Gudnayber

Category: Immigrants

  • Gates closed for most vulnerable: Episcopal Church ends its Migration Ministries in the US

    Gates closed for most vulnerable: Episcopal Church ends its Migration Ministries in the US

    Episcopal Church is ending its refugee resettlement agreement with the United States federal government.

    The Episcopal Church in the US has ended its immigrant resettlement program after the US ordered resettlement for Afrikaners from South Africa seeking asylum while all other refugees have been declined since this administrations started.

    The Federal Governments crackdown on immigration has expanded to asylum seekers, ending legal status for many of these types of immigrants. These people are having to return to countries that may be hostile towards them. This has never been illegal immigration and is meant to help people at risk of persecution.

    Letter from Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe on Episcopal Migration Ministries

    In Bishop Rowe’s letter he notes that much of their work in recent years has been the resettlement of Afghan refugees. These are often people who had assisted the US and have been in danger since our withdrawal from Afghanistan.

    When faith organizations stop supporting federal programs we need to pause and ask our selves if we are living up to the ideals of our founding fathers.

    We are a nation of immigrants. We are forgetting what made us great, why God blesses us. We serve the least and give them hope. They come looking for the American dream, guided by lady liberty’s torch. At her feet you can read this inscription, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”


    “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus. The poem’s famous lines, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free

    This is also biblical. We are called to treat the Alien as we treat ourselves, reminding Gods people that they were once Aliens and slaves in a foreign land.

    “You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt. I, the Lord, am your God.”
    ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭19‬:‭34‬

    If we want to be great again, we need to be compassionate again. These people are no different then our families before us that brought us here. We need to respect their memory and return to welcoming those who need us.

  • The Human Dignity of Immigrants and Why Respect for All Is a Moral Imperative

    The Human Dignity of Immigrants and Why Respect for All Is a Moral Imperative

    In a world increasingly defined by movement and migration, the conversation around immigration has often been reduced to statistics, policies, and politics. Lost in this discourse is a simple, fundamental truth: immigrants are people, and every person, regardless of their place of origin or legal status, possesses inherent human dignity.

    Understanding Human Dignity

    Human dignity is the intrinsic worth that every individual possesses simply by being human. It is not earned by status, wealth, education, or nationality—it is innate. This principle lies at the heart of universal human rights and is recognized in foundational documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which proclaims that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

    Dignity demands that people are not treated as problems to be solved, burdens to be carried, or threats to be contained. Instead, it calls us to see each person as a bearer of value, worthy of respect, compassion, and inclusion.

    The Immigrant Experience and the Challenge to Dignity

    Immigrants often face an uphill battle to preserve their dignity in societies that may view them with suspicion, indifference, or hostility. They may be fleeing violence, poverty, or persecution, seeking safety and opportunity for themselves and their families. Yet upon arrival, they are frequently met with marginalization—discrimination, exploitation in the workplace, or inhumane detention conditions. Such treatment is not just unjust; it is a failure to recognize their humanity.

    Children separated from their parents at borders, asylum seekers living in limbo, or undocumented workers denied basic labor protections—all are examples of systems that ignore the core truth of human dignity.

    Why Dignity Matters

    Treating immigrants with dignity is not just an ethical choice—it’s a reflection of our shared humanity. It affirms that we are all interconnected and that the well-being of one group impacts the health of the whole society. When we protect the rights and dignity of immigrants, we build communities that are more just, inclusive, and compassionate for everyone.

    Dignity also empowers individuals. People who are treated with respect and given the opportunity to contribute are more likely to thrive and give back to the communities that welcome them. Studies consistently show that immigrants enrich their new countries economically, culturally, and socially when they are given the chance.

    A Call to Action

    Recognizing the human dignity of immigrants means changing the narrative and the systems that deny it. It means advocating for humane immigration policies, standing against racism and xenophobia, and supporting organizations that provide legal aid, shelter, and integration support. On a personal level, it means seeing the humanity in those who are different from us—listening to their stories, learning from their experiences, and offering friendship and solidarity.

    Ultimately, the measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable. By upholding the dignity of immigrants, we not only affirm their humanity—we reaffirm our own.

    *AI written article using ChatGPT. Though it lacks a personal touch its output was insightful. Maybe it takes writing from a non-human to help us find our humanity (you can’t see the forest from the trees).