How can faith communities support our local immigrant neighbors?
- Understand Protected Spaces Policy: Understanding warrants is important. Making appropriate us of signage can be a part of designating part of your building as “private” (not the worship space). ICE officers should not enter a private area without a signed judicial warrant.
- Know Your Rights cards: Have KYR cards available in the narthex or lobby in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese. Pass them out at community meals or in food pantry bags as appropriate. More here / here.
- Donate: Donate funds to support the programs created to meet gaps in services during this time, like the VolunRide program which is keeping immigrants safe. Host a fundraiser at your faith community to raise money (be creative!).
- Solidarity: Donate funds to support families as they make plans after a primary wage-earner has been detained by ICE.
- Support food pantries: Many Spanish-speaking immigrants make their own food using fresh produce, which can be difficult for local pantries to keep stocked. Grow some extra produce this summer in your community garden: tomatoes, any peppers (jalapeño, habanero, bell), zucchini, cilantro, potatoes (regular and sweet), onion, cucumbers.
- Educate: Learn how local policies are impacting your immigrant neighbors. Some groups to follow on social media include FLOC, Welcome Toledo-Lucas County, and La Prensa. Learn facts about immigration. Look up what your faith community’s immigration task force is working on and see how you can participate.
- Advocate: Write editorials in support of immigrant neighbors. Challenge stereotypes when you hear them. Attend rallies or meetings with elected officials to show your support of our immigrant neighbors. Call your elected officials and support bills that call for due process and humane treatment.
- Intentional spending: Hire immigrant caterers to prepare your next congregational dinner. Could you hire a baker to prepare treats for your next Coffee Hour? Host a tamale dinner to raise funds for families.
- Build community: When safe to do so, invite immigrant neighbors to attend a dinner in their honor, or even just attend a women’s circle or small group gathering in a member’s home. Host a monthly cooking class and invite those from other countries to share their gifts (and pay them for their time). Could you invite an immigrant faith community to do a project with yours?
- Detention support: Empower your clergy person to visit local jails to talk to immigrants who are detained. Send commissary money for detainees to use to make phone calls and procure other necessities.
- Volunteer: Local immigrant leaders are requesting volunteer support to provide administration for new programs that support immigrants during this difficult time. Can you manage volunteers? Provide rides? Help to move furniture donations?
- Vigil: Host a vigil to remember those impacted by ICE detention. Work with other faith communities or agencies in your neighborhood that work with immigrants.
