Congregational Stories About Immigration
Working for justice and striving for equality and diversity are at the center of the lives of many individual Unitarian Universalists. As we seek to live lives that are justice-filled and that affirm the inherent worth and dignity of each person, we can gain strength from one another.
In these stories about congregational life, we share what other congregations have done to bring about justice or deepen learning on immigration.
Alabama
- Unitarian Universalist (UU) Ministers Urge Alabama Governor to Veto Draconian Anti-Immigrant Bill, June 6, 2011
- Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville, AL
Arizona
- Arizona Unitarian Universalists (UUs) March for Immigrant Rights
- Thousands march against Arpaio in Phoenix, Arizona, February 28, 2009
- UUs Protest Arizona's Anti-Immigrant Law, April 27, 2010
- As SB1070 Heads Back to Court, SSL’ers Stand in Solidarity with Arizonans Against the Racist Law, November 2010
- Report from Today’s Phoenix Trial of UUA Pres. Rev. Peter Morales, July 29, 2011
- UU Congregation of Phoenix, AZ:
- Advocates Achieve Success in Investigation of Arizona Sheriff and Rewrite of 287(g) Program, February 13, 2009
- Honor Thy Neighbor: Speak Out Against Sheriff Arpaio and the 287(g) Agreements, February 20, 2009
- Investigation of Arizona Sherriff's Questionable Practices Results from Advocacy, March 13, 2009
- Standing on the Side of Love & Dreams with Immigrant Families, January 19, 2010
- UUs share their own immigration stories, November 8, 2010
- Thirteen Protesters Sentenced to “Time Served” for Acts of Civil Disobedience Against SB 1070 on July 29, 2010, August 24, 2011
- UU Church of Tucson, AZ:
- Awakening Compassion on the Border, December 20, 2008
- Federal Trial Begins for Unitarian Universalist Humanitarian Aid Worker, June 2, 2009
- Federal trial begins for UU, June 1, 2009
- A Story of Courageous Love from Southern Arizona, February 1, 2011
- In Tucson, People of Faith, Students & Parents Defend Embattled Ethnic Studies Program, May 5, 2011
California
- UU Church in Anaheim, CA:
- Central California area:
- Pacific Central District Immigration Conference Draws Over 225 People, October 29, 2011
- Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, CA:
- Protesters target immigration reform with rally at congressman's office, December 10, 2009
- Posadas & Interfaith Witness with Immigrant Families, December 10, 2011
- UU Church of Long Beach, CA:
- Resolution Supports Sanctuary for Immigrants, May 6, 2007
- UU Fellowship of North Bay, CA:
- Church joins immigration protests, May 1, 2006
- San Diego UU Cluster
- First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego, CA:
- First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco, CA:
- Line drawn on immigration legislation, April 8, 2006
- Santa Cruz Area
- Two Santa Cruz UU clergy arrested, dozens protest Arizona law in Santa Cruz, July 30, 2010
- Southern California Area
- Standing on the Side of Amor (Love) with Immigrant Families, November 29, 2010
- First Unitarian Universalist Church of Stockton, CA:
- UU Rev preaches on Child Citizen Protection Act, May 21, 2009
- Tapestry Unitarian Church in Mission Viejo, CA:
- O.C. minister, local arrested in Phoenix protests, July 30, 2010
- Ventura County, CA:
- Learning from Liliana in sanctuary in Simi, September 8, 2009
- Posadas & Interfaith Witness with Immigrant Families, December 10, 2011
- Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church in Walnut Creek, CA
- Pacific Central District Immigration Conference Draws Over 225 People, October 29, 2011
- UUs Stand in Solidarity with Immigrant Workers in California, June 27, 2011
Colorado
- First Universalist Church, Denver, CO
- What Undocumented Looks Like, January 13, 2011
- Raul Cardenas: Not Deported, but Residency Case Not Yet Solved, April 13, 2011
Connecticut
- UU Congregation of Danbury, CT:
- The Road to New Sanctuary (PDF, 5 pages): How the UU Congregation of Danbury Joined the Movement, October 1, 2008
- UU Society: East, Manchester, CT:
- Immigration Law Is An Inhumane Overreach, July 25, 2010
District of Columbia
- UU Clergy Join Other Faith Leaders in D.C. to Advocate for the DREAM Act, December 17, 2010
Florida
- Florida Faith Leaders Speak Out Against Anti-Immigrant Proposals, May 3, 2011
- Community Ministry:
- UU Minister Supports Coalition of Immokalee Workers, December 11, 2008
- Clearwater, FL
- UU congregations work for immigrant justice, September 6, 2010
- Giving a hand to immigrants, November 1, 2010
- UUs share their own immigration stories, November 8, 2010
- Ft. Lauderdale, FL:
Georgia
- Unitarian Universalist Ministers Speak Out Against Georgia’s HB 87, April 25, 2011
- Cobb County, GA
- Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, GA
Illinois
- First Unitarian Society of Chicago, IL:
- Unity Temple UU Congregation in Oak Park, IL:
- DREAM Sabbath at Unity Temple UU Congregation in Oak Park, IL, October 14, 2011
- Lincoln UU Congregation in Springfield, IL:
