T’ruah: As Jews, we know that immigration policy can be a matter of life or death
NEW YORK – After Chief Justice Roberts temporarily halted the end of Title 42 at the U.S. southern border, T’ruah, a rabbinic human rights organization representing over 2,300 rabbis and cantors nationwide, reiterated the harmful consequences of the policy.
In a statement, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah, pointed to the need for ending the dangerous policy once and for all:
“Seeking asylum is a fundamental, protected human right. We have a moral obligation to welcome asylum seekers with a dignified, just, transparent, and timely system to gain legal entry into the United States. We are dismayed that last month’s district court ruling ending Title 42 wasn’t allowed to go through by Chief Justice Roberts, and equally horrified at recent congressional attempts to codify Title 42 permanently into legislation.
“Advocates around the country are ready to accept asylum seekers and refugees with open arms once Title 42 is terminated. Yet anti-immigration politicians and policy makers are fighting to keep this xenophobic policy in place by justifying their position with racist dog whistles. It’s time to leave Title 42 in the trash can, where it belongs, and restore asylum now.
“Just last week, T’ruah and HIAS sent 15 rabbis to our southern border to bear witness to the ugly mistreatment of asylum seekers and the dangers of letting Title 42 stand. They saw with their own eyes the injustice of an erratic and labyrinthian system that forces asylum seekers to pursue dangerous—and sometimes deadly—paths to safety.
“The Torah teaches the obligation to extend love and care to people from outside our home society: ‘You shall love this person as yourself, for you were gerim [foreigners] in the land of Egypt.’ (Leviticus 19:34).
“As Jews, we know that immigration policy can be a matter of life or death. Many of our own families fled danger to find refuge in the United States, and many of our family members died after this country’s borders were closed to them. We remain committed to being a loud moral voice advocating for a just and transparent system for asylum seekers to gain legal entry into the United States.”
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights mobilizes a network of more than 2,300 rabbis and cantors from all streams of Judaism that, together with the Jewish community, act on the Jewish imperative to respect and advance the human rights of all people. Grounded in Torah and our Jewish historical experience and guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we call upon Jews to assert Jewish values by raising our voices and taking concrete steps to protect and expand human rights in North America, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories.
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-Deuteronomy 10:19
Most immigrants to the U.S. come seeking safety, freedom, and a better life, just as many of our families did. Jewish texts, history, traditions, and values compel us to welcome them with dignity and compassion.
But our country’s policies towards immigrants remain far from our shared vision. While the Trump Administration’s dangerous policies were blatantly rooted in racism, xenophobia, and white supremacy, President Biden has not made the improvements our communities have demanded.
The United States must follow international human rights law when it comes to asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants. Our government must also recognize and redress the systemic racism that permeates our immigration system, discriminating against immigrants of color.
In the fight for true immigrant justice and relief, we need all hands on deck.
Our work includes:
- Organizing clergy through our BIMA Campaign (Building Immigration Momentum & Action), encouraging rabbis and cantors to recognize how they can use their platform to change the narrative around immigration for the better
- Human rights delegations to the southern border for clergy, with our partners at HIAS
- Coalition work through the Interfaith Immigration Coalition
- Working with the All In For Registry campaign to update our immigration laws to allow millions of longtime undocumented US residents a path to permanent legal status
- Advocating to Congress and the federal government for a more humane immigration system that welcomes asylum seekers and refugees with dignity, provides legitimate pathways to citizenship for more of our neighbors, and reduces reliance on detention and deportation.
*In the Torah, the word "ger" refers to a person who came from elsewhere, but is now a long-term or permanent resident of their new community.
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T’ruah’s sanctuary network, Mikdash, is made up of over 70 member communities. We work as part of an interfaith network to mobilize synagogues and other Jewish communities to protect those facing deportation or other immigration challenges. By becoming part of the Mikdash network, communities pledge to take concrete actions, which may include legal support, housing, financial help, and other assistance for our friends and neighbors.
The New Sanctuary Movement — a coalition of hundreds of immigrant and faith-based organizations — works to protect and defend immigrants in the United States, especially those at risk for arrest and deportation. At T'ruah, we believe we have a moral obligation to join in their struggle, honoring the biblical injunction to "welcome the stranger" as well as the memory of Jewish refugees around the world.
