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Delegates at General Synod 35 have passed a resolution opposing the Trump administration's immigration policies. The resolution supports immigrants and refugees and calls for antiracism work. Rev. Arlene Infante Turner of the South Central Conference, who moderated the committee reviewing the resolution, emphasized its necessity: “I want to emphasize that the committee’s wholehearted recommendation is that this resolution must pass.”
The committee worked to enhance the language of the resolution, adding sections to stress urgent responses and advocating for permanent offices for immigrant rights. Turner noted, “These injustices, persecutions and hatred have impacted not only the undocumented but also the documented with legal status because of their race or ethnicity.”
The resolution was submitted by COREM and passed with a vote of 626-10, with three abstentions. Nikki Manley-Smith urged church members to join COREM in protecting immigrant rights: “I implore you, the body of the church, to join COREM in their effort to protect immigrant rights."
Rev. David Popham praised its focus on Micronesian communities affected by COFA migration status: “This resolution shines light upon an underreported and therefore greatly ignored population caught up in the national migrant purge.”
The plenary floor amended it to include "disability discrimination" among systemic harms affecting immigrants. Rev. Tyler Connoley highlighted issues faced by disabled immigrants: “Because of rhetoric, people with disabilities who have immigrated are sometimes told that they are not beneficial.”
Economist Taki Manolakos provided statistics on immigrants' economic contributions during an educational session related to the resolution.
Rev. John Werner supported it for moral reasons: “I support this is because it is right... To love, love, love and stop any kind of hatred."
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