Posts Tagged ‘immigrant families’

I Met with My Senator Today, Will You Join Me?

No Comments | Share On Facebook| I Met with My Senator Today, Will You Join Me? Share/Save/Bookmark May 22, 2013
UUA & RAC delegations with Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado

UUA & Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) delegations with Sen. Michael Bennet.

This morning, I met with Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, my own senator and one of the “Gang of Eight” who drafted the bipartisan immigration reform bill, to share why I support compassionate immigration reform.

Will you join me in calling for compassionate immigration reform by meeting with your own members of Congress? Click here for a step-by-step guide to holding an in-district advocacy visit with your representatives.

As people of faith, we have a critical role to play in this ongoing immigration reform debate. We know that love has no borders. Our faith calls us to embrace the inherent worth and dignity of all and to speak out against injustice. We have a moral obligation to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity—together, we can create a country where all are welcome.

Next week, Congress is having its last in-district work period before the immigration bill moves to the Senate floor. The window for shaping the content of immigration reform is closing fast and your members of Congress need to hear from you now.

I met with my senator today—will you meet with yours? Click here to learn how you can hold an in-district meeting with your representatives and raise your voice for compassionate immigration reform.

In faith,

The Rev. Peter Morales
President
Unitarian Universalist Association

The message above went out on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 to Standing on the Side of Love supporters. You can sign-up for these emails here.

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Investors Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

4 Comments | Share On Facebook| Investors Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform Share/Save/Bookmark Apr 30, 2013
UUA Treasurer and CFO Tim Brennan

This post was written by UUA Treasurer and CFO Tim Brennan.

Responding to the introduction of immigration reform legislation in the U.S. Senate, a broad and diverse group of more than 70 institutional investors including the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) joined together to call on Congress to take immediate action and pass commonsense immigration reform. The coalition represents $890.5 billion in assets under management on behalf of major pension funds, nonprofit organizations, faith-based investors, and socially responsible investors.

In a public letter, the group stated, “We believe comprehensive reform must be developed and implemented consistent with the human rights of all concerned, must value the integrity of families and must prevent immigrant workers—be they temporary or permanent—from being subjected to second-class employment standards.”

Regardless of our faith, I believe we all share a moral responsibility to stop the suffering caused by the current immigration policy, especially to families. As members of the investment community, we know the path to economic prosperity lies ultimately with the humane treatment of our workers.

The letter outlines the economic rationale, citing a recent study by the Congressional Budget Office which concluded that immigration reform could add as much as 1.3 percent to GDP by 2016. The coalition also notes that reform is imperative to ensuring a competitive U.S. labor force and a more prosperous economy for all Americans.

My colleague Susan Smith Makos, vice president of social responsibility for Mercy Investment Services, says of the letter, “As investors, we have a responsibility to advocate for those without a voice. Comprehensive immigration reform is a necessary step to improve conditions for those immigrants living and working in our country. Our hope is that leaders in U.S. Congress will realize the significant, positive impact that immigration reform can have not only on businesses but also on our country.”

Organizing investors to speak out for comprehensive immigration reform is a part of the UUA’s efforts to express our values through the management of our investments. As an active shareholder, the UUA uses its ownership rights to file resolutions on a range of issues including LGBTQ nondiscrimination, political spending, human rights, and sustainability. But to be effective, we must act in concert with other investors. Therefore the UUA is an active member of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, Ceres, SIF: the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment, and the Investor Network on Climate Risk.

Together with these investors, we recognize that consideration of justice is as important to investing as risk and return.

This post was written by Unitarian Universalist Association Treasurer and CFO Tim Brennan. Tim is an active proponent of shareholder advocacy and socially responsible investing.

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Include My Family in Immigration Reform

No Comments | Share On Facebook| Include My Family in Immigration Reform Share/Save/Bookmark Apr 24, 2013

This message was written by a member of the Standing on the Side of Love community and Unitarian Universalist minister who asked to remain anonymous as she approaches her eligibility for citizenship.

I came to the United States because I fell in love with a U.S. citizen. She had family obligations and I did not, so I relocated. Unfortunately, because the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman, Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) will not recognize a same-sex relationship, even if you are married in another country or in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage. The only way for binational same-sex couples to live in the U.S. is for the non-U.S. citizen to find another way to immigrate.

Fortunately, I was called by a U.S. congregation that sponsored me for a Religious Worker Visa and later for permanent residency. This process took over 5 years and cost $10,000. Citizenship will cost a few thousand more.

Call your senators today and insist that families like mine are included in immigration reform. Click here to download instructions and talking points.

I was blessed to have a sponsor, but there were risks. If I lost my job, I would have to leave the country and start again. Because of this, many employers assume we will tolerate low wages and poor working conditions because they know we won’t quit. I was fortunate that my congregation provided steadfast support and fair compensation.

