Statement on Quaker Lawsuit against the Dept. of Homeland Security

Updated on

Northern Yearly Meeting supports the efforts of several Quaker Meetings across the nation who have brought suit against the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to rescind the long-standing practice of not invading houses of worship to apprehend individuals without legal documentation. This unnecessary change to the nation’s fundamental and constitutionally established protections of religious freedom means that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other enforcement officers may now enter meetings, churches, and other worship gatherings at any time they might choose.  Creating conditions that intimidate or prevent Friends—and all people—from gathering with members of their faith communities to share in worship together is a fundamental violation of the freedoms of religion and association guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.  Like our fellow Quakers, we remain committed to religious liberty and peace and support the use of the legal process to ensure that participants in all faith communities are free to gather and worship together without fear of intimidation, threats, and violence.

While the lawsuit focuses on houses of worship, we also express opposition to ICE officers entering schools and hospitals. The threat of these actions will keep children from pursuing their education and all who are ill from receiving needed care.  Communities are all poorer if everyone is not well-educated and healthy.  And most importantly, Quakers believe that every individual, regardless of identity, national affiliation or circumstances is deserving of dignity, respect and basic human rights

Finally, we reject the lies underlying these actions that immigrants, whether here legally or undocumented, are a threat to us as individuals or as a society. Immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, are significantly less likely than native-born Americans to be incarcerated in prisons, convicted of crimes, or arrested.  Immigrants, as has always been the case, bring diversity, talents and relationships that enrich our communities as neighbors, as co-workers, and as friends. We recognize what our Quaker Washington lobby, Friends Committee on National Legislation, reminds us: Love Thy Neighbor: No Exceptions.

Possible Actions

  • Write a letter to the editor stressing the importance of immigrant neighbors to your community and the damage of harsh immigration enforcement to families, neighborhoods, businesses, and the country. Some of the resources below include information you might add to a letter.
  • Save the hotline number (below) to your phone, if ICE enters your community.
  • Identify non-public spaces. ICE agents may enter public spaces that are open to congregants but cannot enter private areas such as offices and parsonages without a signed judicial warrant. Places of worship should clearly delineate what areas are private and/or if areas are only open to the public at certain times. See factsheet from the National Immigration Law Center below.
  • Consider Making Red Cards Available at your Meeting. Red Cards provide information about rights and protections available to all people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, under the U.S. Constitution. These Red Cards help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home. They are available in many languages and may be downloaded and printed.
  • Share your stories, experience, and connections with these issues.  One of the important things we can do is to talk with each other, to our neighbors, to our community and share how these issues have touched our lives.

Resources

If ICE enters your community:

  • Wisconsin: Voces De La Frontera has led the defense of immigrant and refugee communities for many years and has several resources including:
    • Information on Immigrant rights
    • Voces Hotline number if ICE enters your community (Wisconsin):  If you suspect ICE in your community, please call the Voces statewide hotline (414-465-8078). Any presence of ICE will be verified and any announcement if warranted will be made through Centro/Voces social media handles. Save this number in your phone.
  • Minnesota/North Dakota: If someone is taken by ICE in Minnesota or North Dakota, the Immigrant Law Center may be able to help.  If you are detained by ICE or are calling on behalf of someone in the custody of ICE, call 651-641-1011 during detention line intake hours to receive assistance.

Donate financially to support the Quaker lawsuit

  • Friends desiring to directly support the legal work of filing and pursuing this case in federal court may consider contributing directly to Democracy Forward.
  • All three Yearly Meetings bringing the lawsuit, Philadelphia, Baltimore and New England Yearly Meetings would  welcome financial contributions to support these ongoing efforts.

Other Guidance/Factsheets

Statement on Quaker Lawsuit against DHSDownload PDF