Resolves of the Executive Council

Resolved, That the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church reaffirms its commitment to support a generous, humane United States policy toward Central Americans fleeing civil strife, violence and hazardous socio-economic and political conditions in their home countries to seek safety and a viable life within the United States; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council commends Episcopal Church dioceses and especially the parishes of West Texas and Southeast Florida, for their fine work in reaching out and ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of Central Americans arriving in their communities in large numbers; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council expresses its dismay at the policies of travel restriction and detention recently enacted by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, urging instead that Central Americans crossing United States borders be afforded easy and just access to the asylum application process, be accorded work authorization and be allowed to join their families who reside in this nation while their asylum applications are pending adjudication, incidentally thereby avoiding excess and unnecessary costs to the U.S. taxpayers; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council recognizes that the exodus of Central Americans to the United States through a variety of channels will not diminish without active work for the improvement of the quality of political and economic life in Central America, and that Central American workers in the United States are a great source of relief and development funds going directly to the grass roots of their home countries; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Executive Council is instructed to send copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Vice-President, the U.S. Attorney General, the U.S Secretary of State, the U.S. Coordinator for Refugee Affairs, the Commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, and all dioceses of the Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That members of the Episcopal Church be informed of the adoption of this resolution and encouraged to contact immediately the President, their Senators and Representatives to urge attention to this resolution by all relevant units of the Episcopal Church Center through their respective networks.