Letter to Members of the 117th Congress of the United States: DACA-TPS-Farm Workers

November 16, 2022

Letter to Members of the 117th Congress of the United States Washington, D.C

Dear Senator,

We write to you on behalf of the Latino Christian National Network (LCNN), a broad coalition of leaders representing more than 3,000 Evangelical, Pentecostal, and Historic Protestant churches. It is time that our nation lives up to the moral and biblical call for justice and compassion for immigrants. For how long are we going to continue evading not only our responsibility but the teachings of the gospel of Jesus? As faith leaders, we are convinced that today, more than ever, is the time for the 117th Congress of the United States to pass immigration bills that include the following:

1. Permanent legal status and legislative protection for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) (H.R.6 - American Dream and Promise Act of 2021). Many DACA beneficiaries are members and leaders of our churches. Many DACA beneficiaries were brought to the United States as children and until now have received the benefit of the DACA executive action. They deserve a legislative solution that allows them permanent legal residence and the path to citizenship.

2. Legal protections for immigrant farmworkers, who are also part of our churches. We ask that they be allowed access to permanent legal status and a work permit - a measure that agricultural producers widely support. (Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 HR 1603)

3. Access to legal permanent residence for beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Many of our congregations are made up of TPS members who have been without access to permanent legal status for more than a decade.

We speak on behalf of hundreds of thousands whose voices have not been heard. They are our neighbors and contribute as much as any one of us to the prosperity of our nation. We are committed to protecting, advocating, and loving these brothers and sisters. We appeal to the 117th United States Congress to enact this legislation now.

Rev. Carlos L. Malave President revmalave@lcnn.org

Board of Directors
The Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén - Director of Ethnic Ministries and Missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries, The Episcopal Church
Rev. Dr. Sergio Navarrete - Director of Hispanic Initiatives at Evangel’s Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS)
Rev. Ruben N Ortiz - Latino Field Ministries Coordinator, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF)
Sandra Ovalle Martínez - Director of Campaigns and Mobilizing, Sojourners
Rev. Efraín Pineda, Jr. - Founder / President of Congreso RED & Vida Church
Agustin Quiles - Founder / President of Mission Talk
Rev. Lori Tapia - National Pastor for Hispanic Ministries. Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada
Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra - Academic Dean, Centro Latino, Fuller Theological Seminary