Archive of statements and presentations made on immigration reform







Dear President Bush and Members of Congress:

We are writing to you as non-partisan Hispanic Evangelical leaders and churches who are concerned about the issue of immigration and the current polarization of our society. Accordingly, the lack of passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform legislation has created a reality where our Borders are yet fully secured and the immigrant families a long with the entire Hispanic American community find ourselves facing racial profiling, discrimination and a hostile ethnically polarized environment not seen since the days prior to the successes of the Civil rights movement.

Cities across America are beginning to pass ordinances that in essence legalize racial profiling and place the Latino community in an unnecessary defensive posture. We urge you to pass comprehensive immigration reform. The current state of immigration in this country is a complex situation; nevertheless, we as Americans have the intellectual wherewithal, the political acumen and the spiritual fortitude to reconcile the principles of law and order with a pathway to citizenship for those that seek to live the American Dream.

The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) which is the National Hispanic Association of Evangelicals hereby joins with the National Hispanic Christian Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform and other key Latino Evangelical leaders in a call to our Federal Government to unite our Nation and pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform. As the sister organization of the National Association of Evangelicals, we serve approximately 14.5 Million Hispanic Americans in issues that pertain to the family, immigration, economic mobility, education, political empowerment, and spiritual/moral enrichment. We are all, the NHCLC and partners, wholeheartedly committed to assist in the threading of the Hispanic American narrative. Our desire is for every Latino in America to become a productive citizen, master both the English and Spanish languages, embrace the core values of the American idea and realize the American Dream.

The Hispanic Church in America calls upon President George W. Bush and members of Congress to finally pass and sign into law legislation that will protect our borders, put an end to all illegal immigration, create a market driven guest worker program and facilitate avenues by which the millions of families already in America that lack the legal status can earn such status in a manner that reflects the Judeo Christian Value system this nation was founded upon. Let us protect our borders, protect all our families and thus, protect the American dream.

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez Jr, President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
Rev. Mark V. Gonzales, President, Hispanic Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Public Policy Liaison, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference

Endorsements of National Evangelical Organizations, Churches & Leaders:

Rev. Felix Posos, Superintendent Emeritus, Assemblies of God, NPLAD, Chairman NHCLC
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez Jr, President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
Dr. Albert Reyes, President, Baptist University of The Americas, Texas Baptist Convention
Dr. Gilbert Velez, Senior Pastor Mercy Church, Laredo, Texas. VP, Public Policy, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
Dr. Angel Nunez, Senior Vice President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
Dr. Sergio Navarrette, Assemblies of God Superintendent, California, Nevada
Dr. David Lazo, World Harvest Churches
Dr. David Espinoza, Trinity Church, San Fernando, Ca. Vice Chair, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference

National Association of Evangelicals Board Chairman releases Statement on Immigration Issues:

Immigration is a critical issue and one that evangelicals must approach from a biblical worldview. There are many facets to this concern and thoughtful dialogue is crucial. The National Association of Evangelicals is diligently working with our members, especially the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, to partner effectively on this matter. The evangelical community is unified in our desire to achieve a balanced and thoughtful perspective on immigration that is consistent with a biblical worldview and once that accurately reflects our membership.

The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference calls upon President George W. Bush and Members of the Senate to enact legislation that will address all facets and dimensions of the immigration issue. Our concerns stems from the immigration legislation recently passed by the House of Representatives and the subsequent proposals currently in the Senate.

As Hispanic Evangelical leaders we are concerned with the security of our nation and the simultaneous well being of our immigrant families of which the majority is of Latin American descent. We support immigration reform based on our Judeo/Christian value system that empowered this nation of immigrants to thrive while preserving standards of compassion and humane treatment to all who seek a better life

The Hispanic Evangelical church consists of approximately 20 million Hispanics in America. We wholeheartedly understand the legal, moral and political juxtaposition surrounding this issue. However, we believe that we can protect our borders, implement current immigration laws and present a viable solution to the undocumented immigrants currently in our nation within the framework of Biblical mandates and our Judeo/Christian Value System.

The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference encourages the enactment of a comprehensive immigration legislation which will include the following:

1. Border enforcement and protection initiatives that include the application and enhancement of technological, military and law enforcement capabilities that will protect our borders while enabling and facilitating the implementation of our nation’s immigration policy. Let us put an end to all illegal immigration.
2. temporary designation for immigrant workers and their families who upon satisfaction of criteria and due process, begin the path towards permanent residency and citizenship
3. Overhaul of immigration quotas and current tenants in the family reunification process with the purpose of drastically reducing the waiting times for separated families while increasing the number of visas granted to individuals that will contribute intellectual, spiritual and economic capital to the American Experience.
4. A viable guest worker program that will strengthen the economic vitality of both employer and employee.

Our society is based on three primary foundational pillars; the Judeo Christian Value System, law and order and the pursuit of the American Dream. We can pass legislative reform that will strengthen and reflect these foundational pillars without compromising any of them.

Let us work together to protect our borders, enforce the law, secure all families, and preserve the values of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
March 1, 2006