On March 22, 2010, ONSM members Marco Mejia and Beth Poteet delivered hundreds of the Love Has No Borders postcards to the offices of Sens. Wyden and Merkely and Rep. Blumenauer as part of the Ecumenical Advocacy Days conference.
Beth Poteet hands the LHNB postcards to Ben Widness, aide to Sen. Ron Wyden.
Oregon delegation meets with Sen. Wyden’s staff to talk about the Jubilee Act, comprehensive immigration reform and assistance to refugees and displaced persons. Left to right: Nancy Hatch (Ainsworth UCC), Marco Mejia (ONSM), David Fischer (Ainsworth UCC), Ben Widness (staff to Sen. Wyden), Beth Poteet (ONSM and Ainsworth UCC), and David Leslie (Executive Director of the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon).
Marco explains the ONSM principles for comprehensive immigration to Stephanie Cappa from Rep. Blumenauer’s office.
The Oregon delegation meets with Caitie, staff to Sen. Merkley.
In August and September 2009, members of the Oregon New Sanctuary Movement met with the offices of Reps. Wu, Blumenauer and Schrader, along with Sens. Merkley and Wyden to discuss our principles for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. We delivered our “Love Has No Borders” postcards from our congregational partners to the Congressional Delegation asking for:
• Reunification of families
• A pathway to legalization and citizenship
• Protecting the employment rights of workers
• Moratorium on workplace raids and home detentions
• Demilitarization of the border
• Ending trade agreements that force migration
Click here to download the Love Has No Borders postcard
Meeting with Sen. Wyden’s Office
Left to right: Beth Poteet (Ainsworth United Church of Christ), Mira Conklin (Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church Office of Hispanic Ministries), Ron Whitlatch (Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church Office of Hispanic Ministries), Loretta Smith (Sen. Ron Wyden’s Staff), Deacon Marla McGarry-Lawrence (St. Michael’s and All Angels Episcopal Church), Zaida (Committee of Solidarity and Mutual Support), Alice Perry (American Friends Service Committee), and Bob Brown (Havurah Shalom).
Meeting with Rep. Wu’s OfficeLeft to right: Alice Perry (American Friends Service Committee), Pedro Sosa (American Friends Service Committee), Brian Plinski (Rep. Wu’s Staff), Bob Brown (Havurah Shalom), Zaida (Committee of Solidarity and Mutual Support), Beth Poteet (Ainsworth United Church of Christ)Meeting with Sen. Merkley’s Office
Left to right: Deacon Marla McGarry-Lawrence (St. Michael’s and All Angels Episcopal Church), Bob Brown (Havurah Shalom), Alice Perry (American Friends Service Committee), Sarah Loose (Augustana Lutheran Church), DeEtte Waleed (Bridgeport United Church of Christ), Beth Poteet (Ainsworth United Church of Christ), Cyreena Boston (Staff with Sen. Merkley)
President Obama has said that immigration reform is a top priority on his legislative agenda for this Congressional session. Now is the time when legislators are beginning to discuss what should be include in immigration reform legislation. As people of faith, we have the opportunity to tell Congress that we believe that love has no borders and that we want a just and humane immigration policy.
We will continue our Love Has No Borders Campaign through the fall and winter. Please download and fill out our “Love Has No Borders” postcards and share them with others in your community. We will deliver the signed postcards to our legislators over the coming months. We are asking each person to fill out three postcards - one for Sen. Wyden, another for Sen. Merkley and a third for their representative. In August and September 2009, we delivered nearly 300 postcards from 10 different faith communities to our legislators! We still need your help. Please ask your faith community to fill out the postcards today!
