Black Lives Matter.
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

NC Council of Churches

Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

  • Voices
  • About
    • Overview
    • Staff
    • Members
    • Covenant Partners
    • Issue Statements
    • Governing Board
  • Programs
    • Ecumenical Immigration Alliance
      • Ideas for Action
      • Sign Our Statement
      • The NC Sanctuary Coalition
      • Immigration Bible Study
      • Contact
    • NC Interfaith Power & Light
      • NCIPL Overview
      • Faith in Action NCIPL
      • NCIPL Articles
      • NCIPL Resources
      • Upcoming Events for NCIPL
      • Contact NCIPL
    • Partners in Health & Wholeness
      • PHW Staff
      • Mini-Grants
      • PHW Collaborative Pledge
      • The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
      • PHW Articles
      • FAQs
  • Priorities
    • Racial Justice
    • The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
    • Gun Violence Prevention
    • Public Education
    • NC Sanctuary Coalition
    • Farmworkers
    • Legislative Advocacy
    • Christian Unity
    • Peace
    • NC No Torture
  • COVID-19 Resources
  • Events
  • Resources
    • Publications & Reports
    • Raleigh Report
    • Lectionary
    • Sermons
  • Donate
  • Council Store
  • Show Search

Search NC Council of Churches

Hide Search

Closing Doors and Closing Borders

Rachel Baker, Communications Director · August 6, 2019 · Leave a Comment

Hundreds of thousands of migrants are seeking refuge and asylum in the United States. Many factors contribute to migration and cause people to knock on our country’s door. Political corruption, climate change, gang violence, poverty, and criminal activity are just a few of the reasons pushing migrants to our border. There are other factors pulling them here as well: economic stability, reunification with family, and better living standards. These push-and-pull factors contribute to the root causes of migration for both asylum seekers and refugees.

While both initiatives protect people facing persecution, asylum seekers apply once they have arrived at the border and refugees apply for protection from another country. In times of global need, the admissions ceiling to accept refugees into our country has reached as high as 142,000 (e.g., 1993, in response to the Balkan wars). During the previous administration the cap was set at 85,000 refugees in 2016 and 110,000 in 2017 due to a worsening humanitarian crisis.1 On average between 2007 and 2016, asylum grants were 23,669.2 As the Statue of Liberty reminds us, historically, we are a nation of immigrants that welcomes asylum seekers and refugees: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

All of this is changing. The current administration wants to block asylum seekers at our southern border if they fail to apply for asylum in the countries they pass through on their way to the United States. Only if they apply and are denied will they be eligible to apply here. The countries being established as “Safe Third Countries,” like Guatemala, are not able to offer safety to their own citizens, let alone asylum seekers, nor do they have the resources to offer a fair and comprehensive process. This new interim rule is already being challenged in court, but if it is allowed to stand, it will greatly reduce asylum claims.

Along with the unlawful restrictions on asylum seekers, the refugee resettlement program is now being threatened with an almost complete shutdown. At a meeting in early July with security officials, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service representatives suggested setting the refugee cap to 0 for 2020. Homeland Security officials discussed setting the cap between 3,000 and 10,000. To stress the drastic changes of this refugee cap, in 2017 the cap was 45,000, which was reduced to 30,000 the following year. These represent the lowest numbers since Congress passed the Refugee Act in 1980. 

Instead of refusing refugees and blocking asylum seekers, we should work with the Northern Triangle countries–El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, where the majority of migrants come from–to figure out the root causes of their migration. This will alleviate the pressure of asylum seekers at the border and allow more people to approach the U.S. as refugees. Perhaps, with improved conditions in their home countries, people will not be forced to flee at all.

As people of faith who are told to “welcome the stranger” (Leviticus 19:34), we must do our part and act on these impending threats to this country’s asylum and refugee programs. 

Ways to Act: 

  • Call your Senators and Representatives today and urge them to do everything in their power to protect the asylum system and refugee resettlement program. Click here to find your Senators and Representatives. 
  • Call now and ask your elected officials to support H.R. 2615- United States-Northern Triangle Enhanced Engagement Act, a bill that seeks to address the root causes of migration from the three Northern Triangle countries – El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

1. Migration Policy, Refugees and Asylees in the United States, 2019
2. American Immigration Council, Asylum in the United States, 2018

Filed Under: Blog, Homepage Featured Tagged With: Immigration, Refugees

Rachel Baker, Communications Director

About Rachel Baker, Communications Director

Rachel was born and raised in North Carolina and graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and minor in General Business. She has been engaged in immigration advocacy through her immersion in a church plant started by her father and another pastor that was multicultural and bilingual. She was actively involved in the ministries of the congregation, a church that worked directly with first generation immigrant families as part of their focus and outreach. She is excited to start working to build the NC Sanctuary Coalition for the Council of Churches. In her free time, Rachel loves all things outdoors, including hiking with her dogs, exploring new trails, and playing sports. She also enjoys playing her ukulele, cooking, and traveling.

