March 22, Dear President Obama and Members of Congress:

Transcription

1 March 22, 2013 Dear President Obama and Members of Congress: We, the undersigned Jewish organizations and leaders, strongly believe that our country would benefit from an overhaul of our nation s broken immigration system. Our views are shaped by our Jewish religious and ethical traditions, as well as our own history in this country and by core American values. The commandment to welcome the stranger is mentioned 36 times throughout the Torah, more than any other commandment. Our current immigration system does not reflect our history as a nation of immigrants, does not meet today s security and economic needs, and is not fair and humane. The estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. without legal status are vulnerable to exploitation. There are few, if any, legal channels for U.S. employers to hire immigrant workers, and tremendous backlogs in the family visa system have resulted in families being needlessly separated for years or even decades. In the face of federal inaction, state and local legislatures have started passing restrictive laws designed to make life so uncomfortable for immigrants that they leave their homes and communities. Many of these laws have delegated immigration enforcement authority to state and local law enforcement agencies, undermining their ability to work cooperatively with immigrant communities. American Jews know too well the impact of restrictive immigration policies, and we have seen how the immigration issue can become a flashpoint for xenophobia. We are concerned the failure of national leaders to fix the broken immigration system has fueled racist, nativist, and extremist groups who blame immigrants for our country s problems, and has been a central factor in the spread of state and local policies and laws that legalize discrimination against immigrants. Our leaders must enact laws that reflect the fact that immigration fuels our economy immigrants and their children who come to the U.S. to join family or enter as refugees fleeing persecution strive for success and are responsible for some of this country s most innovative and job creating businesses. Comprehensive immigration reform would serve our national security interests by bringing people out of the shadows, allowing federal law enforcement to focus its resources on those who wish to do us harm. Immigration reform that emphasizes integration would create diverse and thriving communities that help position the U.S. as a model for the rest of the world. Based on the American and Jewish values to which we strongly adhere and our proud history as immigrants to this country, we urge Congress and the President to enact legislation that: Brings undocumented immigrants out of the shadows by providing a pathway to citizenship, creates safe and legal avenues for future flows of immigrants, reunites families, establishes border protection and enforcement policies that enhance our

2 national security, and accords all immigrants the responsibilities and rights required for full integration into American society. Fixes the broken system for admitting and integrating refugees and asylum seekers who have fled persecution to build new lives in this country. Includes a fair, inclusive, realistic, and achievable channel for immigrants to earn permanent residency and citizenship within a reasonable timeframe of years, not decades. Ensures that immigration detention laws are consistent with humanitarian values and with the need to treat all individuals humanely and with respect. Ensures that immigration enforcement laws respect immigrant and worker rights and civil liberties and reflect the values of pluralism and fair treatment under the law. Includes measures to effectively identify and prevent the entry of those who are dangerous and who pose a risk to our national security. We look forward to working together to improve our country s immigration system in a way that honors our American and Jewish values. Sincerely, National Organizations American Forum of Russian Jewry (AFRJ) American Jewish Committee Anti Defamation League Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice B nai B rith International Bukharian Jewish Congress of the USA and Canada HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) Jewish Council on Public Affairs Jewish Federations of North America Keshet National Council of Jewish Women Orthodox Union Rabbinical Assembly Reconstructionist Rabbinical College Tikkun Olam Commission of the Jewish Reconstructionist Movement T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights Union for Reform Judaism Uri L Tzedek Women of Reform Judaism

3 Local Organizations AJC Cincinnati AJC Cleveland AJC Houston AJC Los Angeles AJC New York AJC Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey Anti Defamation League of Eastern PA and Southern NJ Congregation Meor Hachaim of Luna Park (New York, NY) FEGS Health & Human Services (New York, NY) Greater Philadelphia Jewish Coalition on Immigration HIAS Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA) Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (Boston, MA) Jewish Community Action (St. Paul, MN) Jewish Community Center at Starrett City (New York, NY) Jewish Community Relations Council of Philadelphia Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (Chicago, IL) Jewish Family & Career Services (Atlanta, GA) Jewish Family & Children's Service (Pittsburgh, PA) Jewish Family & Children's Services of the East Bay (Berkeley, CA) Jewish Family Service of Buffalo & Erie County New York Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts, Inc. Jewish Family Services (Ann Arbor, MI) Jewish Labor Committee Western Region (Los Angeles, CA) Jewish Social Policy Action Network (Philadelphia, PA) Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest (East Orange, NJ) Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (New York, NY) Massachusetts Board of Rabbis (Newton, MA) National Council of Jewish Women Greater Philadelphia National Council of Jewish Women Texas State Policy Advocates UJA Federation of New York Women of Vision (Philadelphia, PA) Community and Faith Leaders Rabbi Abie Ingber, Executive Director, Center for Interfaith Community Engagement, Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH) Rabbi Alan Iser (Wynnewood, PA) Rabbi Alison Abrams, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (Chicago, IL) Rabbi Amy Eilberg, Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning (St. Paul, MN) Rabbi Ayelet Cohen, Director of the Center for Jewish Living, The JCC in Manhattan (New York, NY) Rabbi Barbara Penzer, Rabbi, Templle Hillel B nai Torah (Boston, MA) Rabbi Bruce J. Pfeffer, BCC (Indianapolis, IN)

