At Bread for the World, we advocate for policies that address hunger by tackling its root causes. Through our Nourish Our Future campaign, we are working to ensure that children and families, regardless of immigration status, have access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.

Persuading decision-makers to improve policies that pose barriers to ending hunger is an essential part of Bread’s work. One such policy is the exclusion of many immigrants from life-sustaining federal assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It is not an oversight, but a structural injustice that puts families, especially women and children, in no-win situations.

As someone who has worked closely with immigrant families, I have seen the real-life consequences of this exclusion. And as advocates, we must demand better policies and better results.

One mother I worked with in Wisconsin is etched in my memory. She was a lawfully present immigrant raising three U.S. citizen children, fleeing domestic violence, and trying to rebuild a life of safety. Despite her status and urgent needs, and although her children were eligible, she struggled to access SNAP. She had no income. Shelters were full. Her children often went without full meals. And unlike residents of California or Minnesota, she lived in one of the many states that does not provide state-funded nutrition assistance to immigrants excluded from federal aid. This mother’s story is not an isolated tragedy: it is the direct result of discriminatory policy.

In 1996, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) imposed strict eligibility limits on immigrants seeking federal assistance such as SNAP. Although some groups—such as refugees and asylum seekers—are exempt, many immigrants, especially lawfully present adults, must wait five years before becoming eligible for assistance. Yet hunger does not wait. There are other non-citizen populations that remain permanently excluded, no matter how long people have lived here.

Even when certain immigrants qualify for public benefits based on their legal status, they often face another obstacle: “sponsor deeming.” Under PRWORA, an immigrant’s sponsor’s income is counted as part of their own, regardless of whether the sponsor provides support. This frequently disqualifies families from SNAP even when they are struggling to survive. Survivors of domestic violence, like the woman I worked with, may be exempt from sponsor deeming, but very few immigrants know this, and even fewer caseworkers are trained to identify this exemption. Fear and misinformation lead many to not even apply.

At Bread for the World, we believe every person deserves access to food, dignity, and opportunity—and Bread members act on these beliefs. The woman in Wisconsin who feared both her abuser and the system meant to protect her is not alone. She is one of many. Our advocacy must center her, her children, and others in such situations.

It will be impossible to end hunger in the U.S. if we continue to exclude immigrant communities from the table. Bread is uniquely positioned to lead on this issue. We must use our voice to ensure that no family, regardless of status, is left behind in the fight for nutrition justice.

In July, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued public notices in the Federal Register that interpret the definition of “federal public benefit” as articulated in PRWORA. These agency actions may further harm immigrant communities by restricting access to federally funded programs that have not historically screened people for immigration status. While little information has been released on implementation, the language in the notices would reinforce a state’s ability to screen for eligibility based on immigration status across certain federally funded programs, including WIC and Head Start.

To make nutrition justice real for immigrant families, we must reject policies that dehumanize and exclude people. Instead, we must respond by pressing for reforms that will make food assistance available to everyone who needs it. The story of the mother in Wisconsin is not an exception; it is emblematic of how federal policies, like PRWORA, and administrative barriers, like sponsor deeming, bar immigrant families from food resources they sometimes desperately need. The recent HHS and USDA notices, rather than repairing this harm, could compound it by reinforcing exclusion and deterring state-level progress.

No child should have to sit in a classroom with an empty stomach, unable to focus because their family was denied help. Hunger robs children of the energy to learn, grow, and thrive. It is a barrier to education and opportunity. When we exclude immigrant families from nutrition assistance, we are failing our children and jeopardizing our collective future.

Olga Gatesi is a Policy and Research Institute intern with Bread for the World.

The post Making Food Justice Real for Immigrant Families: A Call to Action appeared first on Bread for the World.

Bread for the World is deeply disappointed by the recent federal court ruling that could dismantle the current DACA program and block new applicants from seeking work and education opportunities, as well as protection from deportation under the program. DACA, which provides two-year work permits, education opportunities, and defers deportation for young immigrants who pay a fee and undergo an extensive government background check, has protected more than 800,000 young immigrants from deportation since the program’s inception in 2012. Persons receiving protection under DACA, many of whom come from families experiencing hunger and poverty, have contributed significantly to U.S. society, including over 200,000 DACA recipients who served on the frontlines to protect the health and safety of residents across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

While we commend the Biden-Harris Administration’s promise to appeal the federal court’s decision, we urge this Administration and Congress to work together to pass provisions under the federal budget reconciliation process or other appropriate means to provide immigrant youth, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, farmworkers, and essential workers with permanent protection. 

“The Bible reminds us, ‘Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in our power to do it.’ (Proverbs 3:27),” said Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World. “It is incumbent upon this Administration and Congress to enable DACA recipients and DACA eligible persons to achieve their goals of advancing along the path toward citizenship, not unduly put their lives in limbo or stand in their way.”  

The post Bread Statement on Federal Court Ruling Blocking New DACA Applications appeared first on Bread for the World.

This devotional celebrates the hope, faith, and resilience of Latino communities, while also lamenting the evil of inequitable policies that, to this day, continue to oppress our people leading to hunger and poverty in the United States and south of the U.S.-Mexico border—even further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This devotional, written by and for Christian Latinos/as, seeks to inspire and empower individuals and churches to address the structural causes and negative consequences of hunger and poverty through faith and advocacy.

As we confront an uncertain future, our faith grounds us in God’s love for all people, ourselves, our family, and our community. This bilingual Latino devotional invites you to reflect biblically on the interconnectedness of hunger, malnutrition, and climate change, issues that negatively impact Latino communities in the United States and drive migration abroad.

Our devotional writers challenge us to feel the Spirit of God within us and to hear God’s urgent call to demand justice so all can put food on the table.

With the power and direction of the Holy Spirit, we know we can end hunger and poverty—systemic issues that are central to the Bible and the teachings of Jesus. We are committed to building a movement grounded in spiritual power so that we might be guided to the other side of this health crisis stronger and ready to rebuild our society in line with God’s vision of thriving and flourishing for all people.

To that end, we invite you to use these five devotional entries with your community of faith to reflect, pray, and act. Rooted in Christ, we can actively work against poverty by advocating for public policies that foster racial equity, shared prosperity, and opportunity for all.

Thank you for all you are doing to end hunger and poverty in our time.

Advocacy

Rev. Carlos L. Malavé, executive director
Christian Churches Together in the USA

Christians are bearers of good news and bad news. Our church’s theological tradition tends to sway us into one or the other. Some traditions overemphasize the proclamation of the “new heaven and new earth.” As if that were all of what God is concerned about. Others forget or ignore the promises of the “new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.” Since the fall of our original parents (according to) Genesis, God began a process of renewing humanity.

The first coming of Jesus inaugurated the beginning of the end of that process. Notice that this transformation or renewal is an ongoing process. The Spirit of God is actively using the church (and even those who do not identify with the church) to influence human institutions and demand justice due to all of God’s children.

The faith we have received from Jesus and the apostles reveals the principles of God’s reign and his will for humanity. We are a megaphone for God: “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house” (Matthew 5:15). Those who know the heart of God cannot be satisfied with preaching about a future perfect life while people today are hungry, homeless, abused, enslaved, rejected, and killed.

We have been empowered and sent to the world to change the world so that all people can experience “fullness of life.” “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18). We are the voice, the arms, and the feet of Christ in the world.

Demanding that our elected officials work for a world that provides the same care for all, equal opportunities and rights, is our responsibility. Advocacy is one powerful tool to proclaim the good news that God is setting the world aright.

Reflection: Do you fear the consequences of speaking up and engaging in advocacy to hold our elected officials accountable on issues related to hunger and poverty?

View full devotional entry

U.S. Hunger

Rev. Jeanette Salguero, senior vice president
National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC)

As a pastor, I hear all about the sins that beset people like pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, and gluttony. Interestingly, I have never heard anyone confess the sin of partiality.

James 2 talks about this often unknown, forgotten, ignored, or unseen sin. It is the type of partiality that believes that one group is superior or has more value than the other. It is a sinful distinction that denies the image of God in others. Partiality can seep into our lives in subtle ways and manifests itself in the choices we make, who we talk to, pay attention to, or care for.

Partiality exists when people struggling with hunger and malnutrition are ignored. Partiality reigns when people living in poverty are discounted and shunned. Sadly, partiality is seen all over the United States when nearly 37 percent of Latino households with children struggle to put food on the table. Thankfully, James provided the antidote to resisting partiality by reiterating the words of Jesus that we must love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

The church cannot allow itself to be plagued with the same vices as those in James’ day who let their selfish gains and desires outweigh love. When we love people as ourselves, we want for them what we want for ourselves. When we love our neighbor, we desire their flourishing and prosperity.

May we heed James’ words and “show no partiality as we hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” (James 2:1).

Reflection: Have we unintentionally said to our brothers and sisters in need, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things they need for the body?

View full devotional entry

global hunger

Brenda Noriega, mission educator
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers

In Proverbs, we find an exhortation to see, hear, and attend to the cries of those in need: “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor” (Proverbs 22:9). But, we are also told to attend to their needs quickly: “Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back tomorrow, and I’ll give it to you’—when you already have it with you” (Proverbs 3:28).

In Matthew 14:15-21, Jesus cared for the basic needs of those who followed him as much as he cared for their spiritual needs. The disciples came to Jesus to ask him to let people leave to find something to eat, but Jesus’ surprising response was to “give them something to eat.” He invited his disciples to see the resources that were among them. It is from these resources, five loaves and two fish, that Jesus performed a miracle.

In some regions of Latin America, income inequities are quite significant. Some people do not even have a loaf of bread, while others have abundant food and resources.

The first 1,000 days—from a woman’s pregnancy to her child’s second birthday—are critical for a child’s development. However, too many children in Latin America die before reaching that milestone because they lack a nutritious diet. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating hunger and malnutrition in the region. As disciples, we are called to attend to the cry of people in need. Perhaps our five loaves and two fish are the answer to these children’s prayers.

Reflection: When was the last time you did not know when your next meal would be?

