Evangelicals Encouraged by Bipartisan Movement toward Immigration Reforms to Address Border, Dreamers
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) have reportedly agreed on a bipartisan framework for immigration reforms. The framework reportedly will invest heavily in border security while allowing Dreamers, immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, to pursue permanent legal status and eventual citizenship.
“I’m encouraged that Senators Tillis and Sinema are doing the hard work of forging consensus to actually pass legislation,” said Matthew Soerens, National Coordinator of the Evangelical Immigration Table. “While we’ll of course be interested in the details of their final proposal, I see this announcement of a bipartisan framework as a very positive first step. I’m praying that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will join in to actually pass solutions.”
Late last week, the leadership organizations of the Evangelical Immigration Table — representing evangelical denominations, churches and ministries throughout the country — sent a letter to all Members of Congress, urging them to prioritize bipartisan immigration reforms in the “lame duck” session before the current Congress departs. A solution for Dreamers and improvements to border security and management were two of the four priorities noted.
A recent Lifeway Research study found that four out of five evangelicals nationally support bipartisan action to improve border security, provide a path to citizenship for Dreamers and provide a reliable number of screened, legal farmworkers.
In addition to a process for Dreamers and improvements to border security that respect due process for asylum seekers, the Evangelical Immigration Table has also urged Congress to prioritize forms to ensure a legal, reliable agricultural workforce and a path to permanent legal status for Afghans who have been resettled to the U.S.
The Evangelical Immigration Table encourages Christians throughout the country to reach out to their U.S. Senators, urging them to keep working on a bipartisan consensus that could pass in the coming weeks. An online tool to take action is available here.
