C015 (Migration with Dignity)
House of Bishops Message #44
The House of Bishops informs the House of Deputies that on Jun 24, 2024 it considered resolution C015 (Migration with Dignity). The house acted to:
Take No Further Action
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,
That the 81st General Convention, as people of faith who believe that all people are created in the image of God, advocate for Migration with Dignity, a set of immigration policies that assure equal and respectful treatment of all people, which follow directly from the teachings of Jesus and our baptismal promise to “respect the dignity of every human being,” while aligning with the world’s other great religions and principled humanism; and be it further
Resolved, That, acknowledging that grave and serious mistreatment of ethnic minorities, migrants, and refugees is currently on the rise in the midst of record migration across international borders, the 81st General Convention, consistent with resolutions of previous General Conventions of The Episcopal Church, declare itself to be in support of Migration with Dignity for all migrants, including refugees, asylum seekers, displaced persons, and those who cross borders in search of opportunity, including the following human rights within the Migration with Dignity framework:
A universal right of movement consistent with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), including freedom to leave and return to one’s country of origin, and freedom of movement within one’s country of origin or country of settlement (UDHR, Article 13).
The right to be secure: from sexual violence including rape and sexual exploitation, human trafficking, slavery, forced labor, and arbitrary and abusive detention.
The right of equality, to include: 1) equal treatment with no discrimination under the law based on color, gender, language, religion, political affiliation, national origin, or disability; and 2) equal opportunity for upward mobility.
Rights to a basic quality of life, including employment rights, housing rights, and food rights.
The right to access services such as health care, education, and legal representation.
Civil and political rights guaranteeing the right to identity, to use of one’s language, and to freedom of speech and religion;
And be it further
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention call upon all Episcopalians, congregations, and dioceses to advocate that local, state, national, and international governing bodies promote Migration with Dignity by enforcing existing laws and policies that uphold these principles on behalf of refugees, migrants, asylum seekers, and displaced persons, and by enacting new laws and policies guaranteeing their welcome, protection, and integration into our common human journey.