Immigration rules bad idea for Elgin
" ... Extend hospitality to strangers" (Romans 12:13b).
The Association of Brethren Caregivers expresses deep concern about the proposed ordinances on immigration proposed to the Elgin City Council.
We are a nonprofit agency of the Church of the Brethren, based at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin. As Christians and people of faith, we find the ordinances threatening to the well-being of our community.
The proposed ordinances express racism and prejudice against non-English speakers, people of other nationalities who are living in our community, and those of backgrounds other than European-American. We believe the ordinances, in practice, would target people of color. We are concerned especially for the effects on families and children.
The proposed ordinances have potential to create grievous situations for children and their parents, as enforcement would divide families, creating virtual orphans of children who are U.S. citizens as undocumented parents are jailed or deported.
This would create an unconscionable burden on social service agencies on whom the children would then depend for their care. Financial consequences for Elgin may be equally devastating.
The proposed ordinances would divert city services and resources, especially those of the police department, away from needs in the community and into harsh expressions of enforcement inappropriate for the population of Elgin.
We feel the genuine nature of Elgin as a lively multicultural and open community would be destroyed. We value Elgin's cultural diversity and the many exciting opportunities it offers for our agency and staff.
The Church of the Brethren Annual Conference has two statements that apply to immigration issues:
• "Separate No More"(www.brethren.org/ac/ac_statements/2007Multi-Ethnic.pdf), and;
• "Statement Addressing the Concern of Undocumented Persons and Refugees in the United States"(www.brethren.org/ac/ac_statements/82Refugees.htm).
These statements are based on scriptural guidance and the biblical mandate to love all people, to welcome the stranger and to follow the call of Christ to heal divisions in human society.
Kathy Reid
Executive director
Association of
Brethren Caregivers
Elgin