Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service
LIRS joined Lutherans nearly 750 people of faith at the Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) conference to worship, learn, share ideas and meet with members of Congress about the plight of refugees and the need for fair and humane immigration reform. Throughout the weekend, LIRS facilitated workshops on refugee resettlement, immigration detention and family unity. On Saturday, March 20, at a lunch co-sponsored with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), four former LIRS clients spoke about the challenges of rebuilding their lives in the United States and the life saving work of LIRS. During our evening reception, Rev. Richard Graham, ELCA bishop of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. synod, joined us to introduce the new LIRS President, Linda Hartke, to a crowd of Lutherans and friends. On Sunday, March 21, EAD participants were met on the National Mall with over 200,000 faith leaders, advocates, friends of immigrants and members of Congress for the March for America: Change Takes Courage and Faith. The message was clear: we want immigration reform now. President Obama also made a surprise video appearance to affirm his support for immigration reform. EAD concluded on Monday, March 22 with hundreds of meetings with members of Congress. With stickers that read, "Change Takes Faith: Immigration Reform Now," faith activists braved a rainy day on Capitol Hill to stand for welcome.
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