‘Love, law and family unity’: Church of Jesus Christ issues immigration statement

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KSL.com)

— With debate over illegal immigration sizzling across the country, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Thursday issued a statement reiterating its principles on immigration, which include helping those in need, regardless of migratory status.

The church offered no definitive statement on illegal immigration, a priority issue for President Donald Trump, but the headline of the statement summed the principles up as centering on “love, law and family unity.” Guidelines on the issue were conveyed to local church leaders in the United States.

The church said the guidance “closely follows” prior church statements and identified three principles:

1. “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints obeys the law.
2. We follow Jesus Christ by loving our neighbors. The Savior taught that the meaning of ‘neighbor’ includes all of God’s children.
3. We seek to provide basic food and clothing, as our capacity allows, to those in need, regardless of their immigration status. We are especially concerned about keeping families together.”

The church statement said its Office of General Counsel has crafted guidelines “to help local leaders comply with federal laws that criminalize harboring, transporting or encouraging undocumented immigrants to remain in the United States. OGC also carefully tracks legal developments to ensure local outreach and area-initiated humanitarian activities are appropriate,” the statement reads.

A letter from the church’s First Presidency was sent Thursday addressed to the church’s general authorities, area seventies and stake presidents serving throughout the United States. It reads:

“We are concerned about the complex challenges and hardships now faced by members who are undocumented immigrants living in the United States. In the current circumstances, many local church leaders have questions about how to legally assist undocumented immigrants in a manner that is both compassionate and consistent with the immigration laws of the United States.

“Until we learn of changes in the law, church officers should continue to follow the attached guidelines from the Office of General Counsel regarding such assistance. Area presidencies and area seventies should help stake presidents become aware of and adhere to these policies,” the letter says.

The guidelines to help local congregation leaders include:

• “Local leaders may use fast-offering funds to provide temporary assistance for essential needs like food, clothing and medical care, regardless of immigration status.
• If local leaders have reason to believe someone is undocumented and not authorized to work, they should avoid potential conflicts with federal law by avoiding or limiting housing assistance, not transporting the person outside the local community, and not referring the person for employment.
• Leaders should not provide legal advice, testify in legal proceedings, or sponsor immigration efforts.
• Leaders may refer families to community resources that address their immigration issues or help prepare them for possible separation in cases where family members may be deported.
• Church buildings and resources should not be used to help shield individuals from law enforcement.”

Since taking office on Jan. 20, Trump has launched a multi-pronged effort focused, his administration says, on locating immigrants here illegally with criminal records and deporting them. Many Utah political leaders have expressed support for the crackdown, arguing in part that immigrants here illegally are a drain on public resources and a public safety threat. Immigrant advocates say the effort has prompted alarm among many in the immigrant community and have defended immigrants as hardworking and a key component of the U.S. economy.

READ THE ENTIRE CHURCH STATEMENT HERE

During Trump’s first term in office, The Church of Jesus Christ issued a statement expressing concern over the separation of families at the U.S.-Mexico border as Trump pursued deportation of those here illegally. What happens to families as Trump begins his new term with a focus on deporting those here illegally has been a focus of much debate and speculation.

“The forced separation of children from their parents now occurring at the U.S.-Mexico border is harmful to families, especially to young children. We are deeply troubled by the aggressive and insensitive treatment of these families,” reads the June 18, 2018, church statement.

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