Call for compassionate immigration reform

The United States of America is a nation of immigrants. My ancestors came from Germany, Norway and Scotland, among others. We have people coming to our communities from the Philippines, Ukraine, Venezuela and other countries right now.

Yes, there are barriers. No, it isn’t easy to integrate new people, especially when language limits communication and the American way takes some getting used to.

When I first heard about the Uniting 4 Ukraine program developed by the Carrington City Council, I was encouraged. Now, months later, we have dozens of people in our community, filling necessary roles to keep our economic engine running. As a small business owner, I can appreciate that we are trying new things to attract people to our community. We have more jobs than people to fill them, and have for some time.

Why our councilmen let the negativity of a few overshadow the many positive attributes of the program is beyond me. I hope the program returns soon, and we see more success on the horizon. Let’s build a path forward for immigrants who want to become a part of our community.

A year ago, I met David Jenkins, who is actively working to help build relationships with new Americans. At the time, he was the executive director for CATCH, a North Dakota nonprofit that hopes to revitalize rural North Dakota by facilitating legal immigration. CATCH worked with the City of Carrington in developing the Uniting 4 Ukraine program.

Recently, Dave has taken on a new role with Rural Diaspora Community, an organization in western North Dakota that is also working to build relationships with new Americans. His call for compassionate immigration reform hits at a particularly important time, as we elect a new president of the United States. His column is printed below.

A call for compassionate immigration reform

by Dave Jenkins

Sometimes we forget our history. 

In 1870, 34% of Dakota Territory was foreign born. That wave continued, and by 1915, nearly 80 percent of North Dakotans were either immigrants or the children of immigrants.

Today, we are seeing similar events in North Dakota. North Dakota is full of economic opportunity, low cost of living, good education and a family-friendly culture. As a result of our good life, some of our counties are the most rapidly diversifying in America. Our Hispanic population has experienced the most rapid growth rates in the nation. 

But the rhetoric that we sometimes see in the current political campaign does not reflect what we see going on with our neighbors. Nor does it reflect our actual beliefs and values.

Last month, I joined with two hundred other evangelical Christian leaders in America to send a letter to both presidential campaigns urging them to take balanced immigration positions that align with our faith and consensus. I signed this letter because it reflects the history of North Dakota and her churches, our current economic opportunity, and the concerns of evangelicals I know in North Dakota.

Practically speaking, if one walks through our old church graveyards they would see German, Norwegian, Russian, Swedish and Ukrainian on tombstones. Those languages often were used in pastoral visits, Bible studies and public prayers until the 1970s.  Some of our grandparents only began speaking English when they began kindergarten. 

Our historic churches addressed the vulnerabilities of those early immigrants. Our churches preserved language and culture while also facilitating adaptation. They took extra measures to care for those who were struggling. They celebrated joyous transitions such as weddings and births. They grieved at losses. They provided social glue and gumption that saw immigrant children, businesses, farms and ranches thrive.

A treasure for our generation is that North Dakota church life now is remarkably like what our grandparents experienced. A growing number of churches and fellowships use African and Slavik languages as well as Spanish. Our churches help immigrants adapt to new opportunities.

Our immigrant colleagues do work that many times others will not do. 

After a few years of adaptation, we notice immigrant youth in our local newspapers for their academic, artistic and athletic success. Immigrant families are starting new businesses. New ethnic restaurants add to the flavor and enjoyment of our small towns. Some of our established English-speaking churches are now shepherded by immigrant pastors. These are our people.  

North Dakota evangelicals tend to be like most North Dakotans: both self-reliant and community-oriented. The distance between us means we do not always share in every conversation. Yet, we are remarkably aware and drop everything to help our neighbors. Because of these values I signed this letter and hope others will join this effort to build on common beliefs. I hope that our North Dakota voices will be heard in national conversations.

The three points of this letter I often hear echoed in North Dakota cafes, homes and church lobbies: evangelicals support policies that reflect the God-given dignity of every person, secure national borders, and protect the unity of the family.

First, we must tell the truth about our immigrant neighbors and describe them as being made in the image of God. Our immigrant neighbors are worthy of our respect for the benefits they bring to our community. They are models of faith, hard work and family loyalty.  

Second, we expect our neighbors to comply with the law to the best of their abilities. Just as fences in rural areas are part of life, so are national borders. We want our American borders to be secure and orderly. 

Third, the most heart-breaking conversations we have with our immigrant neighbors are when we discover how difficult some of America’s immigration policies are upon their families. So many of our immigrant neighbors have a family member who has fallen through the system. Often there are unnecessary separations. Often the time required to unite families is unreasonable. 

We ask our presidential candidates to refrain from partisan talking points and hurtful rhetoric and unite around the commonsense principles of this letter.

Dave Jenkins is the Church and Diaspora Relations Coordinator with Rural Diaspora Community. Most Sundays he preaches in local churches who don’t have a pastor. Through the week he helps new Americans acquire a taste for North Dakota. More online at https://www.ruraldiasporacommunity.org.