During his first week in office President Biden has taken significant immigration policy actions.
Commitment to Preserve and Strengthen DACA
Rescinding the Muslim and African Bans
Revision of Civil Immigration Enforcement Priorities and 100-Day Pause on Certain Removals
Extension of Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians and Improved Processing of Liberian Relief and Fairness Act Applications
Census Inclusion of Immigrants
Termination of Border Wall Construction
DHS Statement on the Suspension of New Enrollments in Migrant Protection Protocols
DAY ONE IMMIGRATION BILL: U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021
These actions are consistent with actions for which people of faith have called in their advocacy on behalf of migrant families and the pursuit of justice. They are consistent with UCC General Synod and Southwest Conference resolutions calling for the just and respectful treatment of our neighbors and for immigration policy reform.
As encouraging and important as these steps are, people of faith need to encourage local Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Department of Homeland Security officials to implement the new policies and to support them as they do so.
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center has provided a letter template for faith communities, faith leaders, and people of faith to send to local ICE officials requesting their immediate compliance with the President’s policies. (also attached) Copies of the letter can be shared with DHS officials, local Sheriffs and jail administrators and Congressional representatives. I invite and encourage all of our local congregations and faith leaders in the Southwest Conference to write (letters and emails) to local ICE and DHS officials reminding them that we are watching their response to these new policies and that we will support them as they take these actions. Please, make your voice heard!
For your convenience the addresses of local field offices throughout the Southwest Conference are provided below to facilitate your letter writing campaign. It is important to remind these officials, “You have our support as people of faith when you treat our migrating neighbors with dignity and respect and extend to them the extravagant welcome the law allows and our faith demands.” To that end I have added that sentence as the final line of the letters I will send on behalf of the Southwest Conference to DHS and ICE officials. None of the names of field office officials are available from ICE or DHS; our staff called all of the contacts listed here and were told the names of directors, legal counsel and other officials was not available. The template letter will need to be adjusted accordingly.
I hope you will share with me the actions your church and your congregation members have taken in this letter writing campaign. We want to share the story of our collective action with the wider church inviting them to join us in this witness.
Also, please know that I have established a regular line of communication with our UCC Washington staff regarding both White House and Congressional immigration policy progress. As information become available I am glad to share it with you.
May God continue to bless you and your congregation in your pursuit of justice and peace on behalf of our neighbors.
Bill
In Arizona:
Phoenix Field Office
2035 N. Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 766-7030
Area of Responsibility: Arizona
Email: Phoenix.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
Phoenix - Community Relations Officer
4041 North Central Ave, Ste 1650
Phoenix, AZ 85012
(602) 849-2974
Area of Responsibility: Arizona
Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Phoenix
2035 N. Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 744-2412
Area of Responsibility: Arizona
Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Phoenix (Tucson)
6431 S. Country Club Road
Tucson, AZ 85706
(520) 295-4167
Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Phoenix (Eloy)
Eloy Detention Center
1705 East Hanna Road
Eloy, AZ 85131
(520) 464-3032
Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Phoenix (Florence)
Florence Detention Center
3250 N. Pinal Parkway Avenue
Florence, AZ 85132
(520) 868-3310
Special Agent in Charge – West
2600 N Central Ave
7th floor
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 595-8212
Serving the following states and territories: WA, ID, MT, WY, OR, CA, UT, NV, AZ, AK, HI, GU, AS
In New Mexico/Texas:
El Paso Field Office
11541 Montana Ave
Suite E
El Paso, TX 79936
(915) 225-1901/1941
Area of Responsibility: West Texas, New Mexico
Email: ElPaso.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, El Paso
11541 Montana Avenue, Suite O
El Paso, TX 79936
(915) 856-2316
Area of Responsibility: West Texas and New Mexico
El Paso - Community Relations Officer
11541 Montana Avenue
El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 856-5595
CommunityRelations.ElPaso@ice.dhs.gov
Area of Responsibility: West Texas and New Mexico
Special Agent in Charge – Central
45 NE Loop 410
Suite 600
San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 366-5800
Serving the following states: ND, SD, MN, NE, CO, KS, NM, TX, OK, LA, AR, MO, IA, IL, IN, OH, MI, WI, KY, TN, MS, AR