View full devotional entry

migration

Rev. Lori Tapia, national pastor for Hispanic Ministries
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

In Matthew 7:24-27, we find Jesus utilizing a comparison of where one builds a house to teach the difference between wisdom and foolishness. Jesus speaks of the wise as those who build their house on rock, while the foolish build upon sand. But this scripture also speaks to the everyday realities of those who find themselves living in a house built upon sand due to no fault of their own and who strive to build a house on rock. One could reflect upon this scripture when thinking of those people who are forced to flee their homeland due to unstable living conditions.

At the root of migration are hunger and extreme poverty, amplified by violence and corruption. For individuals and families who have migrated to the United States, the idea of building a house on rock is much deeper than owning a physical building. Rather, it is about building a home, a safe space, that provides the ost stability and well-being.

It may look different from time to time, and may be shared with other families and friends during different seasons. It looks like a one bedroom apartment with two families working to make ends meet; it looks like the living room of a relative; it looks like the long road between Guatemala and the United States; it may even look like the hot concrete under a tarp at the Mexico-United States border.

The rock foundation is demonstrated in the resilience of parents and individuals who are willing to face the dangers of migration and the risk of rejection by a government blinded by political ideologies. It is demonstrated in their willingness to submit to less-than-humane working conditions and to accept unlivable wages.

Migration is a better option than staying to die in a country torn by war and poverty. But, the conditions that many migrants face are wrong and unjust. The foolishness in this reality represents those who perpetuate the sand-shifting foundation—the broken immigration system and those who exploit it, and the limited and unequal access to resources. There is enough for all: this is the solid rock foundation that brings hope to those who risk their very lives for just one piece. Here, true wisdom lives and builds.

Reflection: Where do you see the sand shifting under those who live in the margins due to their undocumented status?

View full devotional entry

climate change

Rev. Dr. Neddy Astudillo, Latin America director and Florida organizer
GreenFaith

From the early scripture passages (Genesis 2:15) to the last (Revelation 11:18), we hear a call and warning to care for God’s creation (Psalm 24:1). When we disrespect this call, the harmonious order under which God created life is threatened, and all creatures suffer the consequences (Jeremiah 14:2-7).

Although the story of Joseph (Genesis 37, 40-41), and the dreams of the Pharaoh of Egypt does not speak of a climate crisis like the one we are facing today, it certainly describes the reality of a region that will face major climate shifts. After seven years of hospitable climate that generates an abundance of food, there will be seven years of climate conditions that will create famine—unless people organize to mitigate its impact.

Like Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, climate scientists today have interpreted climate data and warn us about coming fluctuations in temperatures, stronger storms, longer droughts, and floods. These are already affecting the planet’s biodiversity and the livelihoods of the most vulnerable human communities.

In Joseph’s story, people are receptive to the unprecedented revelation, and they organize themselves without delay to lessen the impact on everyone—not just the rulers. The passage does not explain to us why these changes in the environment will occur. Facing a situation that the God of the Hebrews cannot avoid, Joseph inspires his people to prepare the way so they—collectively—do not suffer unnecessarily.

The time of famine arrives as announced, but the well-being of all is preserved, thanks to a faithful God, and to the community effort of rulers, workers, religious leaders, peasants, and grain storekeepers. Each one of them, inspired by a common good that includes other people, does their part to avoid a major crisis.

When justice reigns on earth, God’s kindness is latent, even in the midst of crisis.

Reflection: What steps can you take to prepare and organize to change federal policy to better care for God’s creation?

View full devotional entry

Additional Resources

Finding Hope, Ending Hunger on Both Sides of the Border: A Bilingual Devotional

Blog: Hispanic Heritage Month invites solidarity and hope

Fact Sheet: Global Hunger in the Time of COVID-19

U.S. Hunger and Poverty State Fact Sheets

Ending U.S. Hunger by Focusing on Communities Most Affected

The post Finding Hope, Ending Hunger on Both Sides of the Border: A Bilingual Latino Devotional appeared first on Bread for the World.

“Estamos profundamente decepcionados al saber que la administración Trump está nuevamente tomando pasos para desmantelar el programa de DACA. El memorándum publicado por el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) el 28 de julio finalizaría nuevas solicitudes de DACA, rechazaría nuevas solicitudes de libertad condicional por adelantado, excepto en circunstancias excepcionales, y limitaría las renovaciones de DACA a un año en lugar de dos. En lugar de dar la bienvenida a las personas que han cumplido la ley y contribuido significativamente en la sociedad estadounidense, el memorándum del DHS hará la vida más difícil para los beneficiarios de DACA y negará nuevas solicitudes por completo.

“Los beneficiarios de DACA son jóvenes indocumentados que fueron traídos a Estados Unidos cuando eran niños. Todos en el programa pasaron una extensa verificación de antecedentes criminales, pagaron una tarifa y son estudiantes, sirven en el ejército o tienen un trabajo. DACA ha brindado protección temporal contra la deportación y la oportunidad de trabajar y buscar educación para casi 800,000 personas que llegaron a Estados Unidos cuando eran niños. Actualmente, más de 200,000 beneficiarios de DACA están la primera línea de defensa enfrentando el COVID-19 y trabajando para proteger la salud y la seguridad de los estadounidenses durante la pandemia.

“La Biblia nos recuerda en Proverbios 3:27 ‘No te niegues a hacer el bien a quien es debido, cuando tuvieres poder para hacerlo’. Corresponde a esta Administración permitir que los beneficiarios de DACA y las personas elegibles para DACA logren sus objetivos de avanzar en el camino hacia la ciudadanía, y no interponerse en su camino.”

“Ahora es el momento de estar junto a las poblaciones inmigrantes vulnerables mientras hacemos un llamado a políticas compasivas y justas. Los beneficiarios de DACA continúan invirtiendo profundamente en nuestras comunidades, vecindarios, ciudades y naciones, y voluntariamente sirven en la primera línea de defensa en estos tiempos de crisis. Jesús reservó fuertes palabras de precaución para cualquiera que causara un obstáculo para los niños. Evitar que las personas que fueron traídas a esta nación como niños, sin decisión propia, trabajen, asistan a la escuela y contribuyan a nuestra sociedad no solo es miope, sino también injusto. Debemos cumplir el llamado de Dios de amar a nuestro prójimo, crear un ambiente en el que todos los niños y jovenes puedan prosperar y garantizar la protección de los más vulnerables “. –Rdo. Eugene Cho, presidente y CEO de Pan para el Mundo.

“Esta decisión del Secretario interino de Seguridad Nacional, Chad F. Wolf, de rescindir algunas de las disposiciones de DACA, es un intento renovado de ataque frontal contra nuestros jóvenes hermanos y hermanas latinos. Hacemos un llamado a las personas de fe con un claro sentido de la justicia para expresar su oposición a estas acciones “. –Rdo. Carlos L. Malavé, presidente de Iglesias Cristianas Unidas (CCT) y miembro de la Junta Directiva de Pan para el Mundo.

Este es otro intento de DHS para reducir el alcance de DACA, lo que limita aún más su acceso al empleo y las protecciones contra la deportación. Los beneficiarios de DACA ahora pasarán la mayor parte del año en el proceso de renovar su estado legal y el costo será como un impuesto adicional. Esto contradice la enseñanza bíblica de que damos la bienvenida a nuestros vecinos. La mayoría de los beneficiarios de DACA nunca han conocido ningún otro hogar que Estados Unidos y tienen un vínculo débil, en el mejor de los casos, con su país de nacimiento. Como hombres y mujeres de fe, debemos apoyar a los beneficiarios de DACA mientras continúan viviendo bajo la carga de mantener su estatus migratorio en regla. Elket Rodríguez, especialista en defensoría y misiones de inmigrantes y refugiados de Compañerismo Bautista Cooperativo (CBF).

“La Coalición Evangélica Nacional Latina lamenta la decisión de DHS de limitar las nuevas solicitudes de DACA. Nuestra nación es más fuerte cuando agradecemos las contribuciones de los beneficiarios de DACA. Es hora de que el Congreso apruebe la reforma migratoria y las leyes que protejan permanentemente a los DREAMers”. –Rdo. Gabriel Salguero, presidente, Coalición Evangélica Nacional Latina.

El Congreso ahora debe tomar medidas para aprobar una legislación que brinde un estatus legal inmediato a todos los beneficiarios de DACA y personas elegibles para obtener DACA, incluyendo un camino hacia la residencia permanente y la ciudadanía. El Senado debe votar y aprobar H.R. 6, la Ley de Promesa y Sueño Americano de 2019.

The post Declaración conjunta sobre el rechazo de DHS a solicitudes de DACA appeared first on Bread for the World.

“We are deeply disappointed to learn the Trump administration is once again working to dismantle the DACA program. The memo, released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on July 28th, would end new applications for DACA, reject new advance parole requests except in exceptional circumstances, and limit DACA renewals to one year instead of two. Rather than welcoming people that have played by the rules and contributed to U.S. society, the DHS memo will make life harder for DACA holders and deny new applications altogether.

“DACA recipients are undocumented young people who were brought to the U.S. as children. Everyone in the program has passed an extensive background check, paid a fee, and is either a student, serves in the military, or has a job. DACA has provided temporary protection from deportation and the ability to work and pursue education to almost 800,000 people who came to the U.S. as children. Over 200,000 DACA recipients are currently serving on the frontlines of the pandemic, working to protect the health and safety of Americans across the U.S. as we confront COVID-19.

“The Bible reminds us “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in our power to do it.” Proverbs 3:27. It is incumbent upon this administration to enable DACA recipients and DACA eligible people to achieve their goals of advancing along the path toward citizenship, not stand in their way.” 

“Now is the time to stand alongside vulnerable immigrant populations as we call for compassionate and welcoming policies. DACA recipients remain deeply invested in our communities, neighborhoods, cities, and nation, and willingly serve on the front lines in our time of crisis. Jesus reserved strong words of caution for anyone who caused a stumbling block for children.  Preventing individuals who were brought to this nation as children, through no decision of their own, from working, attending school, and contributing to our society is not only short-sighted, but also unjust. We must fulfill God’s call to love our neighbors, create an environment in which all children may thrive, and ensure the protection of those who are most vulnerable,” said Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World.

