Thousands of Faith Leaders Call on Congress to Protect Dreamers, Immediately Pass the Dream Act November 3, 2017 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. The decision to rescind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) before legislation was enacted to protect them from deportation was immoral, as it leaves nearly 800,000 individuals facing an unknown future. We, a diverse community of religious leaders, ask 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. Congress must pass the Dream Act immediately as a matter of moral urgency. 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. Some recipients may have their protection jeopardized sooner if their status expires before then and they were unable to pay nearly $500 in fees, or ensure that the Department of Homeland Security received their renewal requests by October 5. 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 bi- partisan 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. We have grave concerns about proposals to attach harmful immigration enforcement increases with relief for Dreamers. Pairing 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 is unacceptable. Our outdated 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 increased immigration enforcement. We are people of faith, grounded in the teachings of our varied traditions. When there is injustice, we are called to right it. Our faith demands that we be agents of community restoration. We pray for this nation and for all people seeking safe, stable, and fruitful lives. We pray with Dreamers for relief as they face an unknown future. We pray that you – our Members of Congress – will 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 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 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 Scalibrini International Migration Network 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 Union for Reform Judaism 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 Rev. Leslie Ahuvah Fails, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fairbanks Alabama: Justice Committee of Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham The Third Order of the Society of Saint Francis Sister Jacqueline DeBone Arizona: Pax Christi - Phoenix Southside Presbyterian Church West Valley Neighborhoods Coalition Reverend Ailsa Guardiola Gonzalez, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Tucson Frank Bergen, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church 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 Reverend Kenneth Kennon, Christian Church (Disciples) Sister Marilyn Omieczynski, PBVM Dr. Mary Ann and Mr. Frank Graffagnino Dr. Kathleen Conway Dr. Patricia DeBruhl Fr. Bill Remmel, Society of the Divine Savior Rev. Frank Bergen, Episcopal Church of St. Matthew Tucson Sister Anita Valdez, Benedictine Sisters Sister Carolyn Nicolai, Sisters of St Francis of Peace Sister Zoe Brenner Sister Mary Virginia Leach, Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose Sister Mary Allen, Desert House of Prayer Sister Michelle Humke, Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet Arkansas: Faith Voices Arkansas Rev. Dr. Clint Schnekloth, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 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 All Saints Church Foster Care Project Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Western American Province Sister Frances Mary Pierson, Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose Sister Nancy OSHEA, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Rev. Caleb Lines, University Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), San Diego Sister Angela Milioto Chair Galatea King, Immigration Committee, Buena Vista United Methodist Church Reverend. Pastor. Founder of PAAC Lydia Shiu, PAAC Progressive Asian American Christians Judy McDonnell, Dominican Sisters of San Rafael 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,