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Dear Members of Congress, As Americans and People of Faith, We

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Dear Members of Congress, As Americans and People of Faith, We Dear Members of Congress, As Americans and people of faith, we strive to love our neighbor and uphold the innate human dignity of each person. Dreamers worship in our pews, study in our schools, and work in our communities. For many, this is where they learned to ride a bike, celebrate our nation’s holidays, and serve their communities. They are mothers, fathers, teachers, nurses, lawyers, scientists, and leaders of a new generation of Americans – and they make our nation stronger. It was an immoral decision to rescind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) before legislation was enacted to protect them from deportation and offer them an opportunity to flourish. As religious leaders across faith traditions, we call on Congress to act today. Dreamers cannot wait, our businesses cannot wait, and our country cannot wait. We urge all Members of Congress to immediately pass a clean Dream Act of 2017 (S. 1615/H.R. 3440), which provides a long overdue pathway to citizenship for immigrant youth. DACA’s termination crosses a moral line. Despite the purported six-month delay in enforcement, the consequences of terminating DACA are immediate, devastating, and profound. No new applications are being considered, and current recipients will see their protection revoked starting in March -- sooner if those whose status expires before then were unable to pay nearly $500 in fees or ensure the Department of Homeland Security received their renewal requests in less than a month. Leaving DACA recipients and other Dreamers in limbo violates our nation’s values and sends a message of exclusion to immigrant youth, some of whom do not have family or a support system in their birth country. Many do not remember it, or even speak the language. Dreamers have worked tirelessly for the country they call home to recognize them as our own. The Dream Act of 2017 is the culmination of that legacy. We stand with these brave individuals who embody our ideals and the future of this great country. Dreamers inspire us to live into our shared faith values of unconditional love for our neighbors and determined belief in the possibility of justice for all people. Their vision is our vision, that we can realize an immigration system that affirms the sanctity of family unity, respects the rights and dignity of all, and makes the American Dream truly achievable. Increased enforcement is not the remedy. It is imperative that Congress does not pair relief for Dreamers with policy that puts their parents, siblings, and other immigrants at increased risk of deportation or detention or further infringes upon the rights and safety of border communities. Our immigration system leaves millions unjustly detained, separated from family, and locked out of regularizing their status. Congress must enact a clean Dream Act of 2017 without attaching it to any kind of increased immigration enforcement. As people of faith, we ground ourselves in the teachings of our varied traditions. When there is injustice, we are called to work towards righting it. We ask ourselves how we can be agents of community restoration. We pray for this nation and for all people seeking safe, stable, and fruitful lives. We are praying with Dreamers for relief as they face an unknown future. We are praying that you – our Members of Congress - do everything in your power to immediately pass a clean Dream Act of 2017. Sincerely, National Faith-based Organizations African American Ministers In Action Alliance of Baptists Bend the Arc Jewish Action Bread for the World Christian Community Development Association Church World Service Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach Congregation of Saint Joseph Congregation of St. Joseph Justice Team Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Dominican Sisters Dominican Sisters of Springfield Justice and Peace Committee Felician Sisters Franciscan Action Network Friends Committee on National Legislation Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, USA – JPIC Ignatian Solidarity Network Irish Apostolate USA Jewish Council for Public Affairs Leadership Conference of Women Religious Leadership Team of the Felician Sisters of North America Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns National Council of Churches National Council of Jewish Women National Farm Worker Ministry National NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice Presbyterian Church (USA) Provincial Council Clerics of St. Viator (Viatorians) Refugee & Immigration Ministries, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Religious of the Sacred Heart School Sisters of Notre Dame CPP Immigration Committee Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Sojourners The United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights Unitarian Universalist Service Committee Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries UU College of Social Justice UURISE - Unitarian Universalist Refugee & Immigrant Services & Education Unitarian Universalist Association State Faith-based Organizations and Faith Leaders: Alaska: Rabbi Abram Goodstein, Congregation Beth Sholom Alabama: Justice Committee of Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham The Third Order of the Society of Saint Francis Arizona: Pax Christi - Phoenix Southside Presbyterian Church West Valley Neighborhoods Coalition Patricia Always, RCIA Franciscan Renewal Center Pastor Don Benton, Sunrise UMC Reverend Hannah Bonner, Wesley Foundation, Tucson Director of Shadow Rock Sanctuary Ministry Arlene Dominguez, Shadow Rock UCC Sister Patricia Ferrick, School Sisters of NOTRE Dame Bishop Elias Galvan, United Methodist Church Reverend Ailsa Guardiola Gonzalez, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Joseph Keesecker, Hispanic Ministries Coordinating Committee, Synod of the Southwest PCUSA Reverend Kenneth Kennon, Christian Church (Disciples) Reverent Steve Keplinger, Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church Pastor Rolland Loomis, The Inn Project Reverend Ron Phares, Mountain Vista Unitarian Universalist Lead Pastor Jeff Procter-Murphy, Dayspring United Methodist Church Director of Spiritual Formation Karen Richter, Shadow Rock UCC Reverend Raymond Ritari, Saint Benedict Catholic Church Arkansas: Faith Voices Arkansas California: Asian American Pacific Islander Christians for Social Justice Beacon Presbyterian Fellowship California Council of Churches IMPACT Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) Felician Sisters of North America Franciscans for Justice IMMACULATE HEART COMMUNITY Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Western American Province Religious Sisters of Charity Sisters of Mercy Associates Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Society of Helpers St. Jude's Episcopal Church St. Katharine Drexel, Martell, CA Rabbi Mona Alfi, Cong. B'nai Israel Catholic Worker Barbara Bennett, St Paul’s Episcopal Sister Joanna Bramble, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Rabbi Charles Briskin, Temple Beth El Reverend Mary Sue Brookshire, United Church of Christ Bishop Minerva Carcaño, San Francisco Area of The United Methodist Church Rev. Marilyn Chilcote, St. John's Presbyterian Church of Berkeley Ms. Mary Ann Clifford, Sisters of Mercy Rev. Staci Current, United Methodist Church Pastor Jeri Dahlke, NA Service Learning Coordinator Peter Diaz, Mercy High School Rev. Melinda Dodge, Los Altos UMC Lenore Dowling, Immaculate Heart Community Sister Noreen Driscoll, Sisters of St. Joseph Rev. Shinya Goto, United Methodist Rev. Jisan Tova Green, San Francisco Zen Center Rev. Elizabeth Griswold, Parkside Community Church, United Church of Christ Rabbi Jason Gwasdoff, Temple Israel Senior Dharma teacher Paul Haller, San Francisco Zen Center Rev. Elizabeth Hamilton, Zen Meditation Center Rev. Heather Leslie Hammer, The United Methodist Church President, Sierra Pacific USA Mission Center Rev. Zac Harmon-McLaughlin, Community of Christ Imam Taha Hassane, Islamic Center of San Diego Chair of Church Council Alan Hay, First United Methodist Church, Chula Vista Sister Gloria Heese, Sisters of Mercy Holly Hillman, Kerman United Methodist Church Bishop Mark Holmerud, Sierra Pacific Synod, ELCA Pastor & Co-Founding Director Jon Huckins, The Global Immersion Project Rev. Hubert Ivery, Geneva United Methodist Church Assisting Bishop, Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Episcopal Diocese of San Diego Rev. Dr. Bill Jenkins, Christ Ministry Center The Rev. Lucretia Jevne, St. Brigid of Kildare Episcopal Church, Rio Vista, CA Episcopal Priest Tom Johnson Rabbi Paul Kipnes, Congregation Or Ami Pastor David Ko, San Jose Wesley UMC Chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Cal-Nevada Annual Conference Linda Kuruhara, Immigration Task Force of the California-Nevada Annual Conference Elder, PC(USA) Cheri Larsen Hoeckley, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Rev. Deborah Lee, Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity Rev. Kimbrough Leslie, United Methodist Church Reverend Christopher Logan, The Table UMC Rabbi Dana Magat, Temple Emanu-El Reverend Helen Mansfield, El Dorado County Federated Church District Executive Minister Russell Matteson, Pacific Southwest District Church of the Brethren Rev. Robert McKenzie, St. John's Presbyterian Church Rev. Kathleen McShane, Los Altos United Methodist Church Rev. Dr. Kenneth Moore, First Congregational Church President Sister Michele Anne Murphy, Sisters of the Presentation S.F. CA. Minister Louise Neal, Berkeley Friends Church Arlene Nehring, Eden United Church of Christ Justice & Witness Co- chair Mirtha Ninayahuar, Skyline Community Church Rev Gregory Norton, First United Methodist
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