State Enforcement Legislation

In the absence of federal comprehensive immigration reform, many state legislatures have passed punitive, enforcement-only immigration bills. In April 2010, Arizona passed SB 1070, the first in a wave of enforcement focused immigration laws at the state level. SB 1070 was also the first state law to require local and state law enforcement officials to stop and check the immigration status of individuals they "reasonably suspect" of being in the United States unlawfully. The U.S. Department of Justice has since filed a lawsuit, alleging the law to be unconstitutional. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has placed key provisions of the law on hold until the case is decided by the Supreme Court. Read more. Similar laws have since passed in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Utah and Indiana.

The latest news is that over 350 individuals and organizations have joined 22 amicus briefs supporting the U.S. government in its legal challenge to Arizona's extreme immigration law, SB 1070.

LIRS is one of those organizations. We joined because we believe that extreme state laws like SB 1070 are an obstacle to achieving what America really needs, which is humane and comprehensive federal immigration reform. It's time for Congress to act to ensure there's one national law on immigration, not a confusing patchwork of 50 different ones.

You are the key LIRS' immigration reform advocacy. We need you to be informed, and to join us in our efforts.

Here are some ways you can help:

  • LEARN about SB 1070, which is the front line of this battle. The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) has done a spectacular job arraying the arguments against SB 1070 in a single document that's truly worth a look. You can read the brief itself here. The LIRS "mythbuster" guide to U.S. immigration also dispels common misconceptions.
  • PRAY You and your congregation can keep Arizona's suffering communities in your prayers. Host a prayer vigil in your community and visit the online "Vigil for Justice and the American Dream."
  • CONTACT your representatives in Congress through the LIRS Action Center. Our senators and representatives don't have power over the Supreme Court decision on SB 1070. But it's critical to ask Congress to pass comprehensive federal-level immigration reform, and it never hurts for them to hear more public dissatisfaction with SB 1070.
  • WRITE a letter to your newspaper. Letters to the editor are read carefully by everyone from your neighbors to the staff of your representatives in Congress. Your letter criticizing SB 1070 and calling for comprehensive immigration reform can have a tremendous impact! Click here to learn how to make your letter the most well-informed, powerful, and likely to be published.
  • JOIN other people of faith at the Supreme Court for a 48-hour prayer vigil from 10am Monday April 23 - 10am Wednesday April 25. A Jericho Walk will take place the morning of Wednesday, April 25, when the justices will be hearing oral arguments about SB 1070. Click here to learn more about events that day.
  • SPREAD the word about the need for comprehensive immigration reform and SB 1070. Your neighbors and members of your church may be unfamiliar with the facts. Tweet your opposition to SB 1070 using #vigil4justice. Join the LIRS Stand for Welcome campaign to hear of ways you can get involved in advocacy with refugees and migrants. The LIRS blog is good place to stay updated on the struggle against SB 1070-style laws.
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Get Involved

Join the Stand for Welcome campaign to learn about the need for fair and humane solutions to our broken immigration system.

Visit the LIRS Action Center to express your concerns directly to President Obama, your members of Congress, your governor, and even your local newspaper.

Lutheran Responses

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is concerned that these new state laws will have a devastating impact on families and communities. Read our January 24, 2011 statement on the harmful impacts of proposed state legislation here. LIRS is grateful for partners across the country who are standing up and advocating against harsh state legislation. Here are a few notable examples:

  • In August 2011, the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania submitted testimony to the Pennsylvania state legislature in opposition to punitive state legislation.

  • In March 2011, ELCA Bishop Edward R. Benoway of the Florida-Bahamas Synod and other Florida religious leaders asked state legislators to reject anti-immigrant legislation. Listen to the press conference and read about the media coverage.

  • In March 2011, the Nebraska Legislature's Judiciary Committee held a hearing on an Arizona-inspired bill (LB 48). Read ELCA Bishop Dave deFreese's testimony to committee members opposing the bill.

  • In January 2011, the Rev. Steve Klemz of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Salt Lake City organized a press conference at the state capitol to to advance comprehensive immigration reform and to fight punitive state proposals.

  • In April 2010, ELCA Bishop Stephen S. Talmage of the Grand Canyon Synod wrote a letter to Arizona Governor Janice Brewer urging her not to sign SB 1070 into law.

Read more here. To share other examples of advocacy leadership, please email us at dc@lirs.org.