4 Rabbi Burton Visotzky (New York, NY) Rabbi Claire Magidovitch Green, Director, Best Interfaith Simcha (Philadelphia, PA) Rabbi David Rosenn (New York, NY) Rabbi David Teutsch, Director, Center for Jewish Ethics, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (Philadelphia, PA) Rabbi Dennis C. Sasso, Congregation Beth El Zedeck (Indianapolis, IN) Rabbi Ellen Lippmann, Founding Rabbi, Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives (Brooklyn, NY) Rabbi Eric Solomon, Rabbi, Beth Meyer Synagogue (Raleigh, NC) Rabbi George Barnard, Northern Hills Synagogue (Cincinnati, OH) Rabbi Gerald Serotta, Rabbi, Shirat HaNefesh Congregation (Chevy Chase, MD) Rabbi Jan Katzew, PhD, Director of Service Learning, HUC JIR (Cincinnati, OH) Rabbi Jeremy Gerber, Rabbi, Ohev Shalom (Wallingford, PA) Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Executie Director, T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights (New York, NY) Rabbi Jill Maderer, Associate Rabbi, Congregation Rodeph Shalom (Philadelphia, PA) Rabbi Joel Simonds, University Synagogue (Los Angeles, CA) Rabbi John Franken, Rabbi, Bolton Street Synagogue (Baltimore, MD) Rabbi Jonathan D. Klein, Executive Director, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE LA) Rabbi Julie Greenberg, Senior Rabbi, Leyv Ha Ir Heart of the City (Philadelphia, PA) Rabbi Karen Bodney Halasz, Associate Rabbi/Educator, Temple Israel (Dayton, OH) Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herrmann, Rabbi, Kol Tzedek Synagogue (Philadelphia, PA) Rabbi Lewis Kamrass, Isaac M Wise Temple (Cincinnati, OH) Rabbi Linda Holtzman, Senior Rabbi, Mishkan Shalom (Philadelphia, PA) Rabbi Linda Potemken, Beth Israel of Media (Wynnewood, PA) Rabbi Louis Rieser, Rabbi Emeritus, Etz Hayim Synagogue in New Hampshire (Boynton Beach, FL) Rabbi Maralee Gordon, McHenry County Jewish Congregation (Crystal Lake, IL) Rabbi Marc Margolius, Rabbi, West End Synagogue and Institute for Jewish Spirituality (New York, NY) Rabbi Margaret J. Meyer (Cincinnati, OH) Rabbi Maurice Harris, Author and Educator (Eugene, OR) Rabbi Melody Davis, Temple Israel (Lehighton, PA) Rabbi Michael Adam Latz, Senior Rabbi, Shir Tikvah Congregation (Minneapolis, MN) Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp, Temple Sholom (Cincinnati, OH) Rabbi Misha Zinkow, Senior Rabbi, Temple Israel (Columbus, OH) Rabbi Paula Marcus (Aptos, CA) Rabbi Rachel Hartner (Washington, DC) Rabbi Rachel Kahn Troster, Director of North American Programs, T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights (New York, NY) Rabbi Sandy E. Sasso, Congregation Beth El Zedeck (Indianapolis, IN) Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Rabbi, Congregation T Chiyah (Oak Park, MI) Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, Founder & President, Uri L Tzedek Rabbi Sigma Faye Coran, Rockdale Temple (Cincinnati, OH) Rabbi Simkha Y Weintraub, LCSW (New York, NY)

5 Rabbi Stacy Rigler, Education Director, Keneseth Israel (Elkins Park, PA) Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell, Rabbinic Director, Union for Reform Judaism, East Geographic Network (Philadelphia, PA) Rabbi Toba Spitzer, Rabbi, Congregation Dorshei Tzedek (West Newtown, MA)