Our Sunday Visitor: MN Catholic Conference director, other faith leaders call for ‘off-ramp’ to immigration enforcement ‘crisis’

Urging federal, state and local elected officials in Minnesota to chart an “off-ramp from this crisis” of increased federal immigration enforcement, Minnesota Catholic Conference Executive Director Jason Adkins and leaders of a Christian and a Jewish organization suggested a five-pronged approach Jan. 23.

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Complex factors

Factors driving the crisis are complex, including a broken immigration system, wrote Adkins, who was joined by Carl Nelson, president and CEO of Richfield-based Transform Minnesota, which seeks to connect Christian leaders, and Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, based in St. Louis Park. Based in St. Paul, MCC is the public policy voice of Minnesota’s Catholic bishops.

“But despite profound differences within our communities and our nation more broadly on immigration policy, all of our elected officials share a moral obligation to protect human dignity, preserve civil peace, and reduce the risk that more people will be harmed or even killed before this current crisis ends,” they wrote.

Five-pronged approach

Asking for a “united Minnesota vision that prioritizes de-escalation,” the letter writers suggested:

“Promoting collaboration among federal and state law enforcement agencies to remove dangerous people from our streets;

“Respecting the need for federal immigration reform and curtailing immigration enforcement against law-abiding undocumented immigrants and those pursuing legal pathways our own government has created;

“Respecting the civil and human rights of undocumented immigrants and those pursuing legal pathways our own government has created;

“Protecting the most vulnerable among us who are afraid to work, go to school, or event to procure the basic necessities of life; and

“Restoring safety, security and calm in our streets, workplaces, especially in places of sanctuary such as schools and houses of worship.”

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Read the full article from Our Sunday Visitor.

View the open letter in its entirety here.