December 2022
Dear Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper,
Our various faith traditions compel us to love, care for, and seek justice for each other, regardless of where we were born. But our immigrant communities and siblings continue to live in fear and without proper protection from harmful decisions.
In early October, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower ruling which found DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) unlawful. This decision sent the case back to the lower court to consider the Biden administration’s new DACA regulation. Once again, we are left to anxiously await a court decision that will likely upend the lives and futures of our DACA family While this decision allowed for DACA renewals to continue temporarily, over 90,000 applications from DACA-eligible youth are indefinitely paused.
The writing on the wall is clear: DACA is dying. We urge you to prioritize DACA protections in any end-of-year package and vote towards a pathway to citizenship for all DACA recipients and immigrant youth.
There is a short window of opportunity, and we are counting on you to act now to protect DACA recipients before the program is terminated once and for all. We, clergy from throughout the state of Colorado and from various faith traditions, are called to love our immigrant neighbors and to protect oppressed and vulnerable populations. DACA recipients are near and dear to our hearts, as many of our congregations have DACA recipients who are the core of our families and communities. We are committed to creating and protecting our beloved community here on earth, and this includes giving a pathway to citizenship to all DACA recipients and immigrant youth. We must ensure that every person, regardless of what we look like, where we come from, or what is in our wallets, has the freedom, the ability, and the right to thrive physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
DACA recipients have lived in uncertainty and two-year increments for far too long, and many more continue to live without any protections. We urge you to make legislation for them a top priority and ensure the passage of a final omnibus that includes permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship for the millions of immigrant youth who call this country home.
No matter what nation they come from, each person is made in God’s image, ascending beyond walls and borders. Everyone is worthy of dignity, respect, and stability. Our immigrant siblings – essential workers, community leaders, caretakers, artists, and people of faith – contribute immeasurable good to our country, state, and congregations. Please act now to prioritize DACA protections in any end-of-year package and vote for a pathway to citizenship for all DACA recipients and immigrant youth.
Sincerely,
101 Clergy and Faith Leaders. To view the signers, see the PDF below.
[pdf-embedder url=”https://www.togethercolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/DACA-Clergy-letter-December-2022-2.pdf” title=”DACA Clergy letter – December 2022 (2)”]