“This decision by Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf to rescind some of the provisions of DACA are a renewed attempt in the relentless attack against our young Latino brothers and sisters. We make an appeal to people of faith with a clear sense of justice to express their opposition to these actions,” said Bread for the World board member Rev. Carlos L. Malavé.

“This is yet another attempt by DHS to curtail DACA recipients, further limiting their access to employment and protections from deportation. DACA recipients will now spend most of the year in the process of renewing their status and the cost will be like an added tax. This contradicts the biblical teaching that we welcome our neighbors. Most DACA recipients have never known any other home that the U.S. and have a tenuous link at best with their country of birth. As men and women of faith we should stand with DACA recipients as they continue to live under the burden of maintaining their status,” said Elket Rodriguez, immigrant and refugee advocacy and missions specialist for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

“The National Latino Evangelical Coalition laments the decision by DHS to limit new DACA applications. Our nation is stronger when we welcome the contributions of DACA recipients. It’s time for Congress to pass immigration reform and laws that protects DREAMers,” said Rev. Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition.

Congress must now take action to pass legislation that provides immediate legal status to all DACA holders and DACA eligible persons, including a path toward permanent residency and citizenship. The Senate should vote on and pass H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019.

The post Joint Statement on DHS’ Rejection of DACA Requests appeared first on Bread for the World.

“La decisión de la Corte Suprema de hoy impide la remoción de los cientos de miles de beneficiarios de DACA que están haciendo contribuciones positivas en nuestro país. Más de 200,000 beneficiarios de DACA son trabajadores en la primera línea de defensa y ponen en riesgo su salud todos los días para mantener a Estados Unidos en marcha durante esta pandemia sin precedentes. Son doctores, enfermeras, trabajadores de fábricas y de producción de alimentos, y otros trabajadores esenciales en los que los estadounidenses continúan confiando”.

“El trabajo de Pan para el Mundo en la reforma migratoria se basa en nuestra fe cristiana, y en el mandamiento de Dios de amar y cuidar a nuestros vecinos. Muchos de los jóvenes que se benefician con el programa DACA son de hogares que a menudo enfrentan hambre y pobreza. Han trabajado duro y han seguido las reglas para construir una vida mejor para ellos y sus familias”.

“Instamos a la administración a que extienda automáticamente los permisos de DACA que vencen en 2020 y solicite al Congreso que apruebe una legislación que otorgue un estatus legal permanente a los beneficiarios de DACA y los coloque en el camino hacia la ciudadanía”.

The post Pan para el Mundo celebra la decisión DACA de la Corte Suprema appeared first on Bread for the World.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision prevents the removal of the hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients who are making positive contributions to our country. More than 200,000 DACA recipients are front-line workers and are putting their health on the line every day to keep the U.S. going during this unprecedented pandemic. They are doctors, nurses, factory and food production workers, and other essential workers who Americans continue to rely on.

“Bread’s work on immigration reform is rooted in our Christian faith – and God’s commandment to love and care for our neighbors. Many of the young people who enrolled in the DACA program are from households that often experience hunger and poverty. They have worked hard and played by the rules to build a better life for themselves and their families.

“We urge the administration to automatically extend DACA permits that expire in 2020 and ask Congress to pass legislation granting permanent legal status to DACA recipients and putting them on a path to citizenship.”

The post Bread for the World Celebrates Supreme Court’s DACA Decision appeared first on Bread for the World.

Conflict is a main driver of the recent increase in hunger around the world and of forced migration. Hunger also contributes to conflict.

With the effects of climate change, fragile institutions, poor governance, and further complications such as sectarianism, conflict is a major barrier to Bread for the World’s vision of a world without hunger.

The challenges we see today are not new to people of faith. Vulnerable communities are part of the sacred stories highlighted in scripture. Famine and vulnerability of women (Ruth 1-4), political instability (1 & 2 Kings), ethnic oppression (Exodus 1:8-16), and religious persecution (Acts 8) have affected people throughout the ages.

Our God upholds the just cause of the poor (Psalm 140:12). To end hunger around the world, we must advocate for U.S. government policies that put us on a path toward this goal and do not contribute to conditions that increase hunger.

This resource outlines guiding principles for policies that can address conflict, fragility, and hunger.

“Conflict is a main driver of hunger … hunger also contributes to conflict”

The post Conflict and Fragility Are Hunger Issues appeared first on Bread for the World.

Sin embargo, como grupo, los hispanos son más propensos que otras personas a vivir en la pobreza y a carecer de acceso regular y fiable a alimentos necesarios para la buena salud. Los hispanos también son más propensos a recibir sueldos por debajo del mínimo, y a trabajar y vivir en condiciones subestándar.

Las tasas elevadas de hambre y pobreza entre los hispanos son resultados directos de la discriminación de raza, género, y estado migratorio. Comparado con la tasa nacional de pobreza de 12.7 por ciento, el 19.4 por ciento de los latinos, 30 por ciento de familias encabezadas por una persona indocumentada, y un sorprendente 34.7 por ciento de familias latinas encabezadas por mujeres viven debajo de la línea de pobreza.

1 de cada 5 familias latinas tiene por lo menos un miembro padeciendo hambre en algún momento del año.

USDA Economic Research Service

The post El Hambre y la Pobreza en la Comunidad Hispana appeared first on Bread for the World.

“This rule will affect the health and well-being of millions of lawful residents in our country – including children. Nearly one quarter of kids in the United States have at least one immigrant parent, and 9 in 10 of these children who would be most impacted are U.S. citizens. Families will be forced to make the impossible choice of putting food on the table and staying together legally in the country.

“The rule is already having a ‘chilling effect’ on children and families and it hasn’t even gone into effect. Legal residents, including permanent residents, are foregoing SNAP, Medicaid, and programs not covered by the rule such as Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) because they fear they will be deported.

“The Bible is clear that God wants us to be generous and welcoming to all people, specifically immigrants (Matthew 25:40-45). We oppose the administration’s decision and urge them to immediately withdraw this rule.” 

The post Bread Statement on the Trump Administration’s Public Charge Rule appeared first on Bread for the World.

“We are encouraged by the bipartisan commitment to address the root causes of migration – including hunger and malnutrition,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “H.R. 2615 will ensure that aid continues to flow to a region that is dealing with some of the highest rates of hunger and malnutrition in the world.”

According to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Kevin K. McAleenan, hunger is a primary reason that many families from Central America flee their home countries. Nearly half of Guatemala’s children are chronically malnourished. In Guatemala’s Huehuetenango province, which sends more migrants to the U.S. than any other region, the malnutrition rates are near 70 percent.

U.S development and humanitarian programs have been making a difference. In some regions of Guatemala, these programs have contributed to a 15 percent decrease in poverty and a 12 percent decrease in stunting caused by malnutrition.

“U.S. assistance is improving nutrition and improving livelihoods,” Beckmann said. “It allows families who are trying to give their children a better future to choose to stay close to home and contribute to their communities, rather than fleeing to the United States. Efforts like this legislation are both the right thing to do and the smart thing to do.”

The post Central America Aid Bill Will Improve Livelihoods and Reduce Migration appeared first on Bread for the World.

 “Bread for the World urges the administration and Congress to work together to develop comprehensive immigration reform legislation. It should include efforts to reduce the hunger and violence that often drive immigration. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, hunger is a primary reason why many families from Central America are forced to flee their home countries. A pathway to citizenship for the “Dreamers” also needs to be part of immigration reform.

“Bread has developed six immigration reform principles, informed by our Christian faith, that can help to guide the development of reform legislation.”

The post Bread Statement on President Trump’s Immigration Plan appeared first on Bread for the World.

“We call on Congress and the Administration to immediately reopen the government and address the root causes of migration, which are causing families to flee their home countries and seek asylum at the southern border. The Trump Administration’s border policies threaten communities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border and waste taxpayer funds that could be invested in programs that help people experiencing hunger.

“The partial government shutdown is harming working families and putting at risk millions of Americans who rely on food assistance programs to feed their families. It also threatens the progress we are making with development assistance, including help for the countries from which most undocumented immigrants are fleeing.”

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Estas causas de migración son a menudo referidas como “factores que empujan a la emigración”, porque muchos migrantes de Centroamérica están siendo “forzados” hacia Estados Unidos por las condiciones en sus hogares, en lugar de “jalados” por las oportunidades. Los factores principales que empujan la emigración son el hambre, la violencia y la pobreza extrema.

La inmigración indocumentada se trata menos de Estados Unidos y más sobre el hambre, la pobreza extrema y el conflicto en tres países del Triángulo Norte de Centroamérica—Guatemala, El Salvador, y Honduras. La guerra y la pobreza extrema han creado situaciones similares en Siria, Nigeria, Yemen y Myanmar. La emigración forzada está en aumento alrededor del mundo.

The post ¿Por qué las familias están abandonando Centroamérica? appeared first on Bread for the World.

From the earliest days of U.S. history, our country has welcomed people who are escaping persecution and poverty. People who make the decision to leave home and come to the United States, in recent years as in the past, generally have few other options. Factors beyond their control have made their circumstances too hungry and violent for them to remain.

These causes of migration are often called “push factors,” because many migrants from Central America are primarily being “pushed” to the United States by conditions at home, rather than “pulled” here by opportunities. The main push factors are hunger, violence, and extreme poverty.

Undocumented immigration is less about the United States and more about hunger, extreme poverty, and conflict in the three countries of Central America’s Northern Triangle—Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. War and extreme poverty have created similar situations from Syria and Nigeria to Yemen and Myanmar. Forced migration is on the rise worldwide.

The post Fact sheet: Why are families leaving Central America? appeared first on Bread for the World.

“We toured the border not as Catholics or Protestants or Orthodox, but as Christians coming together in our faith to bear witness to the pain and suffering that stems from our country’s immigration policies,” said Rev. Carlos L. Malavé, executive director of CCT. “While much of what we have encountered on this trip is shocking, we have also been fortunate to learn about the good work people do every day on both sides of the border.”

