Principles for Immigration Policy

Chicago New Sanctuary Coalition Principles for Immigration Policy

As people of faith, we are compelled to social action as a result of the current immigration crisis. We understand that freedom cannot exist for some; this then is a privilege for a few. Freedom especially cannot exist for some at the cost of the suffering of others this then is oppression. Current migration policy is fundamentally exclusionary, oppressive and erroneous in its understanding of immigration. Human rights are by definition universal. We recognize structural violence, historically given and economically driven conditions, to be at the root of this crisis. Therefore immigration, trade, environmental and international development policies necessitate transformation to reflect our beliefs in the principles of justice and liberation for all people.

Pathway to Citizenship

Workers and their families living in the U.S. without authorization must have access to a path to permanent residency and eventual citizenship. Marginalization drives people to depend on underground means of survival; this is dangerous both for these individuals and the common welfare. The current crisis is destroying families and communities and begs for a comprehensive solution that will allow for a future of sustainable immigration policy. We recognize inclusive legalization as the only way to insure safety and guarantee rights for all people.

2. Family Unity and Integration

Families and households should be allowed to legally migrate and be reunified with family members in a timely and efficient manner. Family values are central to sustainable communities and so family reunification and integration should be the focus of any comprehensive immigration policy reform. Supporting integration policy is key to moving the growing segment of new Americans into active citizens, workers and community members.

3. Protection for All Human Rights

The immigration crisis has perpetuated an infringement on human and environmental rights. Human rights include but are not limited to the universal entitlement and protection of the rights to survival, emotional and physical security, and access to housing, health care and education. A right to not migrate because one has opportunities to fulfill these previous rights in one's local community is central to a just and rational public policy. The rights of the environment must also be protected such that it can provide for sustainable human development. Violations of human rights occur in both countries of emigration and those of immigration; therefore it is imperative that the rights to mobility, residency and nationality be ensured for all those who migrate to seek the ability to flourish.

Along with the United Nations Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, we assert all workers' rights to fair wages that support decent livelihood for workers and their families, the right to organize in trade unions, safe and healthy working conditions. The state is obligated to uphold these rights.

If any employment-based immigration program is instituted, the number of visas should be determined and administered by an independent institution. Full worker rights must be recognized, protected and enforced. The option of a pathway to permanent residency must be offered to the worker and their family.

4. Humane Enforcement Strategy

The militarization of border has not successfully stopped the flow of migration, has damaged the environment and has driven migrants into remote desert regions causing thousands of deaths of men, women and children. While militarization has resulted in excessive spending, has not met its intended goals, and caused more deaths, this makes obvious the need for a legal and safe path for migration.

ICE and law-enforcement agencies must stop using tactics that terrorize immigrant communities and cease using racial profiling to target certain groups of people. They currently abuse their authority with impunity, rather ICE and law enforcement agencies should be held accountable by independent organizations. Immigration authorities should not treat people with civil offenses as if they were criminals. If immigrants are held in detention facilities, their full human rights must be respected, including access to medical and legal services as well as religious counsel.

5. Address Root causes of Migration

Raids and deportations represent an overly simplistic response to the complex reality of immigration and are examples of enforcement only strategies that aim to criminalize unauthorized migrants. While just and comprehensive immigration reform would represent great progress, we must examine what is really broken. International economic and political conditions often constrain people's opportunities and make migration one of the few viable options to meet their basic human needs. While migration has historically been a part of the human experience, the complexity and gravity of the current global migration phenomenon requires a broad-based social and political response that includes, but are not exclusive to, the following:

6. Trade agreements

NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and other free trade agreements have failed to create vital opportunity for people to fully realize their basic human needs. In Mexico, NAFTA has only exacerbated gaps in wages and increased the cost of basic foodstuffs. NAFTA has not encouraged sustainable economic growth in Mexico nor curbed migration. This failed policy mirrors the resulting affects of other Free Trade agreements, which do not take into account the human needs over profit for Multinational Corporations (MNC). These bilateral trade agreements have been expanded through treaties like CAFTA. Any trade agreement should build mutual and just relationships between countries.

7. International Development Policy

The World Bank Structural adjustment policies (SAPs), conditions on loans from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank have had severe implications for less developed countries. They have had a paralyzing affect on countries being able to lift themselves out of debt. The debt incurred has set up a system of dependence between developed and developing countries. Many of the loans have been paid multiple times but because of such high interest rates, borrowing countries will continue to pay for decades longer. These loans prevent the development of programs and services that allow people to provide for themselves. Often educational and health programs are not allowed to be used for SAPs. Sustainable and equitable development is necessary in countries of origin to create alternative for improved well being and significantly alter current migration trends.

8. Environmental Injustice and Disaster

Unjust trade agreements have not only devastated socioeconomic dimensions of lesser-developed countries, but stripped the environment of much of its biodiversity. Commodification of the environment left many lesser-developed countries with monoculture cash crops, which are not economically viable and has contributed to widespread environmental degradation. Most trade agreements are made without concern for environmental standards resulting in unqualified exploitation. Environmental injustice is a grave public health issue and a threat to the viability of natural ecosystems worldwide.

9. Militarization

Military intervention and support of corrupt military regimes from the United States government has initiated and perpetuated human rights abuses in developing nations. Recently U.S. military and police assistance has equaled or outweighed social and development assistance to Latin America. With direct links between U.S. foreign aid and training, and massacres and military violence abroad; we call for transparency in foreign aid and strengthened civilian oversight to promote human rights.