If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? (1 John 3:17 NIV)

Congress is preparing to vote on a budget reconciliation bill that would provide over $70 billion for immigration enforcement over the next three years, for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Last summer, Congress used this same budgetary process to allocate over $170 billion for the Department of Homeland Security with a simple majority vote. That funding has since been used to conduct sweeping immigration raids and drastically expand inhumane immigrant detention centers.

These ramped-up enforcement actions have resulted in the arrest of many immigrants without criminal records and an unprecedented number of deaths in detention centers — and the new funding measure fails to impose reforms or safeguards. This bill also comes at a time when many in the U.S. are struggling with the high costs of housing, food and energy and while federal funding for food, health care and other basic needs is being cut. 

Republican congressional leaders hope to advance this bill by Memorial Day, so now is the time to make your voice heard. 

Urge your members of Congress to vote no on the reconciliation bill.

Photo above: Rally for Temporary Protected Status in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. MCC photo/Galen Fitzkee