During the two-day tour, participants viewed a detention center for migrant children, witnessed court hearings for migrants, and visited the physical border. The trip was planned before events surrounding the migrant caravan began to unfold in the media.  

CCT offers a space that is inclusive of the diversity of Christian families in the United States. It is made up of  38 Christian denominations and organizations representing the five families of the church in the U.S. – Evangelical/Pentecostal, Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and Historic Black Churches.

“Our unified witness here at the border shows that Christians of all backgrounds take to heart Jesus’ call for us to ‘love thy neighbor’ and ‘welcome the stranger,’” said Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith, senior associate for Pan-African and Orthodox Church engagement at Bread for the World and president of the Historic Black Family of CCT.

“We call on our nation’s leaders to pass humane immigration and asylum policies that lead with love and justice,” added Walker-Smith.  

Participants in the trip include: Revs. Malavé and Walker-Smith; María del Mar Muñoz -Visoso, Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, and David Corrales, program coordinator, Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers, United Conference of Catholic Bishops; Rev. Isaac and Funmi Adeyemi, Redeemed Christian Church of God; Bishop David Avila, International Pentecostal Holiness Church; Susan Hellums, First United Methodist Church; Fr. Michael Thorne Jarrett, Trinity on the Border, Anglican Church in North America; and, Rev. Fr. Antonio Perdomo, St. George the Great Martyr Orthodox Church.  

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“La Biblia deja en claro que Dios quiere que seamos generosos con todas las personas, específicamente con los inmigrantes. Mateo 25:35 nos dice: ‘porque tuve hambre y me diste de comer, tuve sed y me diste de beber, fui un forastero y me recibiste’. Sin embargo, esta propuesta castiga a los inmigrantes legales al negarles la residencia permanente si acceden a los servicios de la red de seguridad debido a dificultades financieras temporales. Como organización cristiana, Pan para el Mundo pide a la administración que retire de inmediato esta propuesta dañina”.

                                                          –Rdo. David Beckmann, presidente de Pan para el Mundo.
 

“Si se adopta, la salud y el bienestar de 27 millones de residentes legales en nuestro país estarán en riesgo, incluidos los niños. Casi una cuarta parte de los niños en Estados Unidos tienen al menos un padre inmigrante, y 9 de los 10 niños que serían más afectados –son ciudadanos estadounidenses. Las familias de color también sufrirían un impacto desproporcionado y se verían obligadas a elegir entre poner comida sobre la mesa o buscar atención médica y permanecer juntos. Millones pasarán hambre, incluidos los trabajadores agrícolas que alimentan a nuestro país “.

                                                         –José García, asesor principal de oración y compromiso evangélico en Pan para el Mundo

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“The Bible makes it clear that God wants us to be generous to all people, specifically immigrants. Matthew 25:35 reads: ‘for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.’ Yet, this proposal punishes legal immigrants by denying them permanent residency if they access safety net services because of temporary financial hardship. As a Christian organization, Bread for the World calls on the administration to immediately withdraw this harmful proposal.”

                                                                                 –Rev. David Beckmann, president at Bread for the World

“If adopted, the health and well-being of 27 million lawful residents in our country will be at risk – including children. Nearly one quarter of kids in the United States have at least one immigrant parent, and 9 in 10 of these children who would be most impacted – are U.S. citizens. Families of color would also be disproportionately impacted and forced to make the impossible choice of putting food on the table or seeking life-saving health care, and staying together. Millions will go hungry, including farm workers who feed our country.”  

                                                                                –José García, senior adviser for prayer and evangelical engagement at Bread for the World

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“Attorney General Jeff Sessions quoted a Bible passage out of context to justify child separation,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “The Bible is clear that we must not treat immigrants harshly – we must love our neighbors as ourselves. Separating parents and children, and detaining people fleeing hunger and violence, should not be justified with a misrepresentation of God’s commandments.”  

Speaker Ryan’s bill allows the U.S. government to hold children and their families for months or even years in detention facilities and makes it easier to deport them.

The legislation also provides a 20-year pathway to citizenship for a limited number of Dreamers – tied to construction of the border wall. According to the Cato Institute, the bill would exclude roughly 80 percent of all Dreamers from being able to pursue a pathway to citizenship.

“Many Dreamers are from households struggling with hunger and poverty, and are the key financial supporters for their families,” Beckmann said.

Bread for the World is calling for increased efforts to address the push factors that force these families to come to the U.S., which will help them choose to either stay in their home countries or migrate lawfully. This includes passage of the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act, which would continue the U.S.’s work on global hunger and poverty – including efforts in Guatemala and Honduras.

“The $23 billion Speaker Ryan’s bill designates for the border wall would be better spent reducing hunger and violence in Central America,” Beckmann said. “Congress should pass a bipartisan immigration bill that would reduce hunger and poverty in the United States and address the reasons people flee their countries.”

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the bill, as well as an immigration bill introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), this week. Bread also opposes the Goodlatte bill.

The post Ryan Immigration Bill Does Not Prevent the Separation of Families appeared first on Bread for the World.

El 13 de febrero de 2018, la Corte Federal del Distrito Este de Nueva York, emitió una orden preliminar que detenía parcialmente el cese del programa DACA. La orden requiere que la administración mantenga el programa DACA operando a nivel nacional y continúe aceptando renovaciones del mismo.

Sin embargo, esta orden preliminar es temporal. La misma puede ser derogada, y no permite que se haga cumplir para solicitudes nuevas, además no protege a personas cuyo estatus haya expirado.

Tanto la Cámara de Representantes como el Senado han propuesto proyectos de ley bipartidistas, haciendo compromisos, pero, la administración del presidente Trump los ha rechazado. Hace dos semanas que el Senado falló en aprobar una legislación bipartidista que le hubiera provisto a los “Dreamers” una vía hacia la ciudadanía y que abordaba el tema de la seguridad fronteriza.

La fecha límite del 5 de marzo es muy real, pues significaría que 900 jóvenes indocumentados “Dreamers” pierdan su protección diariamente. El Congreso necesita tomar acción inmediata y aprobar una legislación bipartidista como el “Dream Act” o el “USA Act”.

Hay que recordad que una abrumante mayoría de estadounidenses, incluyendo a las personas de fe, están de acuerdo con el hecho de que los “Dreamers” necesitan una solución legislativa permanente. Tú puedes ayudar. Llama al (800-826-3688) o envía un correo electrónico a tu miembro del congreso. Diles que protejan a los “Dreamers” aprobando legislación bipartidista que incluya una vía hacia la ciudadanía, mantenga a las familias y unidas, y aborde las causas de raíz de la inmigración.

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On September 5, 2017, the Trump administration terminated the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, with a six-month delay that expired March 5th. This action has upended the lives of hundreds of thousands of immigrant youth, their families, and community members.

On February 13th, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York issued a preliminary injunction, partially halting the termination of the DACA program. The order requires the administration to keep the DACA program in place on a nation-wide basis and continue to accept DACA renewal applications.

However, this preliminary injunction is temporary. It can be overturned, does not cover new DACA applicants, and does not protect individuals whose DACA status has already expired from potential enforcement actions

Both the House and Senate have proposed bipartisan compromise legislation that the Trump administration has rejected. Two weeks ago, the Senate failed to pass bipartisan legislation that would provide Dreamers a pathway to citizenship and address border security.

The March 5th deadline is very real and will potentially lead to loss of protection for 900 young dreamers a day. Congress needs to swiftly enact a bipartisan legislative solution for Dreamers, such as the Dream Act or USA Act.

An overwhelming majority of Americans agree that Dreamers need a permanent legislative solution, including people of faith. You can help. Call (800-826-3688) or email your member of Congress. Tell them to protect Dreamers by passing bipartisan legislation that includes a pathway to citizenship, keeps families together, and addresses the root causes of migration.

Grimaldo is Senior Associate for Latino Engagement at Bread for the World

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Bread for the World recognizes immigration to be a hunger issue on both sides of the border. We call on Congress to take a comprehensive approach, one that welcomes the migrant and addresses the underlying causes of undocumented immigration. Not only would this be the moral thing to do but it also makes fiscal sense.

Even though the United States spends more than $11 billion on border enforcement annually, thousands of new undocumented immigrants arrive every year.

This level of spending on border enforcement, including personnel, has had minimal impact on curtailing undocumented immigration and has come at a high economic and human cost. Data from the Department of Homeland Security, for instance, shows that known migrant deaths have nearly doubled over a decade.

We urge Congress to embrace smarter immigration and border enforcement policy. This should include funding for programs that address push factors of migration from Central America; a reasonable pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants; and effective oversight and accountability of border enforcement practices and personnel, in any border enforcement funding bill.

Border patrol funding is nearly 17 times more than aid support for Central America

The post Border Policy: Addressing the Root Causes of Hunger and Immigration appeared first on Bread for the World.

Pan para el Mundo reconoce que el hambre está relacionada con la inmigración en ambos lados de la frontera. Hacemos un llamado al Congreso para que adopte un enfoque integral, que dé la bienvenida a los inmigrantes y aborde las causas de raíz de la inmigración indocumentada.

Continuaremos presionando al Congreso para que colaboren de manera bipartidista y aprueben legislación que proteja la dignidad y los derechos que Dios le ha dado a todo ser humano.

Aunque Estados Unidos gasta anualmente más de $11 mil millones de dólares en la protección de la frontera, todos los años llegan miles de inmigrantes indocumentados.2 Este nivel de gastos en protección fronteriza, incluyendo el personal, ha tenido un impacto mínimo en reducir la inmigración de personas indocumentadas y se ha pagado un precio muy alto en términos económicos y humanos. Por ejemplo, la información del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional revela que la cantidad de inmigrantes que han muerto cruzando la frontera, prácticamente se ha duplicado durante más de una década.

Los fondos para la patrulla fronteriza son casi 17 veces más que la ayuda aportada para Centroamérica

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In recent years, Bread for the World’s work has led us to look at immigration, especially undocumented immigration, as a hunger issue — both here in the United States and in low-income home countries around the world.

