Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf
Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528
“Abraham called himself a ger, a refugee, as it is said, “A ger and a sojourner am I with you” (Genesis 23:4). David called himself a ger, “I am a ger in the land,” (Psalms 119:19). And it also says: “For we are gerim before You and sojourners as all of our ancestors. Our days on the earth are as a shadow (I Chronicles 29:15)[…].” And it is written, “For I am a ger with You, a sojourner as all of my ancestors were” (Psalms 39:13). Beloved are the gerim…”
Mechilta d’Rabbi Yishmael, Masekta d’Nizikin 18
Dear Acting Secretary Wolf,
We condemn the recent arrest and detention of Binsar Siahaan at Glenmont United Methodist Church in Silver Spring, MD, together with faith communities around the country. As Jews, we understand ourselves through our tradition’s call to care for the ger, the refugee, not only in our history and in our sacred texts, but also in our present-day community. Jewish tradition teaches us the importance of protecting the immigrant in our midst, and ensuring that our synagogues are places of peace and sanctuary – not only for worship, but also for those who seek refuge and protection.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents knowingly violated the agency’s Sensitive Locations policy and lied to Binsar, an Indonesian asylum-seeker who has lived in Maryland for over 30 years with his wife and two children. We are outraged that ICE transferred Binsar to Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, GA. The same center faces condemnation and calls for closure after a whistleblower exposed human rights violations taking place there, including forced hysterectomies. As synagogues, we are committed to our sacred spaces being places of welcome and safety. Many of us are sanctuary synagogues or have committed ourselves to the defense and support of immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. We stand in solidarity with immigrant communities under threat and we join with sacred spaces of other faith traditions in condemning this violation of long-held norms of government behavior.
We understand that we have a moral obligation to heed the biblical injunction to “welcome the stranger,” honor the lives of Jewish refugees throughout history, and stand in solidarity with those fleeing persecution. We urge you to affirm the human dignity and right to religious liberty of Binsar and all who seek refuge in this nation.
Sincerely,