Rondell Treviño, Founder & President, Memphis immigration Project
More than 8,500 Immigrant Dreamers with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) has lost their protection from deportation, and another 122 Immigrants lose protection and work authorization each day–placing 22,000 Immigrants at risk between now and March 2018 when the DACA program officially rescinds.
Starting March 5, 2018, an estimated 1,000 Immigrants with DACA will lose protection every day totaling 210,000 Immigrants who would lose protection over the 7 months it would take to implement new legislation.
The moral of the story is we NEED legislation to be passed that protects Immigrants with DACA NOW.
At Memphis immigration Project one word is driving us right now: Urgency. The more Congress waits to pass legislation, the more Immigrants lose their protective status and work authorization, daily. Therefore, urgency is key.
We put together a letter urging Congress to please protect Immigrant Dreamers by passing legislation like the Dream Act and we plan on handing a copy of the letter to Congressman in Washington, DC Thursday, November 30th. The letter has been signed by some of the top faith, business, and organization leaders in Memphis.
The letter can be read below.
Please Help Protect Immigrant Dreamers
Dear Congressman,
There are currently around 800,000 plus Dreamers with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in the U.S., of which nearly 8,000 have benefited around the state of Tennessee, and 2,000 plus in the city of Memphis.
The DACA program has given Immigrant Dreamers in the state of Tennessee and Memphis the ability to acquire a job with benefits, obtain a Social Security number, gain better access to higher education and more fully participate in their communities.
However, since the DACA program is set to officially rescind in March 2018, these 800,000 plus Immigrant Dreamers will begin to lose all of the privileges and opportunities DACA has provided.
As followers of Jesus Christ and people of good will, we understand Immigrant Dreamers came to the U.S. as babies and children without any choice in the matter, and firmly believe they should not be blamed for crimes they did not commit. We believe Immigrant Dreamers are created in the Image of God (Genesis 1:26-28) and have tremendous potential to do amazing things. We believe Immigrant Dreamers are people to love, not problems to solve.
Therefore, we ask that you love Immigrant Dreamers as your neighbor (Luke 10:25-37) and protect them by helping pass legislation like the Dream Act of 2017. We know making legislative decisions for your constituents is complex and difficult at times, so please know we appreciate you as a Congressman for taking the time to read this letter, and considering how you can help protect Immigrant Dreamers.
Sincerely,
Rondell Treviño, Founder & President, Memphis immigration Project
Tim Jewett, Director of Immigration Strategies, Memphis immigration Project
Larry Lloyd, Founder & President, Memphis Leadership Foundation
Lee Chase VI, Special Projects Coordinator, Literacy Mid-South
Michael Rhodes, Director of Community Development, Memphis Center for Urban Theological Studies
Bob Whitsitt, Executive Director Outreach & Advocacy, Christ Church Memphis
Damon Conley, Care & Teams Pastor, Harvest Church
Scott Morris, Chief Executive Officer, Church Health
Ben Cornelius, Registered Nurse, Church Health
Sharon Thorpe, FNP, Church Health
Kevin Gibson, Physical Rehabilitation Manager, Church Health
Lizy Heard, Creative Coordinator, Church Health
Katie Clark, Special Events, Church Health
Erica Perkins, Medical Fitness Coordinator, Church Health
Robin Wallace, Wellness Education Coordinator, Church Health
Janette Tovar, Medical Assistant, Church Health
Butch Odom, Director of Behavioral Health, Church Health
Stacey Ettinger, Referral Coordinator, Church Health
Vahisha Hasan, Executive Director, Movement In Faith
Eddie Foster, Director of Domestic Missions, Second Presbyterian Church
Devin Rohde, Church Health
Brian McCurry, Groups Pastor, Fellowship Memphis Church
Laura Lothrop, Staff Accountant, Church Health
Joseph Caldwell, President, Memphis Center for Urban Theological Studies
Andy Savage, Teaching Pastor, Highpoint Church
Matt Miller, Lead Pastor, Woodland Presbyterian Church
Norberto Chirinos, Pastor
Lisa Cox, Church Health
Stephen H. Cook, Senior Pastor, Second Baptist Church
Lillian Fox-Pendergrast, Diagnostic Referrals Intern, Church Health Center
Allison E. Jones, Social Work Supervisor, Church Health
Jeanette Renderos, Las Americas
Louis Gamble, Resident Physician, Baptist-Memphis
Mark Sturgis, Executive Director, Seeding Success
Cole Huffman, Senior Pastor, First Evangelical Church
Steve Winstead, Teaching & Missions Pastor, Harvest Church
Bailey Gilbert, Su Casa Family Ministries
Andrew Beach, Pastor of Memphis Ministries, First Evangelical Church
Ali Chambers, Lead Pastor, Mosaic Church Memphis
Bill Garner, Executive Pastor, Harvest Church
Kennon Vaughn, Lead Pastor, Harvest Church
Rodney Kenner, Director of Finance and Operations, Memphis Leadership Foundation
Robert C. Liddon, Retired Lawyer
Nina Lukow, Child Life Scholar, Church Health Center
Lauren Koontz, Teacher, Kingsbury middle school
Randy Odom, President & CEO, Memphis Athletic Ministries
Jonathan Torres, Vice President & COO, Memphis Athletic Ministries
Betsy Killins, Women’s Global Coordinator, Downline Ministries
Greg Siskind, Founding Partner, Siskind Susser PC Immigration Lawyers
Lily Axelrod, Attorney, Siskind Susser PC Immigration Lawyers
PJ Moore, Director, World Relief Memphis,
Karen Spencer, Church & Community Engagement Manager, World Relief Memphis
Doug Landrum, Executive Director, Catalyst Missions
Stacy Spencer, Lead Pastor, New Direction Christian Church
Memphis immigration Project exists to inspire everyone, everywhere to love their Immigrant neighbor.