[Episcopal Public Policy Network] Urge Your Member of Congress to Protect Immigrant Families &Support Executive ActionIn late 2014, President Obama announced a historic series of executive actions that will extend relief from deportation to millions of families across the country and make needed administrative changes to immigration enforcement priorities. Children and young adults who have known no other home but the United States, and parents of U.S. citizen children who have lived under the constant threat of separation from their sons and daughters will soon have the opportunity to apply for relief under the new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DAPA) program and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Within the first few weeks of 2015, however, there have been several attempts in Congress to repeal these programs of protection, thereby threatening families with separation, and reinstate overly punitive enforcement programs such as the Secure Communities Program.

Reforms to our nation’s immigration laws that prioritize family unity and humane and proportionate enforcement have long served as the foundation of our immigration reform advocacy. In 2012, General Convention passed a resolution in opposition to the Secure Communities Program and on January 12, 2015, over 100 bishops across the country joined the Presiding Bishop in voicing support for these Executive Actions. They called for Congress and the Administration to work together in implementation of these programs and to continue to work together towards a legislative solution to our broken immigration system.

Stand with immigrant families across the country and share that letter with your Members of Congress today!