wfn.org | Lutherans commend, remain hopeful on recent immigration detention reform

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

>ELCA News Blog

>August 13, 2009  

Lutherans commend, remain hopeful on recent immigration detention reform

>by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) commended the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security for taking steps to improve the
immigration detention system and remains "hopeful" that such comprehensive
reform continues.  LIRS is one of the nation's leading agencies in
welcoming and advocating for refugees and immigrants.  Based in Baltimore,
LIRS works on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement -- the largest investigative arm
of the Department of Homeland Security -- announced Aug. 6 it will provide
more oversight and direct management of immigrant families and individuals
held in federal custody, move away from utilizing a penal detention system
and develop alternatives to prison and jail detention for immigrants who
pose no threat to the community or flight risk.  It also plans to ensure
timely provision of health care for immigrants held in federal custody and
discontinue the use of the T. Don Hutto Family Residential Facility in
Taylor, Texas, for family detention.

"Our nation must commit to a major shift in its view of immigrants who
seek freedom, protection and opportunity on America's shores," said Anne
P. Wilson, LIRS executive vice president.  "It is time to recognize that
indefinitely imprisoning families and those fleeing prosecution -- who
have committed no crime in seeking this protection -- is fundamentally
anti-American and goes against our core values of 'liberty and justice for
all,'" she said.

For information contact:

John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog