As faith communities, we are called by our principles and sacred texts to the spiritual practice of welcome. Our diverse faith traditions direct us to love our neighbor, accompany the vulnerable, and welcome the sojourner—regardless of place of birth, religion, or ethnicity.
Explore more resources by the Interfaith Immigration Coalition and our members on our website and the many resources below and in each of these tabs.
**Not all resources, statements, or links share views supported by every IIC member**
Economic Impact of Immigration
The United States has economically, culturally, and socially benefited from immigrants. Immigrants and refugees can enhance the workforce, introduce cultural diversity, and breathe new life into small towns. Immigrants are also often considered essential workers, meaning they carry out jobs in sectors of the economy deemed essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. Acknowledging the economic contributions of immigrants does not diminish their inherent dignity, which exists independently of their labor.
Many faith traditions believe that human dignity encompasses the ability to contribute to society through economic activity or work. Economic activity is also needed for new arrivals and immigrants to obtain self-sufficiency and dignity. Many have called for work permits for asylum seekers and residents who have lived in the U.S. for a long time to support their economic self-sufficiency and increase opportunities. Many immigrants without status are forced to live in the shadows or work in the informal economy, which can suppress their economic potential and lead to exploitation and human and labor trafficking in violation of their human dignity.
Learn more about the economic contributions of immigrant essential workers during COVID from the Center for American Progress.
On July 23, 2024, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office revised its 10-year economic and budget forecasts to account for increasing immigration rates. The CBO report says that immigrants will boost the U.S. GDP by $8.9 trillion over the next decade.
The American Immigration Council finds that 46 percent of Fortune 500 companies in 2024 were founded by immigrants or the children of immigrants.
The U.S. Department of Labor Health and Human Services finds that refugees and asylees contributed $123.8 billion to the US economy from 2005-2019.
The American Immigration Council 2023 Map is an excellent tool to explore the amazing contributions of our immigrant neighbors. What is the impact in your state?
Worship Resources & Devotionals
Holy Days & Holidays Fall and Winter Toolkit: Created by the IIC Holy Days & Holidays Working Group, this interfaith toolkit highlights several holy days, holidays, and special events occurring this fall and winter and shares how you can observe them.
Share this toolkit: bit.ly/IICFallWinter
Narrative Change
Communication Resource Hub, Responding to Immigration Opposition: Created by the Immigration Law and Justice Network, this toolkit can be used to counter the anti-immigrant rhetoric and respond effectively to messaging during this election year.
Share this toolkit: bit.ly/3XZzr2c
Transformative Conversations: Created by the the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), this toolkit offers tips on building deep canvassing skills as a tool to help individuals collectively engage with each other, overcome divides, and build a shared vision for a better future.
Share this toolkit: bit.ly/3XKOcV4
Myths vs Facts: Created by Global Refuge, this article talks about common misconceptions about immigration and combats misinformation by presenting factual information.
Share this article: bit.ly/3zBnnL4
Using Strategic Framing to Move the Public Discourse On Immigration: Created by the Frameworks Institute, this report analyzes the effectiveness of different messaging frames on the topic of immigration, finding that the Moral Argument is one of the most potent.
Words Create Worlds: Created by the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice for ELCA AMMPARO, this guide was made to help reflect on the impact of our words in the immigration discourse.
Share this guide: bit.ly/3Bq4HyI
Civic Engagement
Civic Engagement, a Path to Your Voice, Future, and Vote: Follow this page for a civic engagement toolkit, pathmaker pledge, and guide for countering misinformation from Church World Service.
Build Bridges in a Polarized Nation: Coming Together to Care for Newcomers: Sign up to attend this series of webinars hosted by Church World Service on Civic Engagement; Demystifying 21st Century Migration; Welcoming Newcomers; and Pastoral Care for Faith Leaders.
“On Immigration, ‘Deterrence Only’ Is Not the Answer” (09/11/2024): Read this article by By Naomi Steinberg, Vice President, U.S. Policy and Advocacy of HIAS discussing the ways that different candidates are talking about immigration this election year.
“Xenophobia & Anti-Immigrant Extremism: From Fringe to Mainstream”: Read this resource from Human Rights First about the harms of xenophobia and anti-immigrant bias.
“Deep Dive”: Read this article series from HIAS that explores, in detail, key facts about some of the most important issues informing the upcoming U.S. presidential election: immigration, refugees, and asylum.
“Non-Citizen Voting Lies, Explained”: Read this article by Protect Democracy unpacking the allegations of non-citizens voting in federal elections and why these misconceptions bode a problem for democracy.
“Five Things to Know About the SAVE Act”: Read this article by the Bipartisan Policy Center about the SAVE Act and the allegations of non-citizens voting.
“Noncitizen Voting in U.S. Elections.” Read this report by the Migration Policy Institute explaining the claims of non-citizens voting.
“Despite Sharply Different Immigration Rhetoric, Democrats and Republicans Now Have a Similar Approach to the Border”: Read this article by the Migration Policy Institute about the converging positions of both parties on immigration, especially on border security.
