Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations hosted Immigrant Detention during COVID-10: Prophetic Action and Compassionate Response on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. This seventy-five-minute webinar included clergy and lay leaders from the Dioceses of Georgia, Ohio, and Western Louisiana with professional and ministry background in different models of detention visitation ministry.

The online presentation provides viewers with an understanding of our country’s immigration detention system, including reports of inhumane conditions and privately-owned prison facilities; an understanding of the reasons immigrants may be detained and how they may be released; and, a discussion of the current situation in detention facilities during COVID-19.

The webinar recording is available below:

 

ORGANIZATIONS TO KNOW

IMPORTANT READING

EPISCOPAL CHURCH RESOLUTIONS ON DETENTION

  • 2018-A178: Denounce Inhumane Immigration Policies and Advocate on Behalf of Migrants
  • 2018-C009: Urge Action to Support Immigrants
  • 2015-D033: Support Human Rights and Refugee Relief in Central America
  • 2009-B006: Advocate for Immigration Reform

EPISCOPAL CHURCH RESOLUTIONS ON SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING

    • 2018-B007: Develop a Shareholder Plan to Affect Gun Manufacturers and Retailers
    • 2018-B016: Develop Investment Criteria for Israel and Palestine Based on a Human Rights Screening
    • 2018-C021: Call for Shareholder Advocacy for Environmental Impact
    • 2018-D068: Develop Social Responsible Investment Criteria for Guidance
    • 2015-C045: Call for Investing in Clean and Renewable Energy
    • 2015-D067: Divest from Private Corporations in the Prison Business

The below lists of organizations and resources are part of the list contained in EMM’s Supporting Asylum Seekers: A Toolkit for Congregations (pages 99-100). Request your free copy here.

If you have resources or other items that should be included in this list, please let us know! Contact us here: https://episcopalmigrationministries.org/contact-us/.

RESOURCES FROM SERVICE, ADVOCACY, AND LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS

FREE OR LOW-COST IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES

BOND & BAIL FUNDS (National organizations funding bail across the U.S.)

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR IMMIGRANTS AND VOLUNTEERS

EPISCOPAL & OTHER MINISTRIES SERVING ASYLUM SEEKERS

ACCOMPANIMENT NETWORKS

Freedom for Immigrants is a national organization that offers resources, a bond fund, a hotline, a detention visitation network, and more.

Additional timely resources so you may continue to stand alongside
refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants during this time of COVID-19.

  • Thirty Ways to Care for Yourself, Others, and Immigrants During COVID-19: Our colleagues at Church World Service (CWS) have produced another useful resource, Thirty Ways to Care for Yourself, Others, and Immigrants During COVID-19, that you can find here.
  • News Media about COVID-19, refugees, asylum seekers, and migration: Click here for news media; list updated regularly.
  • Interfaith Immigration Coalition: Working under the Interfaith Immigration Coalition umbrella, there is a gathering of local immigrant accompaniment networks who come together to share resources, best practices, and build local skills and capacity. They have released Immigrant Justice Accompaniment Skill-Share – Covid-19/Coronavirus Resources and encourage you to share it widely.
  • The Justice for Immigrants Campaign (USCCB) has a new resource page on the website with different resources related to COVID-19.
  • Asylum Seeker Assistance Project (ASAP) is now recruiting volunteers to call 3 clients at least once a week for the next 4 weeks to offer reassurance as a “friendly neighbor.” Call just to check-in, share recipes, offer homeschooling resources or host a virtual dinner party. Volunteers do not need to be bilingual although we can match according to language skills. Sign Up Here.
  • Become a Virtual Job Coach: Every day brings new challenges with the COVID-19 virus and all the uncertainty it is causing in the global economy and our own personal lives. Upwardly Global is seeking volunteers to help with resume/cover letter building and interview/networking skills to advance the professional ambitions of their job seekers and help build a more inclusive economy. Sign up here.
  • Hope Can’t Be Quarantined: LIRS is launching this campaign in which they’re asking people to write letters to asylum seekers in detention amidst the COVID-19 crisis. This is an opportunity to reach out to those in detention with a word of hope, breaking through their isolation to let them know they are not forgotten. Click here for more info.