The Evangelical Immigration Table is calling on Christians to pray for those affected by the expiration of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
On Monday, the DACA program expired, six months after the Trump administration had announced that they were ending the program in the expectation that Congress enact legislation to help the children of illegal immigrants, known as Dreamers.
In a statement released the same day as the expiration date, evangelical leaders belonging to the Table called for prayer, and action from Congress, to pass DACA legislation.
“While court decisions have allowed many DACA beneficiaries to file for renewal of their work authorization and protection from deportation, thousands still could lose their protections because renewal applications take several weeks or even months to process,” stated the EIT.
“The result: Law-abiding employers would be required to lay off employees, and Dreamers and their families would face a sudden disruption of income and the risk of deportation.”
Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and member of EIT, said in a statement that there is “absolutely zero excuse for failing to provide a solution for Dreamers.”
“Every week that Congress does not act, men and women created in the image of God will lose legal protections and work authorization. Families will face the risk of being torn apart,” stated Moore.
“Let’s pray for and petition our elected leaders to find a way forward from this totally avoidable crisis and for our churches as they care for our neighbors in this new stage of uncertainty.”
Other EIT leaders urging action include, Leith Anderson, president of National Association of Evangelicals, Scott Arbeiter, president of World Relief, and Shirley Hoogstra, president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.
The call to prayer and action comes as a federal judge in Maryland rejected a legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s decision to let DACA expire.
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Source: Christian Post
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