In our new background paper, From Hunger to Hunger: Undocumented Immigrants Face Hunger on Both Sides of the Border, we explain that many undocumented immigrants flee from hunger in their home countries due to extreme poverty only to face hunger once they arrive in the United States. Unfortunately, many remain at high risk of hunger and poverty even after years of living and working here.

As a Christian organization, Bread for the World is working to end hunger by 2030, a goal adopted by the United States and 194 other countries in 2015. To achieve this goal, we must understand what makes undocumented immigration a hunger issue and how improved U.S. policies could help. We must also develop longer-term solutions by responding to the root causes of undocumented immigration.

Our nation has the unique opportunity to practice love, the most important commandment of all (Mark 12) in the way we respond to undocumented immigration. To learn more about the biblical basis for our work on undocumented immigration, please read “The Bible and Immigration Reform.”

Did You Know?

• The proportion of immigrants to the United States who are fleeing their home countries rather than seeking more opportunities is increasing. Many immigrants are pushed from their home countries by factors beyond their control, such as extreme poverty, hunger, violence, and unsafe, insecure living conditions.
• Since 2014, there have been more undocumented immigrants from Central America apprehended at the southern U.S. border than from Mexico. In fact, in 2016 more than 90 percent of the families apprehended came from three countries — El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. These three countries are among the poorest in the world, with extremely high levels of hunger and malnutrition.
• Even immigrants from stable countries such as Mexico face problems that “push” them out of their home countries. While Mexico’s economy has grown, most of the wealth has not gone to the poorest; about half of Mexico’s population lives below the poverty line. The poorest 20 percent of people in Mexico have only 5 percent of the national income. They also live in “food poverty,” meaning that according to government statistics, their income is not enough to meet even basic food needs.

Did You Know?

• Deportation of undocumented immigrants puts 4.5 million U.S.-born children at risk of falling into deeper hunger, both immediately as children and later as adults. Removing a parent also removes his or her financial support from a struggling household. Children who have a parent in detention are three times as likely to develop mental health problems, speech delays, and troubled academic records, all factors that increase a child’s likelihood of remaining food insecure as an adult.
• Contrary to popular belief, undocumented immigrants are not eligible to receive safety net program benefits — this despite the $11.6 billion in taxes that undocumented immigrants contribute each year, and the fact that they are three times as likely as the “average” American to live below the poverty line.
• Mass deportations would reduce the nation’s GDP by $4.7 trillion over the next 10 years. On the other hand, comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship could significantly increase the U.S. tax base and tax revenues.

In the effort to end hunger by 2030, we cannot examine policies in a vacuum. Bread for the World calls for comprehensive immigration policy that takes into account hunger and poverty as root causes of undocumented immigration and that provides better opportunities for immigrants living in hunger and poverty in the United States. We urge the U.S. government to strive for lasting solutions to hunger and poverty on both sides of the border as part of any immigration policy.

For more information, read Bread for the World Institute’s new background paper, From Hunger to Hunger: Undocumented Immigrants Face Hunger on Both Sides of the Border.

Marlysa Gamblin is a domestic advisor for policy and programs, specific populations at Bread for the World Institute. Jordan Teague is an international policy analyst for food security and nutrition at Bread for the World Institute.

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“The Bible is clear and specific about our obligation to care for immigrants. Ending the DACA program puts hundreds of thousands of young people into limbo; it is now up to Congress to take immediate steps to protect them,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “Lawmakers can do this by passing legislation that would grant them legal status and put them on a path to citizenship, such as the bipartisan Dream Act.”

DACA recipients are undocumented young people who were brought to the United States as children. Everyone in the program has passed an extensive background check, paid a fee, and is either a student, serves in the military, or has a job. The Dream Act of 2017 would grant them permanent legal status and put them, and other “Dreamers,” on the path to citizenship.

Bread for the World’s research over the past ten years has taught us that we must address undocumented immigration on both sides of the border. Many undocumented immigrants to the U.S. are being “pushed” by widespread hunger and violence in their home countries. Undocumented immigrants are nearly twice as likely as the general U.S. population to experience food insecurity.

“Many of these young people are from households struggling with hunger and poverty, and often support their families,” Beckmann said. “They are clearly making a positive contribution to the U.S. economy.”

In ending DACA, the administration delayed enforcement of its decision for six months to give Congress time to find a legislative solution.

Bread’s work on immigration reform is rooted in our Christian faith, and our commitment to ending hunger and poverty. 

The post Bread for the World Urges Congress to Protect “Dreamers” appeared first on Bread for the World.

Las personas indocumentadas que viven y trabajan aquí están entre las personas más vulnerables de nuestra nación. Tienen una mayor probabilidad de vivir en la pobreza y luchar para poder colocar comida en la mesa. La tasa nacional de pobreza es de 14.8 por ciento, mientras que para los inmigrantes como grupo es de 30 por ciento. Es muy posible que la tasa de pobreza para los hogares de indocumentados es más alta todavía. La tasa de inseguridad alimentaria para los inmigrantes indocumentados es el doble que el que la población total de los Estados Unidos.

El Proyecto de ley “Dream Act 2017” fue presentado en el Senado por los Senadores Richard Durbin (D- Ill.) y Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) con la designación S. 1615, y en la Cámara de Representantes por las Representantes: Lucille Roybal Allard (D-Calif.-40) y la Representante Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.-27) con la designación H.R. 3440. 

El Proyecto de ley “Dream Act 2017” ofrecería una vía hacia un estatus legal para millones de jóvenes inmigrantes indocumentados. La aprobación de este Proyecto de ley es decisivo dado el hecho de que el futuro de DACA es incierto. Recientemente 10 procuradores generales le enviaron al Procurador General de Estados Unidos, Jeff Sessions, una carta con la amenaza de demandar al gobierno del presidente Trump si el programa DACA no es eliminado al 5 de septiembre de 2017. 

Exhortamos a todos los miembros del Congreso a que copatrocinen el “Dream Act” de 2017 y que comuniquen un fuerte mensaje que la anulación de DACA tiene consecuencias morales y económicas que el Congreso no puede permitir.

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These budget cuts would hit the Latino community particularly hard since Latino households are up to three times more likely to experience hunger and poverty.

The post The Impacts of Proposed Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Cuts on the Latino Community appeared first on Bread for the World.

Estos recortes presupuestarios afec-tarían particularmente a la comunidad latina, ya que los hogares latinos tienen hasta tres veces más probabilidades de experimentar hambre y pobreza.

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The United States is a nation of immigrants. Throughout its history, people have moved here from all over the world and have contributed to their communities and our national life. Today, as in the past, immigrants are also creating prosperity for this nation. 

Despite their contributions, many immigrants face discrimination and barriers to opportunity. This increases their likelihood of struggling with hunger and poverty. The national rate of household food insecurity is 12.7 percent, while the rate for households with undocumented immigrants is 24 percent. Undocumented migrant and seasonal workers face food insecurity rates as high as 65 percent.

Background

In 2012, in response to our broken immigration system, President Obama announced a new Department of Homeland Security policy called The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. DACA provides temporary relief and protection from removal as well as work authorization to young undocumented students and veterans who grew up in the United States. Many findings indicate that DACA has significantly helped undocumented youth achieve higher paying jobs and education while increasing their contribution to the local economy.

About the Bill

The Dream Act of 2017 would offer a path to permanent legal status for millions of undocumented immigrant youths. The bill passage is crucial given the fact that DACA’s future is uncertain. Recently, 10 attorneys general sent the U.S Attorney General Jeff Sessions a letter threatening to sue the Trump administration if the DACA program was not terminated by Sept. 5, 2017.

A pathway to citizenship under the Dream Act would ensure that Dreamers can continue to contribute to their communities through work, service, and schooling. The proposed legislation would provide Conditional Permanent Residency and employment authorization for eight years. Afterward, Dreamers could apply for Legal Permanent Residency and begin the application process for citizenship.  

We urge all members of Congress to co-sponsor the Dream Act of 2017. Bread for the World will continue to support legislation, like the Dream Act, that strives for lasting solutions to our broken immigration system. To ultimately end hunger, achieving solutions that last is key.

Take Action on This Issue

Give “Dreamers” a Pathway to Citizenship. Urge your members of Congress to co-sponsor and support the bipartisan Dream Act of 2017

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Al mes de mayo el mundo le da la bienvenida con la celebración del Día del Trabajador cada año. En algunos rincones del mundo, hasta el mes entero ha sido declarado el Mes del Trabajador. En este momento, ponemos en alto la labor y el esfuerzo de todos los trabajadores – aunque bien en Estados Unidos este día no llegue hasta septiembre.

Alrededor del mundo, en el Día del Trabajador se llevan a cabo miles de manifestaciones, expresiones de sentimientos y pensamientos con el fin de defender y, en algunos casos, expandir, los derechos del trabajador. Pero, ¿qué sentido tienen, cuando el gobierno le ha fallado plenamente a un sector de la población que integra gran parte de la fuerza laboral?

Durante su campaña para la presidencia y tras su elección en noviembre, el presidente Trump prometió deportaciones y medidas para prevenir la inmigración. Desde su inauguración en enero, ha cumplido, empezando con la deportación de miles de inmigrantes, incluso aquellos que anteriormente contaban con la protección de programas como Acción Diferida para los llegados en la infancia (DACA, por sus siglas en inglés). Aunque cabe mencionar que bajo el presidente Obama, también hubo muchas deportaciones, el mismo implementó programas como DACA y DAPA, los cuales ofrecieron un camino hacia la ciudadanía.

Trump también ha amenazado con construir un muro en la frontera con México. Estas medidas y la postura general que ha tomado hacia la comunidad inmigrante de este país ignoran las grandes aportaciones que hacen los inmigrantes. Las pequeñas empresas con propietarios inmigrantes emplean a casi 5 millones de personas y generan 776 mil millones de dólares en ingresos a nivel nacional. Además, muchos de los trabajadores agrícolas cuyas manos cosechan la comida que nos alimenta son inmigrantes, y muchos de ellos indocumentados. A pesar del trabajo duro que desempeñan, trabajan a menudo en condiciones subestándar y se les paga poco.

