By Founa Badet, director of Intercultural Ministries
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” ~Matthew 5:7, NKJV
My mother came to the US with a merchant visa, which is called an E-1 Non-Immigrant (Treaty Traders). It allowed her to be admitted to the United States solely to engage in international trade on her own behalf. She had her business of goods and services where she was in and out of the country until she worked her way to apply for residency. She first applied to become a documented immigrant with her permanent green card and then applied for my older brother and me to join her—a process that usually takes three to five years. While she was waiting for us to be approved, she applied for her citizenship. I arrived in the US almost 27 years ago with a permanent green card and later became a citizen.
My background and the process I (and others) went through in order to arrive in the US has informed the immigration work that the Intercultural Ministries Office is now part of—a pivot that has been instrumental and essential for our work for the Church of the Brethren. I am honored to serve and I am proud of the work.
Following this year’s Council of District Executives meeting, some districts contacted my office and On Earth Peace to brainstorm how to support churches dealing with immigration setbacks. Intercultural Ministries was already supporting some districts and participating in trainings from Faith In Action, ACLU, Episcopal Migration Ministries, AMMPARO, and Haitian Law Association on Know Your Rights and we were staying informed about what documents are needed for change of status, how to walk with migrants, Temporary Protected Status, Humanitarian Parole changes, and the red card. We had a resource page on our website before the change of administration. Marcia Sowles (from the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy) and I began brainstorming how to navigate the new and changing immigration policies, and the forming of an immigration support group with Brethren Disaster Ministries, the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy, and Intercultural Ministries to serve this growing need in our denomination.
The Deportation Defense Response (DDR) team—a partnership between Intercultural Ministries, On Earth Peace, districts, and many others—has answered prayers for many reasons. It includes many hands and brains to address the needs of our churches, our brethren, and ourselves. Together we are able to discover the needs and navigate the sensitive issues collectively with compassion and understanding. Serving with this group of people that is doing this great work is immeasurable but incredible.
As I previously mentioned, I came to the US with documentation, but this may not be the case for the brethren we are serving through the work of DDR. Some were offered a two-year parole from the previous administration to work, go to school, and be able to apply for different legal documentation such as work permits, driver’s licenses, Temporary Protection Status, and more. Others, however, crossed the border running for their lives with their families and belongings, but they were able to stand before a judge and get access to apply for some services.
Addressing matters related to immigration has broadened the scope of Intercultural Ministries. We have not only been offered the opportunity to serve well but to be Jesus in the neighborhood for our brothers and sisters with knowledge, empathy, compassion, love, and respect. The same way the current administration changes daily, our work must adapt daily. The steering committee of the Response ministry team meets regularly to check-in, receive reports, and guide us for self-care and support.
For such a time as this, we are called for more, and we are grateful to be used for God’s glory. We are receiving calls and emails from pastors, lay leaders, lawyers, brothers, and sisters asking how can they help. Other districts are joining, and rallies are happening. No act of detention is going unnoticed so that our brethren do not get lost in the system. It is heavy work but we trust in God.
Intercultural Ministries is also actively working with a translation team to make important documents available in multiple languages including, but not limited to, the Separate No More paper, an upcoming position description, and more. We believe translation is an important step as we get ready for Annual Conference in July and the Jubilee Celebration in November. We continue to work with the districts that reached out for support and welcome others to join our efforts.
May God bless the work of our hands for God’s glory in Jesus’ name.
Learn more about the work of Intercultural Ministries at www.brethren.org/intercultural. Support this ministry of the Church of the Brethren today at www.brethren.org/giveintercultural .