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As a spiritual community, we seek to follow the teachings of Jesus, who calls us to love one another, to reach out to those who are in need, and to grow deeper in our journey with God. At Westchester UMC, seekers, pilgrims, saints and sinners explore faith and doubt, justice and Jesus, peace and praise, as we journey together in the familiar and mysterious.


Know Your Rights - Immigration
 

As United Methodists, we have firmly declared through our Social Principles that we are called to actively welcome the migrant, immigrants, and refugees among us:

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- Affirming the dignity, worth and rights of migrants, immigrants and refugees.

- Recognizing that displaced people are particularly vulnerable as their in-between status often provides them with few protections and benefits, leaving them open to exploitation and abuse.

- Urging one another to welcome migrants, refugees and immigrants into our congregations, providing concrete support to them including help with navigating restrictive and often lengthy immigration policies, and assistance with securing food, housing, education, employment and other kinds of support.

- Opposing all laws and policies that attempt to criminalize, dehumanize or punish displaced individuals and families based on their status as migrants, immigrants or refugees.

- Decrying attempts to detain displaced people and hold them in inhumane and unsanitary conditions.

- Challenging all policies that call for the separation of families, especially parents and minor children.

- Opposing the existence of for-profit detention centers that are used for the purpose of detaining migrants, immigrants, and refugees including minor children.

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The General Board of Church and Society calls for a bold witness to stand against unjust immigration and mass deportation policies influenced by misinformation, hate, fear and harm.

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Know Your Rights Information:

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You have the right to remain silent.

You have the right to speak with a lawyer.

If law enforcement shows up to your house, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR.  Ask them to slide the warrant under the door.  The warrant MUST be signed by a judge, and have your name and address on it.  If the document is NOT a judicial warrant - and is only issued by ICE - you do not have to let them in.

Never carry false documentation with you - it is a crime.

Do not carry documentation from other countries with you.

If you are detained, only say your name and date of birth.

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Prepare a Family Plan:

Documents you should carry with you:  Know Your Rights Card (available at the church in English and in Spanish); Immigration Attorney's telephone number; Valid identification card from the U.S.

Make a Plan to Care for Your Family:

Consult with an immigration attorney about your situation and let your family know.

Have the attorney's phone number in a visible place and let your family know.

Prepare a Caregiver Affidavit where someone trusted agrees to care for your children, in case you are arrested.

Keep a copy of all important documents in a safe and easy to access location:  birth and marriage certificates, passports, and alien number (A#) if you have one.

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If you notice any ICE activity, call:  Los Angeles Rapid Response Network  

888-624-4752

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Remember - everyone has rights under the United States Constitution, regardless of immigration status.

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Copyright © 2018 Westchester United Methodist Church​
8065 Emerson Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310)670-3777; Lyda@wumcla.org
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