Send a letter to Congress now: End child detention and family separation

Children fleeing violence and poverty who are seeking asylum should be united with their families and sponsors while they await hearings on their cases, not taken away and imprisoned. But today, the U.S. government is holding thousands of children in detention centers across the country — and that number keeps growing.

Apart from being harmful to children, these policies are immoral and contrary to our Gospel mandate. The United Methodist Church has spoken out against them. It says, “We oppose immigration policies that separate family members from each other or that include detention of families with children.” (Social Principles, ¶162.H)

Because of our faith, The United Methodist Church calls for an immigration system that is rooted in the inherent worth, dignity, value and human rights of migrants. We advocate for the “elimination of indefinite detention, [and the] incarceration of children.” (Book of Resolutions, 3281)

The Shut Down Child Prison Camps Act and Families Not Facilities Act would: • Prohibit the use of emergency influx facilities. • Prohibit the Department of Health and Human Services from sharing information with the Department of Homeland Security that could lead to the detention and deportation of family members or other sponsors willing to care for these children.

Urge Congress and the president to support legislation like the Shut Down Child Prison Camps Act and Families Not Facilities Act today.

Send a letter today.

You can either send an email below or mail a handwritten letter. If you want to handwrite your letter, mail them to:
a. Your members’ offices (you can find the addresses on AFSC’s website).
b. The White House:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
c. to Church and Society and we’ll hand deliver them to the members’ D.C. office and the White House:
Church and Society
c/o End Child Detention
100 Maryland Ave., NE
Washington, D.C. 20002