The American Baptist Churches in the USA and The United Methodist Church are among a host of religious bodies joining Church World Service in issuing an “Ash Wednesday Declaration” in support of refugee resettlement work.
The declaration comes as the Trump administration engages in legal brinksmanship with 10 faith-based refugee resettlement organizations Trump wants to fire as he moves to end all legal resettlement of well-vetted refugees from around the world.
Creators of the declaration call this an “unprecedented moment of moral reckoning.”
Creators of the declaration call this an “unprecedented moment of moral reckoning” that requires “a bold and urgent call to action from faith communities across the nation.”
Church World Service and 45 initial signers released the document as a sign of their “solemn and unshakable commitment … to stand against policies that endanger refugees and immigrants.”
The declaration begins:
With our nation now facing critical decisions about how it will uphold its most cherished values in relation to vulnerable immigrants and refugees, this ecumenical declaration urges the church to ground itself in Scripture. It also challenges our political leaders to remember that we are largely a nation of immigrants, and that how we treat the most vulnerable among us speaks volumes about our power and values on the global stage.
As we begin Lent, Ash Wednesday also calls us to reflect on what it means to be followers of Jesus who gave his life for the redemption of a broken and suffering world.
Signers of the declaration pledge “to restore and promote hospitality and welcome to those seeking refuge — regardless of where they are from, how they pray or what language they speak.”
“Guided by our faith, we stand together against the sweeping measures that are devastating vulnerable families and jeopardizing their futures.”
The document says the nation and world stand at a “critical moment” where refugee and immigrant communities “are increasingly the subject of misinformation, cruelty, fearmongering and criminalization, while government policies seek to decimate our nation’s long-standing commitment to welcoming and protecting those seeking safety.”
It asserts: “Guided by our faith, we stand together against the sweeping measures that are devastating vulnerable families and jeopardizing their futures. These actions not only cause immediate harm but also threaten our country’s long-term ability to welcome and support those in need.”
In addition to Church World Service, ABCUSA and the UMC, other initial signers include the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Church of the Brethren, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Reformed Church in America, Presbyterian Church (USA) and United Church of Christ — among others.
Additional signers are welcome.
While immigration in general has been a primary focus of Trump executive orders, his attempt to shut down legal refugee resettlement has rattled the Catholic, evangelical and Mainline churches the most. For decades, religious groups have stood at the forefront of providing welcome to refugees.
Trump’s initial executive order attempt to stop refugee resettlement has been challenged in court by the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) on behalf of Church World Service, HIAS, Lutheran Community Services Northwest and nine individuals. That case is known as Pacito v. Trump.
The Feb. 10 filing argued Trump’s refugee ban order and his administration’s suspension of funding for resettlement work are unlawful and violate Congress’ authority to make immigration laws. A federal court last week stopped the federal government from implementing Trump’s ban and ordered refugee processing to resume, but the very next day the Trump administration sent termination of contract letters to the 10 agencies handling most resettlement work.
In a hearing yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington determined the administration’s obvious disregard for its earlier ruling “raises serious concerns” and ordered the government to file a status report detailing its efforts to resume refugee processing by Monday, March 10.
Through IRAP, the resettlement organizations claim the administration “seek(s) to shut down the entirety of the USRAP immediately and permanently, in blatant violation of the Refugee Act, the Administrative Procedure Act and this court’s ruling.”
“Judicial intervention becomes necessary to preserve the separation of powers our Constitution demands.”
On Feb. 28, the court said Trump’s actions were an attempt to nullify a congressionally established program, “causing irreparable harm to vulnerable individuals and organizations.” Therefore, “judicial intervention becomes necessary to preserve the separation of powers our Constitution demands.”
The March 3 letters sent to the 10 resettlement agencies abruptly cancel grant agreements approved by Congress.
“This award is being terminated for the convenience of the U.S. Government pursuant to a directive from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, for alignment with agency priorities and national interest,” stated a letter addressed to Church World Service. “The decision to terminate this individual award is a policy determination vested in the secretary of state.”
If allowed to stand, this action would effectively end legal resettlement of refugees in the U.S. and deal a devastating blow to the faith-based organizations that welcome legally vetted and approved refugees.
“Our status as a resettlement agency based on this termination notice is over,” Danilo Zak, director of policy for Church World Service, told Religion News Service.
“Prior to this, we had received a stop work order from State and were hopeful it might be lifted after the administration’s 90-day review,” Timothy Young, spokesperson for Global Refuge, told RNS. “But before that review could even be completed, our grants were terminated.”
Dozens of Trump executive orders are currently being challenged in court, many on the grounds the president has usurped Congressional authority. However, to date, the Republican-led House of Representatives and Senate have not challenged any of Trump’s efforts to thwart the will of their bodies.
All this explains why the Ash Wednesday Declaration is necessary, said Rick Santos, President of Church World Service: “Against a backdrop of cuts to essential programs, a seeming push toward isolationism and rhetoric that encourages us to distrust our new neighbors, this Declaration is an urgent reminder of our values. As followers of Jesus Christ, we welcome, we don’t turn away. We cherish inclusivity, we don’t spurn it. And, ultimately, our values lead us to community instead of division.”
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