Mennonite Central Committee (originally formed to work with people uprooted in the aftermath of World War I) continues to provide resources to immigrants and refugees of all faiths in the United States, Canada and many other countries. MCC often does its best immigration work by working with people to create safe, viable futures in their countries of origin.

In 2007, MCC U.S. completed a study of contemporary Anabaptist views about immigration into the United States and published the Listening Project report. Mennonite Church U.S.A. used the report to prepare an introduction for churches, Immigration: What is the church saying?

Public Policy

In Washington, MCC encourages U.S. government officials to fix the laws that make it impossible for many immigrant and asylum seeker families to successfully navigate the U.S. legal system. It also encourages immigration and border policies that focus on community accountability, humane enforcement and system-wide approaches.

• 2007 MCC Immigration Policy Principles

Immigration Stories

• Asylum Seekers
• Border Crossers
• The Service Worker
• The Politician

Reflection

U.S. immigration laws and the way they affect families and communities are confusing and complex. It can be tempting to respond with fear or to throw up our hands at the questions immigration produces for us.

But the Bible tells us that all people, regardless of national origin, are made in the "image of God,” (Genesis 1:26-27, 9:6), to love sojourners (Deuteronomy 10:18-19, Leviticus 19:33-34, Matthew 25:31-46) and to show mercy to neighbors in need (Leviticus 19:18, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:25-37). Although affirming of the rule of law, the Bible tells us to strive against unjust laws and systems that harm and oppress people (Romans 13:1-7).

Perhaps most importantly, even when we don’t have all the answers, the Bible instructs us to show faith in the goodness of God’s word, just as Abraham did many years ago.

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.” (Hebrews 11:8-9).