El presidente Trump prometió todas estas medidas con el fin de devolverles a los “olvidados” de este país sus empleos y su comodidad. Muchos de ellos, también personas trabajadoras, lo eligieron por esa razón. Ahora tenemos que enfrentar la realidad de que, ciudadanos o no, la comunidad de inmigrantes de este país aporta mucho a él, y a todos nosotros. En este Mes del Trabajador, debemos reflexionar en ello, y exhortar aún más a nuestro gobierno a que les dé el respeto que merecen. 

Esteban García es especialista en relaciones con los medios en Pan para el Mundo.

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People escaping war, hunger, poverty, and persecution are stripped of their human worth when we label them as murderers, rapists, or terrorists. Rather than seeing immigrants and refugees as men, women, and children created in the image of God, some are seeing them as manifestations of evil. This perspective hardens hearts to suffering and deafens ears to cries for mercy and pleas for an opportunity to start anew. 

We need to be mindful that God has a purpose in the migration movements of people around the world (Amos 9:7). Today´s migration and refugee crises present us with an opportunity to show God´s love and spirit of service towards our neighbor, the stranger at our gates. Strangers, like all people, are made in the image of God, and the Father has bestowed them with intrinsic worth. They need our affirmation and support.

Matthew 25:31 calls us to live out our faith. It clearly indicates that our Christian witness will be judged by the way we help our neighbors in need. But we do not serve our neighbors because we fear judgment. Rather, we follow Jesus’ teaching: “When you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me.” (Matthew 25:40). This reminds us of Proverbs 14:31, which reads, “Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors Him.” Through the eyes of my faith, when I serve the stranger, I see Jesus giving me an opportunity to serve and honor Him.

The Chinese Exclusion Act, the Mexican Repatriation Program, Japanese internment camps, the rejection of the MS St. Louis in 1939 carrying Jewish refugees, and other ethnophobic measures are senseless and shameful chapters of American life. They have left deep scars in the minds and souls of those who faced harsh discrimination. That is why the current immigration and refugee crises challenge us to live our faith. Are we going to be faithful stewards of the grace and gifts of love, hospitality, and service bestowed to us as citizens of the Kingdom of God?  The Father has given us the ministry of reconciliation — to act as Christ’s ambassadors, reconciling the world to Him.

When the law of the land is not aligned with the higher moral imperative of the Bible, God’s word, we need to ask, “To whom do we owe a greater allegiance?” Let us remember the words of James the Just: “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it” (James 4:17).

Bishop Jose Garcia is senior advisor for prayer and strategic initiatives at Bread for the World.

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People who live and work here without documentation are among the most vulnerable people in our country. They are more likely to live in poverty and to struggle to put food on the table. The national poverty rate is 14.8 percent, while immigrants as a group have a poverty rate of 30 percent.

Any approach to reforming our immigration system must tackle undocumented immigration on both sides of the border. This is an international issue at its core. And while it may be difficult, we must uncover and address the root causes that are creating this need to escape home countries and enter the United States.

As a Christian-based organization, we strongly believe in moving our faith into action. Matthew 25:35 says, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me….” Part of loving our brothers and sisters requires advocating for their well-being and dignity.

We approach immigration policy through the lens of hunger and poverty, and as a path to economic growth. Our approach is informed by our faith as a Christian organization committed to ending hunger and poverty, both domestically and abroad.

Immigration policy can help reduce hunger and poverty in our country as well as home countries abroad. Here are six guiding principles for immigration policy.

“I was a stranger and you welcomed me”

Matthew 25:35

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The following statement can be attributed to Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World:

“Our country has a moral imperative to receive those in need, no matter what religion they follow or where they are from. The United States has the most rigorous refugee screening process in the world. Placing a moratorium on new refugees entering the country, and indefinitely banning Syrian refugees, will only lead to more hunger and hardship, and inevitably the death of innocents.”

Bread for the World’s 2017 Hunger Report Fragile Environments, Resilient Communities, explains how state fragility – which is often the result of war, poor governance, and climate change – stands in the way of ending hunger and extreme poverty, and has led to the refugee crisis in Syria and elsewhere we see today.

Beckmann added, “Preventing people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. will tear apart families and leave countless people in a state of legal limbo. This action reeks of bias against Muslims and will work in favor of those who would do us harm. Our country is better than this.

“Bread for the World sees these actions as a hunger issue, especially since the seven countries are among the poorest in the world. When people are driven from their homes they go hungry. When families are torn apart they suffer. The effects of war and malnutrition can impact a child for his or her entire life. These actions are making the situation worse for families fleeing war and famine.

“Demonizing immigrants, and promoting deep divisions in society are contrary to God’s love and contribute to the persistence of hunger and poverty. We urge President Trump to immediately withdraw this order and call on him as president to live up to our nation’s ideals of inclusion and to foster respect for all people.”

The post Bread for the World Statement on Trump’s Executive Order on Refugees appeared first on Bread for the World.

A pesar de sus aportaciones, los inmigrantes enfrentan discriminación y barreras a la oportunidad, lo cual aumenta su probabilidad de enfrentar hambre y pobreza. Muchos inmi-grantes, especialmente provenientes de México, Centroamérica, y partes de África y el Sureste de Asia, huyen de la pobreza o la violencia en sus países. A pesar de querer contribuir a esta nación, estando aquí, se ven aislados por la pobreza, dominio limitado del inglés, y la discriminación por raza, etnia, estatus migratorio, y/o género.

Las personas que aquí viven y trabajan sin  documentos se encuentran entre las más vulnerables en nuestro país. Tienen más probabilidades de vivir en la pobreza y de batallar para obtener alimentos. La tasa nacional de pobreza es de 14.8 por ciento, pero entre los inmigrantes, esta cifra sube al 30 por ciento. Es probable que la tasa de pobreza para familias indocumentadas sea aún más alta. Además, los inmigrantes indocumentados tienen casi doble la probabilidad que la población en general de experimentar inseguridad alimentaria (ver gráfica). 

TOMA ACCIÓN

Llama a tus senadores y a tu respresentante al teléfono (800-826-3688) y diles que sean copatrocinadores del BRIDGE Act (S. 128 & H.R. 496).

The post Análisis Legislativo: La Ley BRIDGE (Alto a Deportación de Soñadores y que Ayudan a Crecer Nuestra Economía) appeared first on Bread for the World.

“Providing temporary relief from deportation for undocumented young adults, or ‘Dreamers’, is a step in the right direction,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “As a Christian organization, we will continue to advocate for laws that ensure a place at the table for everyone in the United States, regardless of their immigration status.” 

The BRIDGE Act was introduced to the 115th Congress by Sens. Richard Durbin (D- IL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Reps. Mike Coffman (R-CO) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL). If passed, it would protect undocumented young adults who qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Many of these individuals (commonly referred to as “Dreamers”) were brought to the U.S. as children. It would also allow them to legally work and study in the U.S.   

Rescinding DACA without passing the BRIDGE Act would not only have devastating effects on young adults and their families, whom they often support, but it would also hurt our economy. DACA recipients are significant contributors to their local economies. Through DACA, over 741,000 individuals have been able to contribute to our society and their communities.

“Because a substantial percentage of undocumented immigrants in the United States live in poverty and legalization would help them escape hunger, positive reforms to immigration is critical,” added Beckmann. “Bread for the World will continue to support legislation, like the BRIDGE act, that strives for lasting solutions to our broken immigration system.”  

He called on all members of Congress to co-sponsor the BRIDGE Act and send a strong message that rescinding DACA has moral and economic repercussions that Congress cannot allow or afford.  

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La bipartidista Ley BRIDGE protegería a inmigrantes indocumentados jóvenes (conocidos como dreamers, o soñadores) de la deportación, de lo cual se beneficia Estados Unidos teniendo en cuenta las contribuciones económicas y el servicio militar que brindan éstos. Se espera que Durbin y Graham introduzcan de nuevo la legislación en el 115º Congreso, el cual asume su cargo en enero de 2017.

“Pan para el Mundo apoya esfuerzos bipartidistas como la Ley BRIDGE, la cual protegería a jóvenes traídos a Estados Unidos de niños, de la deportación”, aseguró el reverendo David Beckmann, presidente de Pan para el Mundo. “Aplicaría a aquellos que han estudiado o servido valientemente en nuestras fuerzas armadas, y que están aportando mucho a nuestra economía, tanto a nivel local como nacional. Están comprando coches, casas, fundando comercios, creando empleos, y pagando impuestos”.

 La Ley BRIDGE daría amparo temporal de la deportación, y autorización para trabajar a jóvenes que califican para el programa de Acción Diferida para los llegados en la infancia (DACA por sus siglas en inglés) del Departamento de Seguridad Interior de Estados Unidos. Más de 740,000 jóvenes han beneficiado de DACA desde que el Gobierno del presidente Obama inició el programa en el 2012. Los solicitantes deberían pagar una tarifa razonable, someterse a una verificación de antecedentes criminales, y cumplir con ciertos requisitos de elegibilidad.  

Pan apoya la reforma migratoria porque una cantidad considerable de inmigrantes en Estados Unidos viven en la pobreza. Dicha reforma les ayudaría a escapar de la pobreza y a fortalecer la economía estadounidense. Cientos de miles de personas podrían salir de la pobreza y del hambre casi de inmediato si se les ofreciese un camino hacia la ciudadanía.

“Pan para el Mundo aboga por legislación que mantiene juntas a las familias y que les da a todos un lugar en la mesa en Estados Unidos, sin importar su estado migratorio”, dijo Beckmann.

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The bipartisan BRIDGE Act would protect young, eligible undocumented immigrants (often referred to as “Dreamers”) from deportation, benefitting the United States through their continued contributions to the economy and military service. Durbin and Graham are expected to reintroduce the legislation in the 115th Congress, which begins its work in January 2017.     

