Today Sojourners Executive Director Adam Taylor and Immigration Campaign Coordinator Jessica Cobian stood with faith leaders outside of Senator McConnell’s office this morning to perform an Ash Wednesday ceremony in solidarity with Dreamers pressing members of Congress for a Clean Dream Act.
“As Christians head into the season of lent, a time of prayer and repentance, our hearts and minds should focus on the most vulnerable people following the example that Christ has shown us. With a pressing legislative deadline critical to the fate of Dreamers, I pray that Senator McConnell and all members of Congress offer moral leadership, remembering God’s unconditional love and mandate to welcome the strangers among us," said Adam Taylor, Executive Director, Sojourners.
DREAMers have been out of time since September when President Trump announced the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. More than 19,000 DACA recipients have already lost their status and every day that protective legislation isn’t passed, an additional 122 lose their benefits.
People of faith are called to care for and welcome the stranger. The White House and its allies in Congress are currently pushing for racist and anti-immigrant legislation that will trade the protection of some DREAMers for the increased militarization of our borders (including funds for a border wall), the end of the diversity lottery program, and drastic cuts to family immigration, which would drastically reduce the number of immigrants who can enter the United States.
Faith leaders and advocates are prepared to continue pressuring Congress through direct actions now through the March 5 deadline.