With our help, Jewish communities across the United States are joining with others to take action to support and protect the vulnerable.
If your congregation is interested in learning more about becoming a sanctuary community, please contact us at office@truah.org.
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-Deuteronomy 10:19
Most immigrants to the U.S. come seeking safety, freedom, and a better life, just as many of our families did. Jewish texts, history, traditions, and values compel us to welcome them with dignity and compassion.
But our country’s policies towards immigrants remain far from our shared vision. While the Trump Administration’s dangerous policies were blatantly rooted in racism, xenophobia, and white supremacy, President Biden has not made the improvements our communities have demanded.
The United States must follow international human rights law when it comes to asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants. Our government must also recognize and redress the systemic racism that permeates our immigration system, discriminating against immigrants of color.
In the fight for true immigrant justice and relief, we need all hands on deck.
Our work includes:
- Organizing clergy through our BIMA Campaign (Building Immigration Momentum & Action), encouraging rabbis and cantors to recognize how they can use their platform to change the narrative around immigration for the better
- Human rights delegations to the southern border for clergy, with our partners at HIAS
- Coalition work through the Interfaith Immigration Coalition
- Working with the All In For Registry campaign to update our immigration laws to allow millions of longtime undocumented US residents a path to permanent legal status
- Advocating to Congress and the federal government for a more humane immigration system that welcomes asylum seekers and refugees with dignity, provides legitimate pathways to citizenship for more of our neighbors, and reduces reliance on detention and deportation.
*In the Torah, the word "ger" refers to a person who came from elsewhere, but is now a long-term or permanent resident of their new community.
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The New Sanctuary Movement — a coalition of hundreds of immigrant and faith-based organizations — works to protect and defend immigrants in the United States, especially those at risk for arrest and deportation. At T'ruah, we believe we have a moral obligation to join in their struggle, honoring the biblical injunction to "welcome the stranger" as well as the memory of Jewish refugees around the world.
With our help, Jewish communities across the United States are joining with others to take action to support and protect the vulnerable.
If your congregation is interested in learning more about becoming a sanctuary community, please contact us at office@truah.org.
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-Deuteronomy 10:19
Most immigrants to the U.S. come seeking safety, freedom, and a better life, just as many of our families did. Jewish texts, history, traditions, and values compel us to welcome them with dignity and compassion.
But our country’s policies towards immigrants remain far from our shared vision. While the Trump Administration’s dangerous policies were blatantly rooted in racism, xenophobia, and white supremacy, President Biden has not made the improvements our communities have demanded.
The United States must follow international human rights law when it comes to asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants. Our government must also recognize and redress the systemic racism that permeates our immigration system, discriminating against immigrants of color.
In the fight for true immigrant justice and relief, we need all hands on deck.
Our work includes:
- Organizing clergy through our BIMA Campaign (Building Immigration Momentum & Action), encouraging rabbis and cantors to recognize how they can use their platform to change the narrative around immigration for the better
- Human rights delegations to the southern border for clergy, with our partners at HIAS
- Coalition work through the Interfaith Immigration Coalition
- Working with the All In For Registry campaign to update our immigration laws to allow millions of longtime undocumented US residents a path to permanent legal status
- Advocating to Congress and the federal government for a more humane immigration system that welcomes asylum seekers and refugees with dignity, provides legitimate pathways to citizenship for more of our neighbors, and reduces reliance on detention and deportation.
*In the Torah, the word "ger" refers to a person who came from elsewhere, but is now a long-term or permanent resident of their new community.
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The New Sanctuary Movement — a coalition of hundreds of immigrant and faith-based organizations — works to protect and defend immigrants in the United States, especially those at risk for arrest and deportation. At T'ruah, we believe we have a moral obligation to join in their struggle, honoring the biblical injunction to "welcome the stranger" as well as the memory of Jewish refugees around the world.
With our help, Jewish communities across the United States are joining with others to take action to support and protect the vulnerable.
If your congregation is interested in learning more about becoming a sanctuary community, please contact us at office@truah.org.
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