“Bread for the World supports bipartisan efforts like the BRIDGE Act, which would protect young people brought to the United States as children, from deportation,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “It would cover those who have gone to school or bravely served in our military, and are making significant contributions to the economy, both locally and nationally. They are buying cars and homes, starting businesses, creating jobs, and paying taxes.”

The BRIDGE Act would provide temporary relief from deportation, and employment authorization to young people who are eligible for the Department of Homeland Security’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. More than 740,000 young people have benefited from DACA since the Obama administration initiated the program in 2012. Applicants would be required to pay a reasonable fee, undergo criminal background checks, and meet certain eligibility requirements. 

Bread supports immigration reform because a substantial percentage of undocumented immigrants in the United States lives in poverty. Immigration reform would help them escape hunger and build the U.S. economy. Hundreds of thousands of people would likely move out of hunger and poverty almost immediately if they were given a pathway to citizenship.

“Bread for the World advocates for legislation that keeps families together and ensures a place at the table for everyone in the United States, regardless of status,” Beckmann added. 

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“The United States is on the verge of important decisions about who will lead and what direction we will take,” said Bishop Jose Garcia, director of church relations at Bread for the World. “We must not allow the rhetoric of division and distrust to distract us from the hard work of building community and speaking about God’s welcome for all people.”

The Christian leaders came from all parts of the U.S. to offer a vision for the future they believe is reflective of God’s grace and love for all people, including undocumented immigrants. They pledge to speak out whenever anti-immigrant rhetoric gains national attention and when local events merit a national response.

“This is a moment that calls on Christians to speak up on behalf of our sisters and brothers who have been forced to flee their countries because of violence and harsh economic conditions,” said Rev. Dr. Art Cribbs, executive director of Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity. “Just as Jesus was taken by his parents across borders for sanctuary, today families are seeking safety in the United States. We stand with them and call on Congress to enact policies that protect and provide for their care. And, as Christians, we urge churches to open their doors and receive immigrants into our communities, for that is required of us in these days.”

The group has released a statement of shared values which reads, in part: “Our call to action is firmly rooted in the Word of God and informed by our experience as immigrants. Our goal is the biblical vision of the beloved community. And as people of faith, we support immigration policies that prioritize human rights, dignity, compassion and justice.”

“Immigration is not only a Latino/a issue but also an Asian-American issue. One out of 6 Korean-Americans is undocumented,” said Rev. Nayoung Ha, organizing director with the Korean American Resource and Cultural Center in Chicago. “The number of undocumented Asian-Americans has been growing faster than the number of undocumented Mexicans since 2000. And this fact is hidden in the Asian-American community. I believe that it is time for us, Asian-American Christian leaders, to face this fact and speak out for our community members who are suffering because of their immigration status. Asian-American Christian leaders must demand immigration policy for a fear-free, sustainable life of our Asian-American immigrant families regardless of their immigration status.”

The group will add to their number with a nationwide invitation to Christians who also believe that immigrants should be welcomed and appreciated. 

The post Immigrant Christian Leaders Come Together for Immigration Reform appeared first on Bread for the World.

Day 5 of El Camino del Inmigrante/The Path of the Immigrant has us walking to Oceanside, Calif. This is the community where my parents lived just after they were married, when Dad was still in the Marines. Oceanside is a military community just outside Camp Pendleton Marine base, and I am reminded of my father’s service to our country.

For my father, the military was a way to get out of south Texas and work toward an education. That is the same for many immigrants today, some of whom are without undocumentation, and serve in the U.S. Armed Forces with an eye toward a better future for our country and for themselves.

Working for Bread for the World, I was astounded to learn that many military families don’t always have enough to feed their children and rely on programs like SNAP and WIC to get by. It may surprise you to know that immigrants who serve honorably in the military are still at risk of deportation when they complete their service.

As we walk toward Oceanside and past Camp Pendleton, I will keep all of these concerns in my heart and share them in prayer at the end of the day. I hope readers will also pray for our service members and veterans who risk being split from their families or who may not have enough to eat.

Semper fidelis is the Marine Corps motto, and I pray that we may be always faithful to them as well.

Marco A. Grimaldo is the associate for Latino engagement at Bread for the World.

Follow Bread’s participation on Facebook (English) and (Spanish) and Twitter (English) or (Spanish) and Bread Blog.

The post Semper fidelis: Faithfulness and prayers for people who are hungry appeared first on Bread for the World.

El quinto día del Camino del Inmigrante nos lleva a Oceanside, California. Es en esta comunidad que vivieron mis padres justo después de casarse, cuando mi padre estaba aún en la infantería de marina, los Marines. Oceanside es una comunidad militar junto a la base marina de Camp Pendleton, y me recuerda del servicio de mi padre a nuestra nación.

Para mi papá, el servicio militar fue una manera de salir del sur de Texas, y de trabajar hacia una educación. Lo mismo aplica para muchos inmigrantes hoy en día, entre los cuales hay inmigrantes indocumentados que sirven en las fuerzas armadas de Estados Unidos, con una vista hacia un mejor futuro para su país, y para ellos mismos.

Al trabajar en Pan para el Mundo, me sorprendió saber que muchas familias militares no siempre tienen suficiente qué alimentar a sus hijos, y que dependen de programas como el Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP por sus siglas en inglés), y el programa para Mujeres, Infantes, y Niños (WIC), para sobrevivir. Tal vez te sorprenda saber que aquellos inmigrantes que sirven tan honradamente en las fuerzas armadas aún están en riesgo de ser deportados al completar su servicio.

Durante este trayecto hacia Oceanside y Camp Pendleton, mantendré todos estos asuntos en mi corazón, y los compartiré en nuestras oraciones al final del día. Espero que los lectores también oren por nuestros militares y veteranos, quienes están en riesgo de verse separados de sus familias, o quienes no tienen suficiente qué comer.

Semper fidelis es el lema de los Marines, y oro por que siempre seamos nosotros fieles a ellos también.

Buen camino.

Puedes seguir la participación de Pan en Facebook y Twitter (inglés) o (español) y el Blog de Pan.

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El Camino del Inmigrante (The Path of the Immigrant) began on Saturday, Aug. 20 at the U.S.-Mexico border at Tijuana and will culminate in downtown Los Angeles on Aug. 30. On the days between, the walk is snaking through the southernmost counties of California. The pilgrimage demonstrates Bread’s solidarity with undocumented immigrants, many of whom face hunger and other perils every day.

Thanks to some reporting from East Central Ministries, another organization that’s taking part in the event, here is what happened on the first day of the event:

The day started “with a powerful prayer service and send-off at Friendship Park in the Border Fields State Park.

The post A wall and a walk appeared first on Bread for the World.

Dear friends and supporters,

We made it through Day 2! Today was a long day, around 16 miles.

The walk is definitely attracting attention – which is, of course, one of the primary goals – to bring attention to the brokenness of our immigranttion system, highlight the stories behind the issue, and join a collective cry for reform. As we’ve been walking, several people have stopped us to ask what we’re doing, or to mention that they heard about us on the news, to share words of encouragement or ask questions about why we’re walking.

Speaking of news, El Camino has been covered in several media outlets! CBS news aired a 2.5 minute segment, which you can watch below. Michelle Warren, one of the main organizers of the event, informed us that you’re lucky to get 30 seconds of airtime in televised news these days, so such a long segment is a big deal! And the San Diego Union Tribune published an article on August 20 – “Border-to-LA walk aimed at immigration reform.”

Thanks again to all of you for your support.

Blessings,

The ECM walkers

Follow Bread’s participation on Facebook (English) and (Spanish) and Twitter (English) or (Spanish) and Bread Blog.

CBS News 8 – San Diego, CA News Station – KFMB Channel 8

The post Update on El Camino/The Path of the Immigrant walk in California appeared first on Bread for the World.

The post The Path of the Immigrant walk begins appeared first on Bread for the World.

The post El Camino del Inmigrante dia 1 appeared first on Bread for the World.

Esta ficha informativa abarca la prevalencia de hambre y pobreza en Estados Unidos entre los inmigrantes, especialmente aquellos sin documentación. Éste es uno de los grupos que reconoce Pan para el Mundo como especialmente vulnerable al hambre y la pobreza.

Ofrece estadísticas y examina los factores y contribuyen al hambre y la pobreza en esta comunidad, entre ellos los retos que enfrentan los inmigrantes en:

• Acceder a suficientes alimentos nutritivos
• Obtener autorización laboral y/o empleos bien remunerados
• Obtener protecciones legales y evitar redadas migratorias y deportación

The post El hambre y la pobreza en las comunidades de inmigrantes appeared first on Bread for the World.

This fact sheet looks at the prevalence of hunger and poverty in the United States among immigrants, especially immigrants without documentation. This is one of the groups that Bread for the World recognizes as being especially vulnerable to hunger and poverty.

It provides statistics and examines the factors that contribute to hunger and poverty in this community, namely the challenges immigrants face in:

• Accessing sufficient nutritious food
• Obtaining work authorizations and/or decent-paying jobs
• Obtaining legal protections and avoiding immigration raids and deportation

The post Hunger and Poverty Among Immigrants appeared first on Bread for the World.

La siguiente declaración la ofreció el obispo José García, director de relaciones eclesiales de Pan para el Mundo:

“La indecisión de la Corte Suprema hoy pone a millones de personas en nuestro país en riesgo extremo de hambre y pobreza. Los niños inmigrantes y sus padres padecen inseguridad alimentaria a tasas por encima de la población general. Las acciones de Pan para el Mundo respecto a la reforma migratoria están arraigadas en la afirmación de que todos los hombres y las mujeres fueron creados a la imagen de Dios (Génesis 1:26-28).

“Como cristianos y partícipes en Pan para el Mundo, nosotros creemos que ninguna persona difiere de ninguna otra. Por ende, estábamos esperando una decisión de la Corte Suprema que afirmara la dignidad de las familias que se beneficiarían de DACA y DAPA y que ayudara a sacar a las personas de la pobreza.

“Pan para el Mundo seguirá abogando por reforma migratoria nacional que contribuya a la disminución de la pobreza y el hambre a nivel mundial”.

