Send Congress a
Love (Your Neighbor) Note

The Note

Dear [YOUR CONGRESSPERSON],

Happy Valentine’s Day!

While Valentine’s Day is often a chance to celebrate one’s love for that special someone, it is a good time to also consider how we as a country show our love for our neighbors — including immigrant and refugee members of our communities.

I join the Ignatian Solidarity Network in asking for compassionate immigration policies that support family unity, provide a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and other undocumented young people, and promote humane and just treatment of those who migrate. I also call on Congress to rethink policy proposals that unnecessarily militarize the border and increase the vulnerability of individuals fleeing their countries in search of safety.

When Pope Francis addressed Congress in 2015, he said:

“In recent centuries, millions of people came to this land to pursue their dream of building a future in freedom. We, the people of this continent, are not fearful of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners…We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation. To respond in a way which is always humane, just and fraternal.”

I hope that these principles will guide your decisions on potential immigration legislation debated in the next few weeks and that I can continue to dialogue with you about humane immigration policies that affirm the inherent dignity of all immigrants and refugees into the future.

[MESSAGE OF THANKS TO THOSE WHO SUPPORTED THE DREAM ACT]

Thank you.

Sincerely,

[YOUR SIGNATURE]

Send It!