Immigration, Refugee and Asylum
Immigration, Refugee and Asylum
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” ~ Hebrews 13:2
Our Mission
The Immigration, Refugee and Asylum Task Team fosters connections and empowers individuals and congregations taking faithful actions to support immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. We are committed to listening to, and walking alongside, all our neighbors.
Are you or your church interested in immigration or refugee justice issues? Want to attend a task team meeting or even join the team? Please contact Cindy Worthington-Berry or Joanne Dickey.
Click here to be added to the IRATT mailing list. We occasionally send out notices about timely issues and actions.
About Immigration
Immigration is a single word for a variety of processes. It is, simply put, the movement of people from one place to another. The reality is that many people who immigrate from one place to another do it not by choice, but by necessity. This is where immigration and migration become a matter of justice. For many, the journey is spurred on by economic hardship, environmental factors, violence and even war. Causes and points of movement change over the course of time, but the reality of the need to migrate does not.
Refugees, migrants, immigrants, and asylum seekers have existed since early humankind and their plight continues as a worldwide humanitarian issue. Immigrants face a myriad of challenges unique to their status – challenges from speaking the language of the land, to access to health care, to detention, to legal bureaucracies.
Through our scriptures we are instructed to care for the immigrant. We are reminded in our faith story that we too were once immigrants (Exodus 22:21).
While it is impossible for any of us to do all of the work needed in this arena, we can work to improve our knowledge and take specific action. Whether you are just learning about the justice issues around immigration or already helping where you can, we invite you into this space to learn, to share, and to participate in actions that can make a difference in the world. We seek specifically to foster connections and empower individuals and congregations to take faithful actions supporting immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. We are also committed to listening and walking alongside all our neighbors. And we hope that you will join us.
If you would like help in moving your congregation forward on immigration, refugee and asylum justice, have something that you would like to share, or if you would like to join this task team, please be in contact with us. We look forward to further collaboration.
Take Action
Learn more about the issues and how you can help.