A tribute to Joaquin Luna by Senator Richard Durbin

... on the  floor of the United States Senate. Thanks to the Senator for these kind and supportive words.




If you need help, you can get help. Call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline:  1-800/273-TALK (8255). Ask your friends, your school counsellor, your pastor. There is help.

Someday, we will do better as a country on the issue of immigration. Many have gone before you and there is hope.  My thoughts  and prayers are with Joaquin's family.

We append the following disclaimer on all posts: “Please note that the views expressed by guest bloggers represent their own personal views, and not necessarily those of everyone associated with Loving the Stranger or any institutions with which the blogger may be affiliated.”

The Justice Conference this February 24+25, 2012 in Portland

An Invitation To Justice from The Justice Conference on Vimeo.

Join renowned Hebrew Testament scholar, Dr. Walter Brueggemann, at The Justice Conference this February 24+25, 2012 in Portland, Oregon. thejusticeconference.com 

We append the following disclaimer on all posts: “Please note that the views expressed by guest bloggers represent their own personal views, and not necessarily those of everyone associated with Loving the Stranger or any institutions with which the blogger may be affiliated.”

Tragic Suicide of “Dreamer” Joaquin Luna

We have all suffered a tragic loss this week in the untimely passing of  “Dreamer”  Joaquin Luna.   Joaquin was an 18-year old senior at Juarez Lincoln High School in Mission, Texas.  He had aspirations of going to college and becoming an engineer so that he could improve his family’s life.  Because of the failure of the Dream Act to pass in Congress almost one year ago, Joaquin had lost hope.  On Friday, November 25 around 9 p.m., he dressed up in a suit and tie, kissed his family, and shot himself in the restroom with a small handgun.   Joaquin left suicide letters indicating that he was troubled by his immigration status.  In the words of his mother, Santa Lerma Mendoza, “He was saying he was going to do this because he wasn’t going to be able to continue with his college.” 

May we all pause to reflect upon this terrible tragedy and ask God for ways that we can support the Luna-Mendoza family and dignify the memory of Joaquin Luna. 

Robert Chao Romero

Assistant Professor

UCLA Chavez Department of Chicana/o Studies and Asian American Studies

 






We append the following disclaimer on all posts: “Please note that the views expressed by guest bloggers represent their own personal views, and not necessarily those of everyone associated with Loving the Stranger or any institutions with which the blogger may be affiliated.”


We append the following disclaimer on all posts: “Please note that the views expressed by guest bloggers represent their own personal views, and not necessarily those of everyone associated with Loving the Stranger or any institutions with which the blogger may be affiliated.”

If Justice and Injustice were in the flesh, what would they say to us? Which would commend, which would rebuke—and whose voice would be most familiar?


The Voice of Justice from The Justice Conference on Vimeo.


This short film was shown on the first night of The Justice Conference 2011.
The Voice of Justice from The Justice Conference on Vimeo.

The next Justice Conference is a 2-day conference on February 24+25, 2012 in Portland, Oregon sponsored by World Relief and Kilns College.

We append the following disclaimer on all posts: “Please note that the views expressed by guest bloggers represent their own personal views, and not necessarily those of everyone associated with Loving the Stranger or any institutions with which the blogger may be affiliated.”

More about Shattering Families

From Colorlines, the national magazine on race and politics: "As parents are detained and deported, an increasing number of kids are stuck in the foster care system, with little hope of reuniting with their mothers and fathers. It's an injustice that hurts everyone."



See Juan Martinez on this topic here.

We append the following disclaimer on all posts: “Please note that the views expressed by guest bloggers represent their own personal views, and not necessarily those of everyone associated with Loving the Stranger or any institutions with which the blogger may be affiliated.”

A society that does not believe in the family

On November 3, 2011 a report on the status of U.S.-born children whose parents have been detained or deported by immigration agents was released (Shattered Families). According to this study, there are more than 5,000 American children who are in foster care and are unable to be reunited with their detained or deported parents. Of course, this figure does not include children who have been left in the custody of relatives due to deportations and detentions. This situation has become increasingly more problematic, because the U.S. Government has increased the number of deportations and detentions to record-breaking levels.

These children are U.S. citizens, so they cannot be deported. However, the system is practically turning them into orphans. The anti-immigrant argument of some is that these children are “anchor babies”, an attempt by their parents to guarantee that they can permanently stay in the country. However, the “anchors” are clearly not working—the children’s undocumented parents are unable to stay. What this situation is doing is leaving these children adrift. According to congressman Jose Serrano, New York representative, if this situation is not corrected, these children may have to be adopted by other families. 

The immigration system also has a lot of undocumented minors detained. These children crossed the border without their parents, often with the goal of being reunited with their parents who are living in this country. These children are being detained, without the possibility of meeting up with their parents. Some of them are in a legal state of limbo, as their undocumented parents are afraid of trying to come claim them.

