“God of love and compassion, you create every person in your divine image and desire us to unite as one, enriching each other with our uniqueness. Open our eyes to the injustices facing Dreamers, whose legal status continues to be under attack. Open our hearts to be moved by the beauty and interdependence of our human family, recognizing that our flourishing as well as our suffering are connected. Open our hands, that we may take action for justice in solidarity with our undocumented neighbors.”
The prayers used in this column come to us from the Interfaith Immigration Coalition Members. The prayers were written prior to the decision made Oct. 5 by a federal appeals court panel ruling that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program – which protects more than 600,000 young immigrants from deportation – is illegal. At the same time, the panel allowed those already enrolled in DACA to renew their status. In other words, current DACA recipients are safe from deportation, but there is no protection for the program’s future. The decision came down from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Former President Barack Obama enacted DACA in 2012, by executive action, as a response to Congress’ inability to provide a permanent solution for immigrants brought to this country when they were very young, a group referred to as “Dreamers.” This action by the president provided protection for thousands of Dreamers from deportation. It lasts two years at a time, renewable, with no clear path to permanent citizenship. President Joe Biden and Democrats have been trying to strengthen DACA and find a permanent solution for the Dreamers.
Most Dreamers are now around the age of 26, with the oldest being around 40. Many Dreamers are married with families, productive in the workforce and paying taxes. However, they have the “Sword of Damocles” hanging over them with the constant fear of deportation. One glimmer of hope in the ruling is that even though the judges deemed that DACA is not legal, they wrote that they “also recognize that DACA has profound significance to recipients and many others in the 10 years since its adoption.” President Biden spoke of his desire to defend the status of Dreamers, saying, “The court’s stay provides a temporary reprieve for DACA recipients, but one thing remains clear: The lives of Dreamers remain in limbo. Today’s decision is the result of continued efforts by Republican state officials to strip DACA recipients of the protections and work authorization that many have now held for over a decade.”
Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Committee on Migration, said, “In light of this troubling development, we reaffirm our solidarity with the Dreamers of this country whose lives and futures once again hang in the balance. We implore Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, to provide a permanent solution for all Dreamers out of respect for their God-given dignity.”
The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, said, “We lament the anxiety and turmoil this ruling is causing in our communities … urging our elected officials to enact legislation, which provides a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and other undocumented immigrants with deep ties to this country.”
Barbara Weinstein, director of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism, said, “We are disappointed in where things stand on DACA. While the Fifth Circuit Court ruling provides some relief for thousands of current DACA recipients, over one million DACA eligible individuals remain unable to access protections. DACA recipients have grown up in the U.S. and want to continue contributing to the only country they know as home. No one should have to live in fear of their life being suddenly turned upside down by abrupt policy changes.”
The Rev. Kendal L. McBroom, director of Civil and Human Rights for the United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society, said, “Yesterday’s Fifth Court decision grants current DACA recipients the opportunity to take a moment and breathe. However, it is unfair and cruel that the numerous DACA eligible individuals are not protected. We’ve seen for a while now how the court system treats the lives of immigrants with little sense of urgency or protection. It is time for legislative action that creates a clear and just pathway to citizenship and that protects them.”
As the Interfaith Immigration Coalition Members say in their prayers, “May we greet each stranger as a neighbor and friend and be a source of hope and comfort for Dreamers and all immigrants. May those who are discouraged by the injustices of our world recognize the power and potential we hold as a collective.”
Amen.
Father Joseph D. Wallace is diocesan director of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs and pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish, Atco.
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