Refugee & Immigration Ministries

Immigration Ministries

There are thousands of persons in the world who, like Alexander Campbell and other founders of our denomination, desire the opportunity to live in a free and stable society. Some of those persons wait years to come through official immigration processes, others come on temporary visas and overstay those visas, and others come without official documentation. Those who overstay visas or come without official documentation include persons fleeing persecution and seeking asylum, persons in desperate situations who have no possibility of caring for their families in there homeland, and persons simply looking for a better quality of life. For whatever reasons immigrants come to the United States and Canada, the gospel calls us to welcome the stranger. Often the welcome given by the U.S. government is one of detention and deportation. To understand more about how persons without proper documentation are treated see "Asylum, Detention, Deportation, and the Legal Rights of the Undocumented."

Immigration Help for Congregations

RIM stands ready to assist Disciples congregations who are seeking to help persons who have immigration problems. RIM can provide information about immigration processes, help congregations locate immigration attorneys in their area, and provide very limited funds to assist in emergency situations.

For information about the various immigration categories that would allow an immigrant to come to the United States or remain in the United States, see "Understanding U.S. Immigration Categories" in English or Spanish. Congregations needing additional help on immigration issues should contact the director of RIM.

Over the last few years, immigration raids have happened across the United States, creating an atmosphere of fear among all immigrant populations. Congregations are urged to respond to that fear by providing accurate and helpful information before a raid takes place in their community.  The "Family Care Plan" (prepared by the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.) is available to help in that process.    English vesion    Spanish version     Additionally, the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services has created the "Be Not Afraid" project to help congregations resond to immigration issues.  It contains a know your rights workshop, a family safety planning workshop, prayer and study tools, raid response planning tools, and advocacy tools.

Responding to Anti-Immigrant Attitudes

Immigrants are often the first to be blamed when there are problems within the United States. When the economy is bad, immigrants are blamed for taking away jobs and using services they do not deserve. When terrorists strike, immigrants are the first ones thought of as possibly being responsible for the attack. As congregations struggle to understand the blame that immigrants often unjustly experience, RIM stands ready to provide helpful information in this area.

See "Undocumented persons: Should we blame or welcome them?".

Also see: "Theological Reflection on Immigration and Welcome Pledge" for multiple theological and biblical reflections on immigration.

Border Ministry

Disciples have a border ministry to immigrants along the Texas/Mexico border. Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries (SWGSM) is a ministry of the Southwest Region under the leadership of the Rev. Feliberto Pereira. RIM has been supporting SWGSM since the early 1980s. Learn more about SWGSM.

Humane Borders was founded by the Rev. Robin Hoover, pastor of First Christian Church in Tucson, Ariz.  It is a ministry that provides water in the desert for persons crossing from Mexico to Arizona. RIM supports Humane Borders through the RIM Alternative Giving Catalog.  Learn more about Humane Borders.  Watch a video of the first 10 years of Humane Borders' ministry. 

An educational resource for better understanding of border issues, "Loving Our Neighbors," is available from The Thoughtful Christian.

Border Conference Report

“Turning Walls into Tables…. A Border Experience” was held on February 10-13, 2011 at Iglesia Cristiana Casa De Oracion in San Diego.  Approximately 70 Disciples and UCC members were in attendance.  One day was spent visiting the Mexican side of the border, including a visit to an organization that assists immigrants who are deported from the United States and a visit to a community adversely affected by pollution from nearby Maquiladora manufacturing plants. 

Plenary and workshop discussions covered theological reflection on immigration, the experiences of border ministries in other locations along the Mexican border, governmental policy and advocacy issues, labor and employment issues, the role of racism in immigration issues, local ministries’ responses to immigrants in their areas, and the Mexican church perspective of the issue.  Worship was led by 12 Disciples and UCC young adults, most of whom are already involved in border or immigration issues. 

The conference ended with a discussion of how to turn walls into tables back home and the production of a statement calling on both denominations to be more welcoming of immigrants.  The conference was jointly sponsored by Disciples Home Missions, Global Ministries of the Disciples/UCC, the Central Pastoral Office of the Disciples Hispanic Ministries, and the UCC Justice and Witness Ministries.

Immigration Legislation

Immigration issues continue to be important issues in the political arena. Proposals for new immigration laws and regulations are constantly being put forward by Congress and the U.S. Administration. RIM provides updates on immigration legislation and regulations to the extent possible and provides channels for people to advocate on behalf of immigrants.

During 2010, an "Immigration Reform" information sheet will constantly be updated and available on the RIM Home page. 

"Update" is available at What's New - "Update"!

Refugee and Immigration advocacy information is available at Advocacy.

Many states and cities across the United States are attempting to pass immigration legislation. State and local councils of churches have been active in speaking to those issues. To learn of efforts in your community check out the National Council of Churches in the USA Web site which has links to the immigration advocacy efforts of these councils.

Church World Service's Churches and Communities Standing with Immigrants, Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, and Interfaith Immigration Coalition are clearinghouses for faith engagement on immigration reform. They have resources to help churches learn about immigration issues and engage in advocacy on behalf of immigrants. Additional resources are available from Reform Immigration FOR America,  National Immigration Forum, and America's Voice.

Immigration Detention Centers

Persons coming to the United States seeking asylum, persons entering the United States without proper documentation, and even Permanent Residents of the United States who have committed a crime are held in detention centers across the United States while they are awaiting deportation or while a decision is being made concerning their asylum application. These detention centers consist of local jails/prisons, contract facilities owned and operated by detention corporations, and centers owned and operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In the detention centers owned and operated by DHS, Disciples work through Church World Service to provide religious services to the detainees. Attempts are underway to get permission from some of the contract facilities to also provide these services in those facilities. If your congregation is located near a DHS Service Processing Center (SPC) you are encouraged to volunteer to help with the provision of these religious services. Contact the director of RIM for details.