about and address. We are still struggling At the same time, we are faith-committed, so we to understand what it means to keep open that believe that each of our respective faiths calls us golden door of hospitality. Differing ideas about to act from our shared values – such as hospitality, how we should approach immigration issues can family, and dignity. This fact compels us to act in divide neighbor against neighbor. loving ways towards our neighbors. Religions for Peace USA, where I have the With appreciation for your willingness to privilege of serving as the Executive Director, discern and discuss these matters with your neighbors, I am, Yours sincerely, Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia Executive Director Religions for Peace USA 1 October 2020 Dear Reader, Assalamu alaikum. Greetings of peace to each of you. Like my colleague Tarunjit, I, too, am a proud faith. Trust takes time to develop and is shaped by American. I am a faithful Muslim. The issue context and conditions. By even considering using of faith and immigration is one of grave this resource in a faithful community, you have importance to Muslims across the globe, already taken some of the first vulnerable steps and to myself. The Islamic tradition speaks in trust and relationships that can create change. clearly of the right to seek refuge in the face Thank you for doing so. of persecution, as well as to the duty of providing Thank you for making the space to discuss asylum. Thank you for considering this resource the matters of immigration with your neighbor. and for taking seriously the issues surrounding May a spirit of generosity come between you in immigration. We hope you will be intentional seeking to understand together. in taking time to participate in using this guide with others in your faith or interfaith community. In Peace, We trust that God will be with you in the process of your learning together and discernment. Change takes time and faith. Change happens at the speed of relationships. Mr. Naeem Baig Relationships take time and faith. Relationships Moderator move at the speed of trust. Trust takes time and Religions for Peace USA 2 October 2020 Dear Reader, Good, decent, and well-meaning people can have differences, even sharp ones, about what the best course of action is in handling any political or religious matter. Each of us too easily tends to speak past one another, stay in our bubbles, or avoid talking about difficult matters altogether. It is our very human tendency towards fight, freeze, or flight to protect ourselves. It is the belief that neither religion or politics are supposed to be talked about in polite company. So we must be crazy to think religious people should talk together about the political matter of immigration. It is contentious. A recipe for disaster, right? No. Actually, we believe it is a necessity and the only path forward is through talking about it openly, listening to each other deeply, and discerning faithful positions on the matter together. We have to talk about difficult matters and lean in. Immigration is a moral matter. As Beyond Conflict1 has recently shown with their research (see illustration to the left),2 Americans are actually much closer to agreements on positions about immigration than we think we are. Reality is likely far better than our perceptions. This guide was designed to be used in small study cells within communities of faith. It was created to provide you with: 1. Some suggested ground rules, 2. Short introductions to some key issues on immigration, 1 “America’s Divided Mind: Understanding the Psychology That Drives Us Apart,” by Beyond Conflict, June 2020. Accessed September 15, 2020: https://beyondconflictint.org/americas-divided-mind. 2 Actual vs. Perceived illustration is from p.16 of “America’s Divided Mind: Understanding the Psychology That Drives Us Apart,” by Beyond Conflict, June 2020. Accessed September 15, 2020: https://beyondconflictint.org/americas-divided-mind. 3 3. Thought provoking questions and stories for your discussions, 4. Good resources to look for more and dig deeper, and 5. Compelling stories that provide windows into faith actors working on immigration. It assumes that you might have up to an hour per week to look at each section with your peers, and it is designed to be used over several weeks. Thank you for taking time to engage these resources and consider starting a conversation in your community. If you have questions or want to share insights, drop us a note at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you. In Peace, Alisa Roadcup Bud Heckman President CEO Chicago Refugee Coalition Interfaith Funders Group 4 MISSION The mission of Religions for Peace USA (RFPUSA) is to inspire and advance common actions for peace through multi-religious cooperation among our nation’s religious communities. VISION