Oppose Deportation Policies That Separate Families

In 2018, when President Trump’s first administration enacted a policy that ultimately separated several thousand children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border, polls found that most evangelical Christians were opposed – and vocal opposition to this policy from evangelical Christians in particular, helped lead to its ultimate termination. Now, with the potential for family separation on a much larger scale, is another timely moment for Christians to speak up.

President Trump has pledged to carry out “the largest deportation in U.S. history.” While he has largely emphasized the need to deport those convicted of violent crimes, the reality is that, as his administration seeks to detain at least 3,000 immigrants a day, the vast majority of immigrants at risk of deportation are individuals without any criminal conviction who have been present in the U.S. for at least a decade. He has also withdrawn protections from certain immigrants who are currently in the country lawfully and initiate deportations. A deportation program of this scale would not only harm the economy but could jeopardize family unity, including for many of the 4 to 5 million U.S. citizen minors who have a parent who is undocumented.

Fortunately, there’s a bipartisan alternative known as the Dignity Act that would allow certain immigrants who are currently vulnerable to deportation the opportunity to earn permanent legal status if they pay a fine and meet other requirements. Please call today to ask your Member of Congress to support this important bipartisan bill!