“Trump’s Immigration Agenda: A Closer Look”: Read this article by Just Security, examining details of President Trump’s policy platform on immigration.
“Project 2025 Immigration Overview”: Read this report by the Niskanen Center exploring the details of Project 2025’s policy prescriptions on immigration.
“Democratic Party Platform” and “GOP Party Platform” and “Green Party Platform”: Read for yourself the official party platforms on immigration from each of the leading political parties this election cycle.
ASYLUM FAQ
What is Asylum?
Seeking asylum is a legal and human right. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 8 USC 1158(a)(1) states: “Any alien who is physically present in the United States or who arrives in the United States (whether or not at a designated port of arrival and including an alien who is brought to the United States after having been interdicted in international or United States waters), irrespective of such alien’s status, may apply for asylum in accordance with this section or, where applicable, section 1225(b) of this title.” The nation has a clear legal and moral imperative to uphold the right to seek refuge.
How do asylum seekers access protection?
The CBP One mobile application is often used to schedule an appointment to enter lawfully at a port of entry. In other cases, unaccompanied minors, families, and single adults may turn themselves in to border authorities to seek refuge after crossing. To be afforded an opportunity to seek asylum, individuals and families are provided a preliminary screening for fear of persecution or torture. To receive asylum, individuals must establish that they meet the international law definition of a “refugee” during the asylum process.
The burden to show they meet the definition of a refugee is on the person seeking asylum. According the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 8 USC 1101(a)(42), the term “refugee” means, “any person who is outside any country of such person’s nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, is outside any country in which such person last habitually resided, and who is unable or unwilling to return to, and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of, that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.”
Refugees did not gain distinct international legal recognition until the United Nations adopted the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. The U.S. formally adopted this refugee definition in 1980 with the passage of the Refugee Act. It was not until the 1980’s that the U.S. created a formal refugee system, which we now know as the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program(USRAP).
FACT CHECK: Whereas refugees are processed for protection overseas, asylum seekers must be physically in the U.S. or at a port of entry to seek refuge. There is no way to ask for asylum in the U.S. from another country.
Reflect on how individuals from diverse backgrounds and various parts of the globe came together to champion this protection system following World War II. Everyone, regardless of their race, origin, religion, or political beliefs, is entitled to a life of safety and dignity. This is a fundamental truth that applies to all.
The Price of Seeking Asylum
Seeking asylum comes at a great personal cost. From making the journey to seek protection, to retelling their trauma to asylum officers and immigration judges, and navigating the asylum process with virtually no support, at almost every turn, asylum seekers face mounting obstacles and risk. Those seeking asylum are some of the most vulnerable members of society – children, single mothers, and victims of domestic violence, torture, or persecution.
ASYLUM UPDATES
When Title 42 ended on May 11, 2023, the Biden administration promulgated various entry and eligibility restrictions on asylum. The number of individuals “encountered” crossing the border between ports of entry by border patrol agents has decreased steadily. In fact, just weeks after President Biden announced an executive order on the border on June 4, 2024 encounters fell to their lowest level in four years. To say that policies have real world implications is an understatement. There are well documented consequences of restrictive policies on the lives of individuals seeking refuge.
**New** As of September 26, 2024 CBS reports that the Biden administration is considering extending and expanding asylum restrictions pegged to the number of people encountered at the border. These restrictions generally authorize border patrol agents to deport individuals without processing their claim of asylum, and come into effect when the weekly average of daily crossings between ports of entry surpasses 2,500. Under these expanded measures, unaccompanied children would count towards the daily encounters used to lift the restrictions, and the weekly average of daily crossings would need to fall to 1,500 over 28 days for the measures to be lifted.
Timeline
This is a timeline of different policies under the Biden Administration that have curtailed access to asylum. Congress has also proposed measures to unduly restrict asylum and expand detention of asylum seekers.
On May 13, 2023 the Biden Administration promulgated a final rule, called the “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways” regulation. This regulation affects eligibility for asylum based on how someone arrived in the U.S., leading many to call it an “Asylum Ban.” If subject to the rule, someone is deemed presumptively ineligible for asylum if they did not use a lawful pathway when coming into the U.S., with few exceptions. As of May 13, crossing between ports of entry can result in expedited removal without consideration of a full asylum claim, unless an asylum seeker can establish they can rebut the presumption of ineligibility.
- The report “Trapped, Preyed Upon, and Punished” by Human Rights First examines the severe impacts of the Biden administration’s asylum ban, highlighting the dangers and injustices faced by asylum seekers over the past year.
On June 4, the Biden Administration made a far-reaching proclamation on the border. The Department of Homeland Security subsequently issued an Interim Final Rule, called “Securing the Border” putting this new policy into effect. The regulation suspends and limits the entry of those crossing between ports of entry. These restrictions generally authorize border patrol agents to deport individuals who cross between ports of entry without processing their claim of asylum, and come into effect when the weekly average of daily crossings between ports of entry surpasses 2,500. Under the current policy, the weekly average of daily crossings would need to fall to 1,500 over 14 days for the measures to be lifted.