There was another risk. If INS learned that I was in a committed same-sex relationship, I could be charged with visa fraud and deported. The existence of an U.S. same-sex partner has been used as grounds to deport many LGBTQ immigrants.

To protect ourselves, we went back in the closet. We did not share a home or bank accounts. We did not designate each other as powers of attorney. Any thoughts of marriage were put on hold. I don’t think I could overstate the spiritual and psychological impact of this.

Our colleagues at Immigration Equality are visiting with members of Congress today to share stories like mine. Please add your voice to theirs and call your senators today to insist that same-sex binational couples and their families are included in immigration reform. Click here to download instructions and talking points.

I received permanent residency a few years ago. I was so relieved. I was no longer dependent on the good will of an employer and I was here on my own standing. Shortly thereafter my partner proposed to me and we were legally married.

Yet, I am writing anonymously because we still feel vulnerable. We do not know if I could be retroactively charged with visa fraud if INS were to find out the lengths we went to to hide our relationship. We do not know if this could jeopardize my ability to become a citizen or to renew my green card. We do not trust the immigration system in this country to treat us with respect. I will not feel completely safe until I am a citizen.

In faith,

Rev. Anonymous

The message above went out on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 to Standing on the Side of Love supporters. You can sign-up for these emails here.

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A Mother’s Day for All

No Comments | Share On Facebook| A Mother’s Day for All Share/Save/Bookmark Apr 20, 2013

In some ways, Mother’s Day is an easy holiday, right? Lots of people have important “mother” figures in their life, for whom they can find something in the greeting card aisle, buy flowers, or make breakfast in bed. We celebrate these women because we love them. Setting aside a special day for them acknowledges the critical and often underappreciated role they play in our lives and in our communities.

And yet, some experiences of motherhood aren’t so easily found in the greeting card aisle, such as families with queer or trans or two mothers. It might be impossible to make her breakfast in bed if she’s incarcerated or recently deported. While many of us already celebrate those women who raised us (whether she was our nanny, our grandmother, our aunt, our foster mother), how do we acknowledge the experiences of women who wanted children but couldn’t, due to economic circumstance, medical condition, unjust adoption rights, or any other reason? How do we stand on the side of love with all those who “mother” and their families?

This year on May 12, join me in celebrating a more inclusive “Mama’s Day.” Click here to learn more.

Mother’s Day was originally founded as an antiwar rallying cry by Unitarian Julia Ward Howe. This history reminds us that Mother’s Day is more than a day for flowers and pancakes. It’s a call to honor the resiliency of all those who mother, especially those who bear the brunt of hurtful policies or who are weighed down by stigma in our culture. It’s an opportunity to take action to create conditions that enable all families to thrive.

This year, transform your Mother’s Day into “Mama’s Day:” a multicultural, justice-oriented celebration of all those who “mama.” For the first time ever, the UUA has partnered with Strong Families, to offer beautiful e-cards and resources for advocacy, worship, and more.

Let’s do “Mama’s Day” on the side of love. Click here to find out how to transform your celebration this year.

Faithfully,

Jessica Halperin
Witness Ministries Program Associate
Unitarian Universalist Association

The message above went out on Saturday, April 20, 2013 to Standing on the Side of Love supporters. You can sign-up for these emails here.

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One Click Away from Compassionate, Family-Based Immigration Reform

No Comments | Share On Facebook| One Click Away from Compassionate, Family-Based Immigration Reform Share/Save/Bookmark Apr 17, 2013

I have been hearing so many amazing stories of Unitarian Universalists making advocacy visits to tell their elected officials that immigration reform must respect the inherent worth and dignity of all people.

In 2010, I marched and later was arrested in Phoenix, AZ, because my faith values taught me that it is wrong to tear apart families and criminalize whole communities. No person is illegal. I stood on the side of love to stop immoral legislation that sadly began spreading from one state to another.

Now finally the moment is here, a once in a generation moment, to pass federal legislation that will create one immigration policy for our nation.

An immigration reform bill was introduced this morning, so now is the time to tell Congress that reform must be compassionate.

You can do that right now, by simply sending this message to your local elected official. Tell them that reform must keep families together.

One of the proudest moments of my presidency was when thousands of Unitarian Universalists witnessed at the Tent City detention center in Phoenix at Justice General Assembly last year calling for an end to detentions and deportations and for reform of our immigration laws.

You and I both know how powerful our voices can be when we mobilize and work together to make real change happen. Click here to add your voice today towards compassionate, family-based immigration reform.

Love has no borders, love keeps families together, love respects the inherent worth and dignity of all people.

In faith,

Rev. Peter Morales
President
Unitarian Universalist Association

The message above went out on Wednesday, April 16, 2013 to Standing on the Side of Love supporters. You can sign-up for these emails here.

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