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Letter to the Editor

Bill to protect borders would be ineffective
THE DECATUR DAILY:

The Border Protection, Anti-Terrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (HR 4437) has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and will be considered soon in the U.S. Senate. This mean-spirited and ineffective bill focuses only on enforcement of immigration laws and does not include needed reforms in U.S. immigration policy that would address our current immigration problems more comprehensively.

Among several problematic aspects, this bill would: make "unlawful presence" in the United States a crime and would prosecute as criminals (with up to five years in prison) people in churches and social service organizations who offer humanitarian assistance to undocumented immigrants.

We are a nation of immigrants — and some say, a "Christian" nation. Jesus said that when we welcome the stranger (which in the Bible means the foreigner), we are welcoming him.

"So why don't you just come here legally?" No legal process exists for immigrating here to do unskilled labor, despite the obvious need for this labor pool. A fortunate few can immigrate through a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, immediate-family member, but even this process can take decades, so as to be irrelevant to the need.

"Talk radio" programs muddy the waters by meshing "illegal immigration" with "national security" and keeping out terrorists. This is pure demagoguery that ignores the real problem. Latin Americans coming here to work are not terrorists, and unlike those poor workers, terrorists have the resources it takes to work the system and come legally. Most, if not all, the Sept. 11 terrorists had entered the country legally.

Christians and other people of conscience need to contact Sens. Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions, urging them to vote against this very un-Christian and un-American legislation and to support instead "The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act" (S. 1033/H.R. 4330), sponsored by Sens. John McCain and Ted Kennedy. For more information, visit www.umhispanicministries.com/immigration.

Rev. Gene Lankford

Collinsville

I did a google on Rev. Lankford here is what I found

http://gbgm-umc.org/programs/hispanicmin/news9909.html

Hispanic Ministries

Justice for Our Neighbors: a GBGM Immigration Response
"Justice for Our Neighbors" is a new, nationwide program designed to enable United Methodist churches to provide assistance in immigration matters to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. It seeks to facilitate the establishment of church-based immigration legal clinics. The program is a collaborative effort between the General Board of Global Ministries UM Committee on Relief Refugee Ministries, directed by Executive Secretary Lilia Fernández, and a local UM-affiliate ministry called Just Neighbors Ministry, which offers immigration legal services to low-income communities and is staffed by a team of immigration attorneys.

Justice for Our Neighbors is NOT a funding program. It is basically an information and training program for those interested in serving the sojourners in their communities who are in need of immigration counseling and referrals. The program provides extensive on-site immigration training, follow-up and on-going assistance with mission education, updates on immigration law and procedures, and legal consultation for any immigration services provided by volunteer attorneys or trained lay volunteers.

The following is a list of the first twelve approved immigration clinics:

Rev. John K. Wortinger
Hispanic Community Services
St. Matthews UMC
1951 Wilshire Dr.
Frankfort, IN 46041

Gil Dawes
Des Moines Hispanic UMCong.
8th and College
Des Moines, IA 50304

Ms. Judy Kading
Siouxland UM Hispanic Min.
Whitfield UMC
1319 W. 5th Street
Sioux City, IA 51103

Rev. Gustavo A. Betancourt
El Buen Samaritano UMC
915 Magnolia Drive
Waukesha, WI 53188

Ms. Janette Maugh
John Wesley UMC
260 Quiney Street
Brooklyn, NY 11216

Pui Wong, Chinese UMC
69 Madison Street
New York, NY 10002

Rev. Dr. Leta Gorham
Southeast Dallas Coop Parish
P.O.Box 270496
Dallas, Tx 75227

Ms. Deborah Hernández
Polytechnic UMC
1310 Collard Street
Ft. Worth, Tx 76105

Rev. Gene Lankford, Pastor
Memorial Drive UMC
109 Memorial Drive, NW
Decatur, AL 35601

Rev. Sally Del Castillo
Trinity Mission Center
Hispanic Ministries
5515 Old Canton Road
Jackson, Mississippi 39211

Rev. Denise R. Huffman
Estamos Unidos -Hispanic
Congregation, Trinity UMC
305 Mountain Ave.
Roanoke, VA 24016

Rev. Martha Meyer Real
Floris Neighbors Ministry
2730 Centreville Road
Herndon, VA 20171