Second Sunday In Advent 2024 Immigration Sweeps

For if you truly amend your ways and your doings, if you truly act justly one with another, if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own hurt, then I will dwell with you in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your ancestors forever and ever. Jeremiah 7:5-7

Immigration Sweeps are large-scale operations conducted by immigration authorities, like ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement.) The goal is to apprehend large numbers of undocumented immigrants at once either in workplaces, neighborhoods or public spaces. The incoming administration has claimed that this large-scale deportation plan will rid our country of dangerous criminals, making America safe again.  However, numerous studies show that undocumented immigration does not increase violent crime with most indicating that U.S. citizens commit crimes and are incarcerated at greater rates.  Sweeps are indiscriminate and don’t just capture, incarcerate and deport the bad guys.  U.S. citizens have been caught up in sweeps. When a U.S. citizen is caught, they need to hire an Immigration Attorney and it takes months or longer to get out of detention and if deported, to get back into the country. Undocumented Military Veterans, even those who have fought in wars, face deportation, or have already been deported.

Sweeps hurt local and national economies, causing shortages, supply chain issues and higher consumer prices. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that 42% of agricultural workers are not legally authorized to work in the U.S.   Companies are scrambling to come up with plans to avert a potential labor crunch following a mass deportation of migrants after the President elect takes office.               

The saddest and most devastating part of a sweep is the separation of families, splitting them apart and traumatizing children.  When working parents are swept up in a workplace raid and detained, the children either come home to an empty house or they sit waiting at schools for their parents to pick them up.  A mass deportation plan could separate millions of families leaving schools and social service agencies to pick up the pieces.

As The Church it seems clear that we need to prepare to pick up the pieces too.  During this Holy Season of Advent, let us pray for our immigrant brothers and sisters, our elected officials and our congregation.   

Lord Jesus, when you multiplied the loaves and fishes, you provided more than food for the body, you offered us the gift of yourself. Your disciples were filled with fear and doubt, but you poured out your love and compassion on the migrant crowd, welcoming them as brothers and sisters.Like your disciples, we too are filled with fear and doubt and even suspicion. We build barriers in our hearts and in our minds.  Lord Jesus, help us by your grace:  To banish fear from our hearts and to welcome migrants and refugees with joy and generosity, while responding to their many needs, To challenge our elected officials to enact humane immigration policies, To speak the truth about immigrants when we are confronted with lies and misinformation, To banish fear from our hearts and to welcome migrants and refugees with joy and generosity, while responding to their many needs, To challenge our elected officials to enact humane immigration policies, To speak the truth about immigrants when we are confronted with lies and misinformation. In your name we pray, AMEN. (amended from USCCB)