By Karlene Neal, Advocate for Immigrants and Refugees, Board of Global Ministries The State Department and the U.S. government are starting Welcome Corps, which is groups of ordinary citizens that will welcome refugees into their communities. Each local group, made up of at least five Americans, will welcome and host refugee newcomers. They help...
By Karlene Neal, Advocate for Immigrants and Refugees, Board of Global Ministries A recent surge of immigrants at the southern border of the United States has presented both Mexico and the United States with serious problems. In 2022 U.S. authorities stopped 2.8 million would-be immigrants at its southern border. As a result, Biden announced some...
By: Karlene Neal, Advocate for Immigrants and Refugees, Board of Global Ministries U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) faces an unprecedented influx of migrants at the border. The majority are turned back to their native countries, but those who might be eligible for asylum in the U.S. are processed and released into the U.S. pending a ...
By: Karlene Neal, Conference Advocate for Immigrants and Refugees In 2017 President Trump signed an executive order requiring migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. to wait in Mexico until their scheduled hearings. This order was part of President Trump’s attempt to deal with the large numbers of migrants seeking entry into the U.S. Other steps taken...
Karlene Neal, Advocate for Immigrants and Refugees, Board of Global Ministries, shares that the Des Moines Refugee Support organization has a page on Amazon which lists many items needed for new residents in Iowa. Her understanding is that when the order is placed, it is sent to the organization which has a collection center in Des Moines. The ...
By Karlene Neal, Advocate for Immigrants and Refugees Refugees are arriving in Iowa with nothing but a few personal belongings. They need our help. Des Moines is the area of the state most active in helping this process. Following is the information I have to date. Des Moines Refugee Support is a group that is organized for the purpose of ...
Karlene Neal, Advocate for Immigrants and Refugees, who is on the Iowa Conference's Board of Global Ministries shares that more than 1000 refugees are expected to be coming to Iowa during the coming year. They will be coming as humanitarian parolees and their needs are great because they have had to leave everything behind and flee. "They're just ...
By Karlene Neal, Advocate for Immigrants and Refugees, Board of Global Ministries As promised by President Biden during his campaign for the presidency, he has announced a plan for immigration reform. If enacted, it would modernize the nation’s immigration system and provide a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented Americans. This is an ...
For the last 21 years, Iowa Justice For Our Neighbors (JFON) has provided legal services to support immigrants and refugees in the state of Iowa as a ministry of the Iowa Annual Conference. In April 2021, Justice For Our Neighbors will merge with the American Friends Service Committee* to create the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice with continued ...
by Karlene Neal, Advocate for Immigrants and Refugees An article recently published by the New York Times Magazine, in cooperation with ProPublica, describes the connection between global warming and people's migration. The authors used climate and economic-development data to examine scenarios. For most of human history, mankind has lived ...
July 15, 2020 by Karlene Neal https://www.borderreport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2019/08/Matamoros-Women-tent-082219.jpg?w=900 There are more than 2000 would-be migrants living in Mexico along the border in tents. They are very crowded and often have families. Mexico is trying to be a good host but supplies such as safe water, food, ...
7/17/2020 By: Karlene Neal President Trump tried again to deport the young people (so called Dreamers) who were brought illegally into the US when they were still children. They have lived in the United States all their lives. President Obama, through Executive Order, gave 650,000 of these young, undocumented immigrants permission to live and work...
By: Karlene Neal Jose had risked his life trying to cross the border illegally with his mother. Finally he was given a chance to tell a judge his story. The judge asked Jose three questions: What’s your nationality? Why did you leave your country? Why can’t you go back? The judge accepted his explanation and granted him protection from ...
Iowa Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON) will celebrate its 20th anniversary this month, and you are invited. The board of Iowa JFON is encouraging everyone to join to learn about its history as well as the plans for the future of JFON in our state. Iowa Justice For Our Neighbors is a non-profit organization, welcoming low-income immigrants of all ...
Oct. 1, 2019 According to a recent Supreme Court decision, the Trump administration can deny asylum to most migrants coming to the southern border. This policy will allow border personnel to reject anyone who passed through another country on their way to the United States unless they apply for and then are rejected safe haven in the first country...
Since the 19th century, self-sufficiency has been a foundation of U.S. immigration law. The Trump administration has expanded the definition “public charge” concerning immigrants. This policy makes it harder for legal migrants who use public benefits to get a green card. Low-income and less-educated foreigners will have a more difficult time ...
By: Karlene Neal Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Advocate for Immigrants and Refugees On Feb. 3, Nayib Bukele was elected the new president for El Salvador. Citizens of El Salvador demanded a policy of clean governance, which was Bukele’s main promise. He has invited the UN to set up an anti-corruption committee in El ...
One of the strengths of our democracy is to have the right to challenge policy that Governments have put in place when a new administration takes office. Jeff Sessions, previously the US Attorney General, did that upon taking office. President Obama and previous presidents had made policy regarding treatment of immigrants, border issues, and ...
What started as a group of 160 people from the Honduran crime-ridden city of San Pedro Sula has swelled to more than 7000 in Mexico City. They are fleeing persecution, poverty, and violence in their home countries, primarily Honduras although people from Guatemala and El Salvador are also part of the group. Spreading word through social media, ...
By Sam Hodges June 15, 2018 | UMNS U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ quoting of a New Testament verse to justify a new zero tolerance policy on illegal immigration has brought a fresh round of criticism from religious leaders, including fellow United Methodists. Sessions used a June 14 address in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to defend the Trump ...
What We Believe: United Methodist Perspectives on Immigration in the United States Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2) “Welcoming the Migrant to the US” is a hallmark of United Methodist communities of faith, according to the 2016 Book of Resolutions of ...
Psalm 127:1 Unless it is the Lord who builds the house, the builder’s work is pointless. Unless it is the Lord who protects the city, the guard on duty is pointless. “You are the ones who are building the house, you are the ones who are protecting those who are defenseless, and God blesses you for your ministry here,” read Bishop Laurie Haller at...
Over the past 15 years the net migration from Mexico to the US has been falling. Slower population growth, better schools, and the improving economy have combined to encourage Mexicans to stay at home. Now immigrants more often come from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Some subgroups such as women and children traveling alone, and LGBTQ ...
On the topic of Immigration… “We recognize, embrace, and affirm all persons, regardless of country of origin, as members of the family of God. We affirm the right of all persons to equal opportunities for employment, access to housing, health care, education, and freedom from social discrimination. We urge the Church and society to recognize the ...
A Marshalltown woman faced a family crisis a few years ago when doctors explained that her 5-year-old had a life expectancy of only six years. She had a full-time job on the production line of the local Swift plant, so she had a steady income to care for family needs. The father was the primary caregiver for their house-bound child with the support...