Immigration Listening Project

MCC staff recently conducted 36 listening sessions across the United States to listen to perceptions and concerns about new immigrants, and to learn what new immigrants experience as they settle in different communities. The findings from these sessions have been analyzed and compiled into a report titled "MCC Immigration Listening Prject: What the Church is Saying."

Findings from the report were summarized into six statements:

• New immigrants are finding hope in new immigrant churches.
• Most believe that economic hardship is a strong motive for immigrants coming to the United States.
• The church opposes unjust treatment for immigrants, but is ambivalent about undocumented immigrants.
• Attitudes toward U.S. law are split.
• Faith strongly motivates churches that relate to immigrants.
• Churches relating to immigrants want help and support from denominations and church agencies.

The report addresses two significant areas in a call of response.

• We need to open avenues to listen to churches of color.
• We need to publicly act and commit to love all our neighbors, even undocumented ones.