Our Immigration & Justice Response

Our churches and pastoral leaders serve individuals with a range of immigration statuses, including U.S. citizens, green card holders, visa holders, those who have overstayed visas, and those who entered without authorization. The Pacific Northwest of The United Methodist Church does not base membership or attendance on immigration status—everyone is welcome to worship with us.

This resource page provides general guidance on responding to U.S. immigration enforcement on United Methodist properties, including churches, schools, and other spaces. While it aims to protect our ministry, it does not obstruct or interfere with law enforcement. It focuses on the Church as an entity and is not intended as legal advice for individuals.

Immigration Response Resources

The following documents, videos and messages are offered hear to support individuals and churches to faithfully discern your call to action.

Know Your Rights – ILJN

Immigration enforcement changes in the U.S.

What does it mean to create a preparedness plan?

United Methodist Beliefs & Messages

WJ ‘Know Your Rights’ webinar

On March 10, the Western Jurisdiction hosted a webinar with resourcing provided by the Immigration Law & Justice Network. A recording of this training can be found on this page.

In addition to updated “Know Your Rights” documents found above, they also shared the following resources with attendees.

A guide on all of the forms needed for “family planning” from the Women’s Refugee Commission: Detained or Deported: What About My Children
FAQs on the new registry we talked about from the National Immigration Law Center
The slide deck that accompanied their presentation
Finally, they invited people to the IL&J website to sign up for their newsletter!

‘Solidarity with the Sojourner’ webinar

Multiple denominational leaders gathered for a webinar on February 10, 2025 to discuss the United Methodist response to immigrant justice. The webinar was offered with expertise from the Immigration Law & Justice Netword (formerly JFON).

Among the topics discussed were:

How and why the church is called to stand with immigrant communities
Challenges and opportunities with the current national legislative landscape
Biblical examples that reflect solidarity and how those examples can be modeled in the local church
How congregations can be in solidarity with immigrant-led congregations

A Call to Prayerful Actions

Here are six actions that church leaders can do now:

Take seriously our baptismal vows, scriptural teachings and Social Principles concerning those who are marginalized and vulnerable, especially those navigating immigration.
Be cognizant of potential consequences of your witness and the impact upon yourself, others, and especially those most vulnerable.
Obtain independent advice from an experienced immigration attorney and/or from a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to serving the immigrant community. The overarching guidance the Conference is providing is not intended to and does not substitute for advice received from qualified legal counsel and tailored to the church’s particular facts and circumstances.
Connect with organizations who specialize in service to immigrant affairs.
Develop a plan of action. Every church should develop a written plan for how it plans to engage in ministry to the immigrant community and to respond to ICE if it arrives at the church in pursuit of its enforcement objectives.
Train staff and key laity who will participate in implementing the ministry