The post Pan para el Mundo Consternada por Indecisión de la Corte Suprema appeared first on Bread for the World.

The following statement can be attributed to Jose Garcia, director of Church Relations at Bread for the World:

“The Supreme Court’s indecision today places millions of people at the brink of hunger and poverty in our nation. Immigrant children and their parents suffer from food insecurity at a higher rate than the general population. Bread for the World’s work on immigration reform is rooted in the affirmation that all men and women are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-28).

“As Christians involved with Bread for the World, we believe that no person differs from any other.  Therefore, we were expecting a Supreme Court decision that affirms the dignity of the families who could benefit from DACA and DAPA and helps lift people out of poverty.

“Bread for the world will continue to advocate for national immigration reform that contributes to the reduction of poverty and hunger internationally.”

The post Bread for the World Dismayed by Supreme Court’s Indecision appeared first on Bread for the World.

Incluye una introducción a este asunto, una reflexión bíblica, acciones prácticas que puedes tomar, y una oración.

The post La Biblia y la reforma migratoria appeared first on Bread for the World.

Includes an introduction to the issue, a Scriptural reflection, practical actions you can take, and a prayer.

The post The Bible and Immigration Reform appeared first on Bread for the World.

This report identifies challenges for small immigrant entrepreneurs and promising practices to better support them in three case study sites: Miami, Florida; Des Moines, Iowa; and Salt Lake City, Utah. President Obama’s November 2014 executive action granting deferred deportation and work permits to millions of unauthorized immigrants offers a unique opportunity to expand the power of immigrant small entrepreneurship to boost local economic growth. But to realize this potential, immigrants need better access to finance, culturally relevant business training, and a path to permanent legalization.

The post Harnessing Immigrant Small Entrepreneurship for Economic Growth appeared first on Bread for the World.

Immigrants — including lower-skilled immigrants — help generate jobs and economic growth for U.S.-born workers. Immigrants are a disproportionate number of our country’s entrepreneurs. This is particularly true in Rust Belt cities, where immigrants are more likely to be entrepreneurs than they are in more traditional immigrant gateways. But to make their full potential economic impact in the Rust Belt, unauthorized immigrants need a path to citizenship.

The post A Tale of Two Cities (and a Town): Immigrants in the Rust Belt appeared first on Bread for the World.

Nosotros sabemos que la migración internacional frecuentemente es parte de este éxodo — en la medida en que las personas se mueven a través de las fronteras para escapar de la pobreza y mejorar su calidad de vida.

A pesar de que la reducción de la pobreza tal vez no es el propósito primordial de los esfuerzos contemporáneos para reformar las políticas migratorias, ciertamente ésta debe ser uno de sus objetivos explícitos.

The post Inmigración, hambre y oportunidad Pan para el Mundo y la reforma migratoria appeared first on Bread for the World.

In addition to the flow of money back to Central America, in recent years the number of immigrants returning from the United States to their home countries has increased. During fiscal year 2011, the United States deported a record 396,906 unauthorized immigrants, including more than 76,000 Central Americans. Central American governments are unprepared for these returned migrants. Many deportees end up re-migrating to the United States because of the lack of opportunities in their native countries.

The post Exchanging People for Money: Remittances and Repatriation in Central America appeared first on Bread for the World.

In spite of the role they play in U.S. agriculture, unauthorized immigrant farm workers labor under increasingly hostile conditions. The Agricultural Job Opportunity, B enefits and Security bill (AgJOBS)  as developed by farmers and farmworker advocates to regularize the status of workers in the agriculture sector. Public concern about unauthorized immigration has held up prospects of enacting the bill into law. Farm workers should be legalized so they can work without fear of deportation and so that farmers have access to workers they need. Immigrant agricultural workers can also support human capital renewal on farms struggling to recruit the next generation of farm operators. Rural communities in Mexico — where immigrant farm workers originate — should be integrated into a U.S. agricultural guest worker program that benefits U.S. and Mexican farmers.

The post Farm Workers and Immigration Policy appeared first on Bread for the World.

Almost three-fourths of all U.S. hired farm workers are immigrants, most of them unauthorized. The U.S. food system—particularly fruit and vegetable production—depends on immigrants more than any other sector of the U.S. economy.

Immigrant farm workers fill low-wage jobs that citizens are reluctant to take. Attempts to recruit citizens for farm worker jobs have failed; without immigrant farm workers, our country’s production of fruits and vegetables could decrease. The Bread for the World Institute will address the complicated issue of immigrant farm workers and the U.S. food system in our 2012 Hunger Report, Rebalancing Act: Updating U.S. Food and Farm Policy.  

In spite of their key role in feeding the American population, unauthorized immigrant farm workers labor under increasingly hostile conditions. In addition to stepped-up pressure from immigration enforcement, immigrant farm workers’ unauthorized legal status, low wages, and inconsistent work schedule contribute to a precarious economic state. Due to their immigration status and socioeconomic challenges, America’s food producers sometimes struggle with food insecurity.

The Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits and Security bill (AgJOBS) was developed in 2000 by farmers and farm worker advocates to regularize the status of workers in the agriculture sector. Public concern about unauthorized immigration has held up prospects of enacting the bill into law.

Immigrant farm workers should have a legal means of being in the United States. The approximately 1.1 million unauthorized immigrant farm laborers in the United States do work that citizens will not perform and that farmers need.

The current system separates immigrant families and leaves farmers with an unstable workforce. In addition to fair enforcement of immigration laws, the United States needs a way to legalize farm workers and reform our agricultural guest worker programs to support both immigrant families and farmers.  

Andrew Wainer is a former immigration policy analyst with Bread for the World Institute.

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The United States in the 21st century is clearly not the first, and is unlikely to be the last, society to blame outsiders for its economic problems. What’s important is that we identify the facts of the situation and ensure that they are considered when it comes time to establish policies.

 Despite the controversy surrounding nearly every aspect of U.S. immigration policy, the three witnesses at the hearing—mayors from New York, Georgia, and Maine—identified at least one area of consensus: every day, immigrants are making economic, social, and cultural contributions to the United States.

 Farm workers’ contributions, for example, begin with the work that they do to supply food for our tables. The rest of the economy benefits as crops are harvested by “skilled migrant farm laborers who have harvesting down to a fine art,” as Mayor Paul Bridges of Uvalda, GA, put it. Bridges said the direct contribution of agricultural workers to Georgia’s economy is $6.85 billion.

The direct contribution, though, is augmented by the taxes immigrants pay in their role as consumers. In Georgia and in every other state, immigrants pay the same amount of sales tax on every purchase as other customers, thus helping to pay for schools, transportation, and other public services. Other contributions to the state economy come from rent, mortgage payments, and property taxes.

Immigrants make a net contribution to the national economy as well, since they pay federal taxes and support Social Security, contributing up to $7 billion a year. Unauthorized as well as authorized immigrants pay into Social Security, even though the former will never receive a single monthly check.

In North Carolina, immigrants contribute more than $9 billion to the economy. Communities with a declining tax base that are having trouble surviving can get a badly-needed influx of vitality when immigrants arrive and start new businesses, buy homes, pay local taxes, and purchase consumer goods from local and regional markets. Immigrants also can enhance a city’s culture since they diversify activities and organize events that promote civic engagement.

Although these contributions should be evident, the position of immigrants is increasingly threatened by the enactment of anti-immigrant legislation at both state and federal levels. Some states have passed harsh anti-immigrant laws with far-reaching repercussions. Bridges, who has been an educator and farmer in his part of Georgia, spoke up at the hearing about the problems caused in more than one area of the economy and community by laws such as H.B. 87 (which, among other provisions, allows the police to check the immigration status of anyone suspected of a crime and requires businesses to use an electronic verification system before hiring workers).

One problem is that local law enforcement agencies are forced to use their scarce resources to implement the new laws. Often, police officers are not trained for these duties, which in any case take them away from their chief responsibility of protecting the community from crime. The new laws also contribute to a climate of fear for immigrants, both authorized and unauthorized.

The repercussions of anti-immigrant legislation such as that passed in Georgia are felt throughout the state as well as at the community level.  Immigrants have been driven out to more welcoming states; reportedly, this created labor shortages in Georgia of as many as 11,000 workers.

Shortages of farm workers can also lead to a domino effect:  crops worth millions of dollars are left to rot in the fields. Not being able to harvest and sell all their crops creates hardships for farm operators and their families and puts them at greater risk of defaulting on business and personal loans. Consumers, in turn, have to pay more for produce since it’s in shorter supply; for low-income families in particular, this often means less nutritious meals (since grocery budgets generally don’t increase just because food prices have). This carries consequences for productivity, both for individuals and the economy as a whole.

Georgia is just an example of what is happening as states try to fix the immigration system. Lifting up the economic and other contributions of immigrants, which are often left out of the immigration debate altogether, will be key to finding humane, fair, and practical solutions for the broken U.S. immigration system.

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Produced by Bread for the World Institute

No. 213

February-March 2011

Why do people risk their lives crossing the Mexican border, take jobs most Americans won’t do, and live away from their families — surrounded by an often unfamiliar language and culture? The answer isn’t complicated: inequality, hunger, and poverty in the communities
immigrants leave behind.

The post Development and Migration in Mexico’s Rural Communities appeared first on Bread for the World.

The U.S. government identifies Latin America as the primary source (80 percent) of unauthorized immigration, but its responses internally, at the border, and through its foreign assistance to migrantsending countries is focused on enforcement. 

Border enforcement fails to impact the causes of unauthorized migration in Latin America and U.S. foreign assistance to Latin America typically doesn’t take into account its impact on migration pressures. U.S. policy toward migrant-sending countries in Latin America mirrors its enforcement-focused domestic policy. Assistance to Mexico is dominated by the Mérida Initiative, which emphasizes aid to Mexico’s security agencies. 

This report analyzes a project in rural Mexico that was designed with an awareness of the connections between development and migration. The project is analyzed in this report to inspire discussion and action linking development and the reduction of migration pressures. 

Projects that make these connections deserve increased attention in order to broaden the immigration policy discourse to include options for reducing poverty and migration pressures at the source.

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