This situation is particularly painful for me personally, because many of the people who are against fair and comprehensive immigration reform claim to be in favor of  “family values.” However, they don’t want exceptions to exist to the deportation policy that would take into consideration the situation of children born here in the United States. It’s even more sad that many of these people are Christians who get angry when the political and social policies of this country attack the family. But it’s clear that their perspective only applies to certain families…not to poor or immigrant families.

It’s time to call our sisters and brothers who support policies that separate families and leaves children at the mercy of government systems to repentance. If we really are pro-family, it’s time for us to show this at all times, in all circumstances. It’s time for us to look for a fair solution to the issue of undocumented people and their children who have been born or raised in this country. If we are not prepared to work for them, then it’s time for us to recognize that we are not pro-family, to recognize that our politics are more important to us than our family values. 

Dr. Juan Martinez  is associate provost for diversity and international programs and associate professor of Hispanic studies and pastoral leadership at Fuller Seminary. Since coming to Fuller in 2001, Dr. Martínez has also served as director of the Center for the Study of Hispanic Church and Community. Among other topics, his current research focuses on the history of Latino Protestantism, Latino Protestant identity, ministry in Latino Protestant churches, and Latino and Latin American Anabaptists.  

This article was originally posted at Caminando con el Pueblo, Protestant Digital and is cross posted at Sojourners' God's Politics Blog. Translation by Loving the Stranger blogger David Schmidt. 

We append the following disclaimer on all posts: “Please note that the views expressed by guest bloggers represent their own personal views, and not necessarily those of everyone associated with Loving the Stranger or any institutions with which the blogger may be affiliated.”

Una sociadad que no cree en la familia

El día 3 de noviembre salió un reporte sobre el estado de niños nacidos en los Estados Unidos cuyos padres han sido detenidos o deportados por los agentes de migración (Shattered Families). Según este estudio hay más de 5000 niños estadounidenses en cuidado temporal sin poder unirse con sus padres detenidos o deportados. Por supuesto que este número no un incluye a los niños han quedado bajo la tutela de familiares por causa de las deportaciones y detenciones. Esta situación se ha hecho cada vez más problemática porque el gobierno estadounidense ha incrementado la deportación y detención, rompiendo récords de deportaciones.

Estos niños son ciudadanos estadounidenses, así que no pueden ser deportados. Pero el sistema los está haciendo prácticamente huérfanos. El argumento anti-inmigrante de algunas personas es que estos niños son “niños ancla”, un intento de parte de los padres de garantizar su permanencia en el país. Pero claramente la situación no le está sirviendo de “ancla” a los padres indocumentados. Lo que sí está haciendo es que está dejando a los niños a la deriva. Según el congresista José Serrano, representante de Nueva York, si esta situación no se corrige es posible que estos niños tengan que ser adoptados por otras familias.

El sistema de migración también tiene detenidos a muchos menores de edad indocumentados. Estos niños cruzaron la frontera sin sus padres, muchas veces con la intención de reunificarse con sus padres que están en este país. Los niños están detenidos sin posibilidad de unirse con sus padres. Algunos están en un limbo legal porque sus padres indocumentados no se atreven a tratar de reclamarlos.

Personalmente esta situación es particularmente dolorosa porque muchos de los están en contra de una reforma migratoria justa e integral se declaran “pro-familia”. Sin embargo, no quieren que existan excepciones a la política de deportaciones que tomen en cuenta la realidad de los niños nacidos en los Estados Unidos. Más triste aun es que muchas de esas personas son cristianas y se enojan cuando las posturas políticas y sociales del país atacan a la familia. Pero es claro que su perspectiva sólo se aplica a ciertas familias, no a las familias pobres e inmigrantes.

Es tiempo de llamar al arrepentimiento a mis hermanas y hermanos que apoyan una política que separa a familias y que deja a niños a la merced de sistemas gubernamentales. Sí en verdad somos pro-familia es tiempo que lo mostremos en toda situación. Es tiempo que busquemos una solución justa a la problemática de los indocumentados y de sus hijos nacidos o criados en este país. Si no estamos dispuestos a trabajar a su favor es tiempo de que reconozcamos que no somos pro-familia o que nuestra política vale más que nuestros valores familiares.

Dr. Juan Martinez  is associate provost for diversity and international programs and associate professor of Hispanic studies and pastoral leadership at Fuller Seminary. Since coming to Fuller in 2001, Dr. Martínez has also served as director of the Center for the Study of Hispanic Church and Community. Among other topics, his current research focuses on the history of Latino Protestantism, Latino Protestant identity, ministry in Latino Protestant churches, and Latino and Latin American Anabaptists.  

This article was originally posted at Caminando con el Pueblo, Protestant Digital and is cross posted at Sojourners' God's Politics Blog and Undocumented.tv.

We append the following disclaimer on all posts: “Please note that the views expressed by guest bloggers represent their own personal views, and not necessarily those of everyone associated with Loving the Stranger or any institutions with which the blogger may be affiliated.”