- Report on the Consequences of the “Securing the Border” Policy: Authored by the National Immigrant Justice Center, this report examines the impacts of the Biden Administration’s June 2024 asylum ban, highlighting increased risks and challenges faced by asylum seekers.
- Report on the Consequences of the “Securing the Border” Policy: Published by Human Rights First, this report details the fears and hardships experienced by migrants due to the restrictive border policies, emphasizing the human rights violations involved.
On July 5, the Biden Administration announced new border and enforcement measures, including expanded use of CBP One, a scheduling app used to request an appointment at a port of entry to seek asylum. Currently, 1,450 appointments are available daily at 8 ports of entry (POE’s). Whereas migrants used to have to wait for an appointment between a few miles of the border, now migrants can request and await an appointment in southern Mexico. Unfortunately, the CBP One has been riddled with issues, including lack of available appointments, and technical glitches. It is also only available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.
- Letter to the Biden Administration: Authored by various civil society organizations, this letter urges the Biden Administration to implement protection measures for CBP One users and restore full access to asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border
- Letter to the Mexican Government: Written by civil society organizations, this letter calls on the Mexican government to ensure the security and protection of individuals awaiting CBP One appointments.
- Report on the Consequences of CBP One: Compiled by Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Kino Border Initiative, International Mayan League, Lawyers for Good Government, Hope Border Institute, and Jesuit Refugee Service USA, this report highlights the negative impacts of the CBP One app on asylum seekers, including long wait times and exposure to dangerous conditions
- Report on Psychosocial Needs: Published by Jesuit Refugee Service USA, this report examines the psychosocial challenges faced by migrants using the CBP One app, emphasizing the need for better support and protection measure
Additional Resources
- “Pain as Strategy”: This report is published by the Hope Border Institute, an organization dedicated to promoting justice and human rights at the U.S.-Mexico border. It details the use of pain and suffering as a deliberate strategy to deter migration, highlighting the human rights abuses and systemic issues within border enforcement policies.
- Abuses at the U.S.- Mexico Border: How To Address Failures and Protect Rights: This report is from the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), which focuses on human rights, democracy, and social justice in the Americas. It documents extensive human rights violations by U.S. federal law enforcement at the border and offers over 40 policy recommendations to address these abuses.
- Operation Lone Star: This report is from the National Immigration Forum, an organization advocating for the value of immigrants and immigration to the nation. It analyzes the logistical and political challenges of Texas’s Operation Lone Star, highlighting its impact on communities and the legal system.
- “U.S. Border and Asylum Policies Harm Black Asylum Seekers”: This report is from Human Rights First, an independent advocacy and action organization that challenges America to live up to its ideals. It examines the discriminatory barriers faced by Black asylum seekers, including targeted violence and systemic racism within the U.S. immigration system and asylum system.
- Impact of asylum restrictions on Indigenous people: This letter is supported by the National Immigration Project (NIPNLG) and the International Mayan League, highlighting the challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples under recent U.S. asylum policies. It calls for exemptions and better access to asylum processes for Indigenous Peoples, who are often excluded due to language barriers and other systemic issues.
REFUGEE PROTECTION FAQ
Who is a refugee?
The 1951 Refugee Convention is a key legal document and defines a refugee as: “someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.”
Watch this video explainer by CWS to understand who refugees are.
How do refugees access protection?
The State Department manages the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, or USRAP. Since it was created in 1980, more than 3M refugees have been accepted into the country. In 2023, the United States established WelcomeCorps allowing groups to privately sponsor refugees. Over 100,000 Americans have signed up to sponsor refugees. President Trump lowered the refugee admissions ceiling to 15k in 2021, President Biden subsequently raised it to 62.5k, and it is currently 125k. As of September 2024, 85,000 people have been admitted as refugees. The ceiling is determined by the presidential determination (PD) at the start of the federal fiscal year.
Share these social media graphics about the refugee cap on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
FAMILY-BASED IMMIGRATION FAQ
What is family-based immigration?
The modern immigration system was established by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 which created a system that gives priority to individuals with family ties and employment opportunities for visas for permanent residence (green cards). U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can sponsor family members. Family members can fall into the category of immediate relatives or one of several family preference categories.
The family immigration system has largely been outpaced by demand. It can take years or even decades for a family member to get their visa. The U.S. government issues a maximum 480,000 family visas per fiscal year, and no country of origin can account for more than seven percent of that figure. The high demand for family visas from certain countries contributes to substantial backlogs in most family preference categories.
What is the visa backlog?
Today, some U.S. citizens have to wait over 20 years to be reunified with their siblings through the family immigration system! These delays can lead to family members migrating irregularly because of the absence of options to do it the “right way.”
Learn more about Family Immigration and Family Visas & Backlogs.
Play the Green Card Game by the Cato Institute and see for yourself just how challenging navigating the immigration system can be!