While the Biden administration has taken steps to reverse some harmful immigration policies, recent actions show the need for continued advocacy. Since September 19, more than 7,000 immigrants have been expelled to Haiti without any opportunity to request asylum in the U.S.

A recent presidential assassination, rising gang violence and a major earthquake make Haiti ill-equipped to support deportees. Some individuals report they did not learn they were being deported until their plane landed in Port-au-Prince. Many had not lived in Haiti for years and have no home in the country and no options for shelter. On Sept. 22, the U.S. special envoy to Haiti resigned, calling the deportations "inhumane."

The U.S. government continues to use Title 42, a Centers for Disease Control policy, as a pretext for turning back asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. Additionally, the Biden administration announced plans to reinstate the harmful "Remain in Mexico" program, leading a group of immigration advocates to walk out on a call with administration officials.

Urge President Biden to stop deportation flights to Haiti.

Boxes of canned meat and relief kits from MCC brought joy and relief to recipients who are struggling to recover from the Aug. 14 earthquake that devastated the southern peninsula of Haiti. Read more. 

In this episode of Relief, Development and Podcast, MCC U.S. global health coordinator, Paul Shetler Fast, and MCC program manager in Haiti, Muriel Chaperon, share about the first distribution of relief and the importance of getting relief to women. Listen here. 

Saulo Padilla, born in Guatemala and the son of a political refugee, shares about the realities of migration to the U.S. and the biblical commandment to love and receive the stranger in this podcast series, Merienda Menonita. Listen here.

A diverse group of 20 Mennonite Brethren youth and young adults gathered in Montgomery, Alabama, in late July to begin a nine-day study of Christ's peacemaking mandate while studying the history of racism in the U.S. Read more. 

The fate of a bipartisan infrastructure bill in Congress is tied to that of a larger budget reconciliation package. Both bills contain a number of climate-related provisions, but some of those may be pared down in the reconciliation bill during negotiations between moderate and progressive Democrats. Additionally, as countries like the U.S. pledge to increase renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, concerns are growing about increased lithium mining.

Lack of access to COVID-19 vaccine production rights and inequitable distribution continue to undermine the international pandemic response. To date, only 2.5% of people from low-income countries have received at least one dose. In September, Congressman Mike Pocan, D-Wis., introduced the COVID Defense Act (H.R. 5461), a bill that would authorize 1.3% of U.S. defense spending to be repurposed for international COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution. 

MCC joins partners in the U.S. to advocate for the recently reintroduced Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the U.S. Act (H.R. 5444 and S.2907). This bill would establish a truth and healing commission to provide a full accounting of the devastating intergenerational impacts of Indian boarding school policies.

Urge Congress to support the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies 

Explore this MCC-sponsored compilation of stories from across the Mennonite Church in the U.S. and Canada that offer "next steps" of reparative justice in response to the Doctrine of Discovery. Created by the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition, "Stories of Repair" includes theological and biblical reflections with questions for congregational study.

Join us as we explore the ways that MCC works to address food security and climate change through different farming techniques, policy approaches and advocacy. Register here. 

Join this conference to hear from two active and creative tax resistance groups, Money Rebellion and Grup Antimilitarista Tortuga. The conference will discuss endless war and the climate crisis, and is a great place to connect with others in the tax resistance movement whether you are an expert resister or new to the conversation! See more information here.

Church World Service, with support from MCC, invites faith leaders, clergy, community organizers and immigrant leaders to join a dynamic event on resettlement and migration. Attendees will learn, share with one another, build relationships and walk away with specific actions to foster welcome in their local communities. Register here.

On September 30 and October 1, Kate Parsons, Daniela Làzaro-Manalo and Hannah Markey hosted mini-seminars for MCC's virtual United Nations Student Seminar. The event brought together a diverse group of speakers and students from around the world to discuss the intersections between peacebuilding and climate change.

"I ask the Creator to hear our prayers for the children, I say to the Creator, you know those children by their original names...you know all of those children who never made it home....Take our prayers and tell each and every one of those children, whose names you know--their original names--that we love them, that we remember them and that we honor them." 

--As told by Claudette Commanda in "A Day to Listen," stories from Indigenous leaders, residential school survivors, elders, musicians and teachers in response to the announcement that the remains of 215 children were buried at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in Canada.