Honor Fathers, and Continue to Help Separated Families-Corrected Links)

Don't Forget: Honor Refugee & Immigrant Welcome Sunday

THIS WEEK, and Continue to Urge Congress to

Stop Separating Families at the Border!!

*Honor Refugee & Immigrant Welcome Sunday this weekend, or another soon!

Click here for resources!

*On Saturday, June 16, 1 pm Eastern, Join Religious Leaders in a Prayer Vigil with Immigrant Dads and Children from Ohio Areas Impacted by Massive Immigration Raids at Corso's Flower and Garden Centers Last Week: See here:

http://bit.ly/2JLQL2e

*On Father's Day, June 17th, Go Here to See How You Can Support Migrant Dads!

*Also On Father's Day, at 1 pm CT in Ursula, Texas, follow on Facebook or Follow #FamiliesBelongTogether on Twitter for Livestream from the
Ursula Border Patrol Processing Center to raise your voice against Family Separations.

*Then, Visit here to Find the Images Above and the Additional Resources Below to

Continue the National Faith Community Push to Help Children and Parents Being Separated at the Border!

LEARN AND PRAY ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING

Read these reflections from Rev. Terri Hord Owens on the Biblical emphasis on love in Romans 13, and her ongoing support of child and family unity: https://www.facebook.com/teresa.h.owens.50/posts/10155311335401126

Listen to Hearts of Moms Separated from their Children in this video clip.
See a Timeline of Rollbacks of Protections of Children in Recent Months.
Consider Some Impacts of New Zero Tolerance Policies on Children and Parents.
Read a "Frequently Asked Questions" backgrounder from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on the current situation of family separation and the reported situation of lost children here. Also, our faith partners in ELCA Advocacy put together a blog trying to explaining recent policies that separate children and families.
See these Resources with Stories about Fathers and Mothers who are immigrants, Showing the Challenges They Face, and Courage They Demonstrate.
Learn here how the Flores Agreement relates to family detention and family separation throughout US immigration history, and is not a loophole!
Hear the voices of medical professionals in opposition to family separation at the border.

HEAR HOW DISCIPLES & FAITH PARTNERS ARE RESPONDING

Rev. Terri Hord Owens, Disciples GMP and other faith leaders, speak. 6/7/18
Read Rev. Terri Hord Owens' statement, or listen to the audio recording from a Press Call Honoring Immigrant Moms, and Protecting Immigrant Families. 5/9/18
Read this Faith Leaders Letter to Members of Congress on Family Reunification 2/15/18

SEE RELATED LEGISLATION SO FAR INTRODUCED

Feinstein, with 31 co-sponsors, introduces bill to end family separation
Ryan and the White House have introduced a "compromise" immigration bill, although it will NOT end family separation. As long as Trump Admin keeps choosing to prosecute 100% of parents, their kids will still be taken away from them. NO provision in the bill ending family separation.

ACT TO HELP END FAMILY SEPARATION

Your faith voice is needed to help stop family separation! Continue to return here for additional opportunities for action, as they develop, for faith communities to support children and parents in detention.

Sign as Women of Faith, Clergy and Lay Persons: Click here to call upon DHS Secretary Nielsen to stop separating children from their parents at the border.
Sign as ALL Community Members: Click here to sign this petition to ask the administration, through the DHS (Department of Homeland Security), ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) to keep families together.
Call Members of Congress: Dial 1-866-940-2439 to connect to your 2 Senators and 1 Representative to let your legislators know you value the ability for families to stay together. Ask them to work for solutions that help the root causes of violence that are causing parents and children to need to escape, especially from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Urge them to request the administration to stop separating families, and share scriptures that influence your values. Find your officials here.
Plan an Action with local clergy and layleaders at your U.S. Senators' and Representative's area offices! See this article for inspiration: Clergy Hit the Hill to Support Children Being Separated from their Parents. Consider delivering bears, with your message about the importance for parents to be able to comfort and protect their children.
Raise your concerns on Social Media: Use images like the ones on this page and click here for sample social media posts. Make your own posts, and be sure to tweet to RIM at @StanleyRea, and to like and send to our Facebook at: Refugee and Immigration Ministries Disciples Home Missions

For advocacy and refugee resettlement 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