Reader Interactions

More Like This

Sanctuary Leaders Threatened by Impossible Fines
Raleigh Report – April 22, 2019
Raleigh Report – April 11, 2019

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Anonymous comments or comments that target individuals will not be posted (please include your first and last name). All comments must be on topic and respectful. Comments will not be posted until they have been reviewed by a moderator. Comments do not reflect the positions of the NC Council of Churches.

Footer

Contact

NC Council of Churches
27 Horne St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 828-6501
info@ncchurches.org

Facebook

Partners in Health and Wholeness

Featured

Closing Doors and Closing Borders

Latest Tweets

Just last week, our Governing Board adopted a resolution calling for the removal of Confederate symbols in public squares. As people of faith & conscience, we believe such monuments are a constant reminder of prejudice against black and brown people. >> ncchurches.org/2021/… pic.twitter.com/iGCX…

About 2 days ago

"Amanda Gorman in her inauguration poem 'The Hill We Climb' begins with the lines: 'When day comes we ask ourselves where can we find light in this never-ending shade?'" Read more of this 2nd Sunday lenten reflection from Elizabeth Brewington >> ncchurches.org/2021/… pic.twitter.com/pgge…

About 3 days ago

"Perhaps it’s the pandemic that offers a fitting analogy to the condition of our politics as Americans try to recover from the trauma of Jan. 6 – when we came dangerously close to the onset of an anti-democratic Trump-ocracy." Read more from Steve Ford >> ncchurches.org/2021/…

About 3 days ago

FACT: Countries where maternal mortality rates have significantly dropped (~ -50%) in the past few decades (e.g., France, Germany, Sweden), have generous paid leave laws. #BlackHistoryMonth #Paidleave #BlackHealth pic.twitter.com/PgWW…

About 4 days ago

Call your Member of Congress and tell them paid leave is crucial to public health and economic recovery. Text paidleave (one word) to 844-955-2880 or visit bit.ly/39PWQde to begin. #AmericanRescuePlan #PaidLeave #BlackHealth

About 4 days ago

Follow @ncchurches

Latest Tweets

Dr. Satcher questioned the structures that have upheld health disparities in our communities. By laying the foundation for this work, we can continue taking meaningful action towards promoting a society where we can all thrive. #BlackHistoryMonth @HHSGov @Surgeon_General pic.twitter.com/zrw2…

About 3 days ago

Amen! #MindfulTogether twitter.com/cornerpr…

About 3 days ago

RT @MAHECwnc There has never been a better time to quit smoking and vaping. Protect your health by keeping your lungs healthy! #quitlinenc #covid19 #asheville pic.twitter.com/bKlC…

About 3 days ago

Check out this new resource from @DrugPolicyOrg challenging us to dig deeper and work together to uproot the drug war. uprootingthedrugwar.… #harmreduction #mindfultogether

About 4 days ago

Dr. Julian's work was instrumental to the public health community. We carry his passion as we continue reckoning with our past so that we may continue building the beloved community. Learn more about Dr. Julian's legacy at pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ju…. #BlackHistoryMonth @novapbs pic.twitter.com/JJsm…

About 4 days ago

Follow @healthandfaith

Latest Tweets

RT @greenthechurch Be sure to read Green The Church's COO Kim Noble's op ed, "#EnvironmentalJustice in Focus this #BlackHistoryMonth", in the Texas Metro News! @Kimrenay22 #Austin #DFW #Houston #Texas #SanAntonio #EJ ow.ly/mOtw50DGQnN pic.twitter.com/IPOO…

About 3 days ago

RT @ActionAidUSA To build a truly just, equitable & sustainable world, we need to fight for a new #socialcontract. That means: ✔️ Defending democracy ✔️ Fighting for climate justice ✔️ Building equitable food systems ✔️ Supporting women’s leadership. Learn more: bit.ly/2M8xT40 pic.twitter.com/fEWv…

About 3 days ago

RT @interfaithpower IPL is proud to be a signer on this letter. The U.S. must provide bold and socially just leadership to protect our communities from the impacts of climate change, including the threats to our economy- @sbhendershot twitter.com/RealBank…

About 3 days ago

RT @interfaithpower "This is all of our country, this is our mother. It's difficult to not feel obligated to protect this land" - @DebHaalandNM with a powerful reminder of what she believes in. Her passion is exactly what we need right now; the Senate must #ConfirmHaaland! #ConfirmClimate

About 3 days ago

RT @EPA EPA is proud to join our agency partners as we tackle the climate crisis and build a healthier, cleaner, more equitable future for all. Let’s do this! whitehouse.gov/brief…

About 5 days ago

Follow @ncipl

Latest Tweets

Copyright © 2021 NC Council of Churches · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design · Hosted by WP Engine