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Clergy and immigrant justice advocates with the PICO
National Network, a collection of 45 groups in 150 U.S.
cities and towns committed to changing the world through
faith, joined a dozen national faith, labor and community
organizations last week, calling on President Obama’s
Administration to protect vulnerable families by pardoning
undocumented immigrants and people with non-violent, federal
drug offenses.
“This is about protecting families,”
said Richard Morales, immigration policy director for PICO.
“There is tremendous fear in our communities. This is a
moral rather than legal issue. The President does have the
constitutional power to grant these pardons and his needs to
act.”
“We need to think about our kids, our neighbors, and their
dreams,” said Miguel
Oaxaca, a faith leader with Together Colorado.
“I am an immigrant, a father, a business owner, but most
importantly, I am your neighbor. Today, I’m asking President
Obama as a father to keep families together. I’m asking him
to use his heart to see all the families that will be
separated if he does not take action. Take action to help
the country be stronger.”
The group urged local elected officials, governors, mayors
and churches across the country to take steps to designate
themselves “sanctuaries.” Such expressions of solidarity
with undocumented families and other targeted communities is
a moral imperative.
“When families are broken and shattered, our country is
broken and shattered,? said
Bishop Dwayne Royster, political director for PICO National
Network. ?Our faith traditions underscore
the power of redemption. Tens of thousands of our
non-violent brothers and sisters languish in prisons because
of the War on Drugs. The President has the capacity and the
power to release them.?
Today?s event was part of PICO?s larger efforts to raise a
moral critique. It comes after promises from President-Elect
Trump to deport 2 to 3 million undocumented immigrants,
expand Stop and Frisk, eliminate health insurance for 22
million individuals and families, and implement a dangerous
registry for Muslims.
“One of the major tenets of the Christian faith is to love
thy Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all
your mind. Second to that is to love your neighbor as
yourself,” said Pastor
Greg Holston, executive director for Philadelphians
Organized to Witness Empower & Rebuild (POWER).
“Our neighbors are under attack. We are urging preachers and
leaders all over this nation to find those who are in
danger, undocumented immigrants who need a safe place.
Unless we stand up together, we will all be attacked. We
have to learn to follow the tenants of our faith.”
Reyna Montoya, a faith leader from Arizona and a DACA recipient
made a heartfelt plea to break down divisions: “When I think
about the moment we’re in, I think about a nation that is
completely divided, without compassion and without seeing
each other,” said Montoya. “Every single person in the
nation has the opportunity to walk in the light or in the
darkness. This is about people, our neighbors, our
communities.”
The network is currently circulating a
petition to deliver to the
White House on December 15, that addresses pardons, clemency
and sanctuary. Signatories include Sojourners, Bend the Arc
Action Fund, National Employment Law Project (NELP), Peoples
Action Network, the Alliance for Citizenship, Unite Here,
America's Voice, Auburn Seminary and author, professor and
civil rights advocate Michelle Alexander.
In a direct plea to the President,
Denise Collazo, chief of staff for PICO National Network,
said, “We are asking and praying that you keep families
together. Perhaps, President Obama, you were called to this
position ‘for such a time as this.’ You told our nation,
‘yes we can.’ Now we’re saying to you, yes you can.’”
# # #
PICO National Network is the largest grassroots, faith-based
organizing network in the United States. PICO works with
1,000 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and
towns through its 45 local and state federations. PICO and
its federations are non-partisan and do not endorse or
support candidates for office. PICO urges people of faith to
consult their faith traditions for guidance on specific
policies and legislation. Learn more at
www.piconetwork.org
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