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HOW TO HELP FAMILIES AFFECTED BY LARGEST WORKPLACE RAID
Last Thursday, nearly 100 immigrants were detained by ICE as they worked in a meatpacking plant in rural Eastern Tennessee.  It was the largest workplace raid in decades, and resulted in  
separating dozens of children from caretakers, and unifying communities of faith to offer support.
Below, learn ways you and your faith community--whether near or far--can help them, too. 
     
(Photos on L and R from TIRRC, Tenn. Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition, and Center from CitizenTribune.com.)
"I have been 20 years in Morristown.  All my children were born here.  I hope we can bring back my husband, and my children can be together with their father once again.  We come here to work for our families.  We don't come to steal anyone's job or do anything bad.  We just want a better future for our families and ourselves.  We're begging for you to help us, with prayer and to help get our families back, so we can regain strength."-- Elisabeth Morales, center photo, in blue above.)

"This has been the worst time for my life.  Everything has changed.  My Dad was supposed to come home.  After school, he always did everything with me.  He played soccer.  He helped me with my homework.  I just ask that you will pray for everybody that doesn't have their families to get back together." --Elisabeth's Son, above center.


2. SHARE THE FACEBOOK INVITE TO THE MONDAY, APRIL 9TH, 6 p.m. PRAYER VIGIL at Hillcrest Elementary School in Morristown, TN.:   https://www.facebook.com/events/428581544259573/ .  If you live near Knoxville, attend a 6 p.m. vigil there Monday night at:   https://www.facebook.com/events/424210821325827/?active_tab=about

3. HOLD A "SOLIDARITY PRAYER VIGIL" and pray with your own family, congregation, or community to demonstrate support for Tennessee immigrants affected by the raid, and for immigrants in your own area.  Consider praying prayers like The Immigrants Creed by Jose Luis Casal, found on our RIM website:   https://www.discipleshomemissions.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Immigrants-Creed-Jose-Luis-Casal.pdf .
  
4. CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AFFECTED FAMILIES. TIRRC recommends helping local TN. families through " HOLA Lakeway," which has set up a gofundme page called "Aid for Families Affected by Raid."   Or, give to:  Disciples Home Missions/Refugee & Immigration Ministries at:  https://www.discipleshomemissions.org/product/donation/  to support our ongoing work for families impacted by raids and living in fear of separation due to other restrictive policies.

5. PLAN NOW FOR YOUR CHURCH TO CELEBRATE "REFUGEE & IMMIGRATION WELCOME SUNDAY" ON JUNE 17TH, or a nearby Sunday.  See this page for resources, and keep going back as the day approaches!:
                                             For advocacy questions, contact:                                                                R ev. Dr. Sharon Stanley-Rea, Director, Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries, [email protected],  202-957-7826.
To subscribe to regular 
news updates from RIM, go to: http://bit.ly/RIMWRAPSignUp 
To support RIM's Ministries, go to:    https://www.discipleshomemissions.org/product/donation/ 
and select "Refugee & Immigration Ministries."
   Thanks for raising your voice and values of faith to support immigrants and refugees, and for answering the call to  "open your mouths to defend the rights...of the needy." (Proverbs 31:8)
    5 Thomas Circle NW, Washington, DC  20005
(2nd floor, National City Christian Church)
RIM is a ministry of Disciples Home Missions