Chicago New Sanctuary Coalition

When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the stranger. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the stranger as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Leviticus 19: 33-34)

The Chicago New Sanctuary Coalition is…

…a coalition of interfaith religious leaders and participating congregations, called by our faith to respond actively and publicly to the suffering of our immigrant brothers and sisters residing in the United States.

We acknowledge that the large-scale immigration of workers and their families to the United States is a complex historical, global and economic phenomenon that has many causes and does not lend itself to simplistic or purely reactive public policy solutions.

We stand together in our faith that everyone, regardless of national origin, has basic common rights, including but not limited to: 1) livelihood; 2) family unity; and 3) physical and emotional safety. We witness the violation of these rights under current immigration policy, particularly in the separation of children from their parents due to unjust deportations, and in the exploitation of immigrant workers. We are deeply grieved by the violence done to families through immigration raids. We cannot in good conscience ignore such suffering and injustice.

Therefore, We Covenant To:

• Take a public, moral stand for immigrants' rights
• Reveal, through education and advocacy, the actual suffering of immigrant workers and families under current and proposed legislation
• & protect immigrants against hate, workplace discrimination, and unjust deportation

Our Mission

We are called to empower congregations to take action in the struggle for comprehensive immigration reform.

Our Vision

Every sanctuary congregation will be a prophetic voice for just and humane immigration reform. Sanctuary congregations will welcome the stranger and reaffirm the rights and human dignity of immigrants. Through these efforts and the collaborative efforts of all those working in the struggle, we will bring about comprehensive immigration reform.

Our Values

We stand together believing that every person, regardless of national origin, has basic rights which must be safeguarded, including but not limited to: 1)the right to earn a livelihood; 2)the right to family unity; and 3) the right to physical and emotional safety.

Contact:

Jennifer Hill: Coordinator for the Chicago New Sanctuary Coalition at the Chicago Metropolitan Sanctuary Alliance (773) 293-3680
cmsa@chicagosanctuary.org