“Do not neglect to
show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels
without knowing it” Heb. 13:2
In spite of recent reports that there is no hope for comprehensive
immigration reform in our Congress, there is still a chance to take action to
protect the basic needs of unaccompanied children crossing the border. Many of
these children are fleeing increasing violence, poverty, and hunger as they
come to the United States with hopes of a better future.
The Office of Refugee
Resettlement (ORR) provides services to resettle refugees, asylees, Iraqi and
Afghan Special Immigrant Visa recipients who assisted in U.S. Efforts, Cuban
and Haitian entrants, victims of human trafficking, and survivors of torture.
The ORR is also responsible for providing services to unaccompanied children
from Central America. The office is in desperate need of substantially increased
funding in order to meet the needs of unaccompanied children, without having to
decrease services to refugees and other asylees under ORR’s care. The
Administration has requested a $3.7 billion Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations Bill. In the bill, ORR will
receive $1.83 billion for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014. In addition, ORR will need at
least $3.167 billion in FY 2015 to continue to adequately provide refugee
services.
Click here to
write to your Member of Congress in support of these emergency funds.
The ORR is a crucial instrument in our call to love the
stranger among us. Without the additional funding for FY 2014, they have
announced plans to reprogram $94 million from refugee services to serve the
increasing numbers of unaccompanied children. Both of these populations deserve
to be served and not at the expense of each other. Refugee services are already
inadequately funded and further cuts would create detrimental consequences for
refugees and the communities that welcome them.
The action of the PC(USA)
220th General Assembly (2012) expressed our scriptural call to
provide hospitality to strangers, to advocate for justice for immigrants
regardless of status, and to advocate
actively for legislation that provides hope for young immigrants. Taking action
to increase ORR’s funding is a chance to embody the ideals grounded in the love
of Jesus Christ to welcome the traveler, and to respect the basic rights of all
people, especially the needs of unaccompanied children, refugees, and asylees.
Click
here to take action by reaching out to all members of Congress about this crucial
issue.
The Stated Clerk, Rev. Gradye Parsons, released this
statement on the crisis of unaccompanied minors along the U.S.-Mexico
border.
