As legislative action remains stalled in the House of Representatives, it is key that people of faith continue to raise their voices and let their representatives and senators know where they stand on immigration reform.
You don’t have to come all the way to our nation’s capitol for your voice to be heard on this important issue! During this election year, senators and representatives will be home during numerous congressional recesses. Recesses present great opportunities for you to visit your local representatives or their staff and urge them to support compassionate immigration reform that keeps families together, provides a path to citizenship, and protects refugees and vulnerable migrants. Advocacy at the constituent level serves as an important reminder that communities are deeply impacted by the moral crisis in our current immigration system. Representatives and senators need to hear from their constituents that people of faith care about immigration reform and demand action in Washington.
While the concept of a meeting with a senator or representative might feel intimidating, our revised Neighbor to Neighbor Toolkit is a great resource to help anyone plan a visit. The toolkit outlines the theological basis for supporting immigration reform and provides a step-by-step guide that covers the entire process, from assembling a team to following up after the visit. It also provides specific suggestions about connecting personal stories to your message. In addition, the toolkit includes a useful calendar of the House of Representatives that shows when representatives will be in their district offices.
Visiting your elected official is an empowering way to mobilize your local congregation and community to advocate for immigration reform. We encourage you to connect with and engage your neighbors, friends, church leaders, and community members who care about this issue and to use the toolkit as a guide in preparation.
As Nelson Mandela once said, “It always seems impossible until it is done.” So it is with our struggle for immigration reform- the final outcome of which is inevitable. Rest assured that we are on the right side of history in this cause. With this Neighbor to Neighbor Toolkit, you can join with others in your community to put your faith and conviction into action. We are always excited to hear about your experiences visiting local offices and sharing your stories.
If you would like support for a Neighbor to Neighbor visit or have questions about the toolkit, please contact Folabi Olagbaju at folagbaju@lirs.org.