- UUs share their own immigration stories, November 8, 2010
Kansas
- Kansas UU’s Organize Effectively to Help Defeat Three Anti-Immigrant Measures, April 8, 2011
- Unitarian Fellowship of Lawrence, KS:
- Giving a hand to immigrants, November 1, 2010
- Kansas UU’s Organize Effectively to Help Defeat Three Anti-Immigrant Measures, April 8, 2011
- Shawnee Mission UU Church of Overland Park, KS:
- UUs share their own immigration stories, November 8, 2010
- Universalist Fellowship of Topeka, KS
Maryland
- Interfaith Coalition Launches "Prayer, Renewal and Action on Immigration" Campaign, February 11, 2009
- Maryland Passes State-Level DREAM Act, April 12, 2011
Massachusetts
- Mass. ministers on mission to stand up for immigrants, August 11, 2010
- Unitarian Universalists Successfully Organize in Massachusetts to Oppose Widely Criticized Immigration Enforcement Program, June 7, 2011
- Arlington Street Church, Boston, MA:
- UU Immigration Activists in the News, July 18, 2008
- Stop Breaking Families Apart, Leaders Say, October 4, 2008
- First Parish in Bedford, MA:
- Iraqis find friendships, January 27, 2010
- Boston Area UUs:
- Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) President Addresses Immigrant Rights May Day Rally, May 2, 2008
- UUs Join Welcoming Massachusetts Campaign Kick Off in Support of Immigrants, July 9, 2008
- "Witness for Justice": Massachusetts Unitarian Universalists Lead Interfaith Rally Against ICE Raid, October 6, 2008
- Vigil and rally outside of South Bay Detention Center in Boston, November 22, 2009
- UUA President and Boston Clergy Protest Arizona Law, May 19, 2010
- UUA President Addresses Interfaith Breakfast for New Sanctuary Movement, October 21, 2010
- In Boston, “Graduation Ceremony” for “Dreamers” Urges DREAM ACT Passage, November 30, 2010
- UUs Join MA State House Rally Urging Gov. Patrick to Say “No” to Secure Communities Program, December 23, 2010
- Standing on the Side of Love with Coalition of Immokalee Workers, March 1, 2011
- Urging Obama to Stand on the Side of Love with Immigrant Families, May 24, 2011
- Boston UUs join immigrant rights delegation to present report on failed ICE program, August 17, 2011
- Community Church, Boston, MA:
- “Keep Fighting.”, November 22, 2009
- First Parish Cambridge - Unitarian Universalist:
- “Stand” and Sing Out Your Love to Haiti, February 16, 2010
- Organizing UUs and the Community to Assist Haitians Applying for Temporary Protected Status, February 25, 2010
- UU congregations work for immigrant justice, September 6, 2010
- Shouting out about ICE Tactics: An hour well-spent at Centro Presente in Somerville, MA, October 2, 2010
- In Boston, “Graduation Ceremony” for “Dreamers” Urges DREAM ACT Passage, November 30, 2010
- The Urgency Is Real, November 30, 2010
- MA Governor Says No to ICE S-Comm at Action Joined by First Parish Cambridge UU & Others!, February 16, 2011
- Stopping S-Comm (ICE Secure Communities Program) in Massachusetts, April 26, 2011
- First Parish in Framingham, MA:
- Minister Wants Focus Put on Immigrants, January 27, 2008
- First Church in Jamaica Plain Unitarian Universalist, MA:
- UU Church of Marblehead, MA
- Rev. Wendy von Zirpolo: The Stranger, May 26, 2011
Minnesota
- Minneapolis, MN:
- White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church, MN:
- UUs’ Op-ed: Shall we be innkeepers or wise men?, December 18, 2008
Missouri
- All Souls UU Church, Kansas City, MO:
- Interfaith Group Posts Billboard Urging "Love the Immigrant as Yourself", September 25, 2007
- UU congregations work for immigrant justice, September 6, 2010
New Jersey
- UU Congregation of the Palisades in Englewood, NJ
- UU Congregation of Montclair, NJ:
- Vigil organizers aim to keep immigrant families together, September 16, 2009
- Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, NJ:
New York
- First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, NY
- New York City area congregations
- Rally for Immigrant Rights on December 9th in New York City, December 2, 2010
- Standing on the Side of Love with Immigrant Families to End ICE Program in NY, December 9, 2010
- Community Church of NY, Universalist:
- Standing on the Side of Love With Jean Montrevil, January 2010
- Standing on the Side of Love with Immigrant Families to End ICE Program in NY, December 9, 2010
- UU Fellowship of Northern Westchester in Mount Kisko, NY
- UU Fellowship at Stony Brook, NY:
North Carolina
- UU Fellowship of Wilmington, NC:
- UU congregations work for immigrant justice, September 6, 2010
Oregon
- Portland Demonstration to Support Immigrant Rights, June 27, 2007
Tennessee
- First UU Church of Nashville, TN:
- UU Youth Speak Out Against English-only Policy, January 7, 2009
Texas
- First UU Church of San Antonio, TX:
- UU congregations work for immigrant justice, September 6, 2010
- First Unitarian Church of Dallas, TX
Utah
- Religious groups show support for immigrants, June 27, 2009
- First Unitarian Church, Salt Lake City, UT:
- Local leaders rally for federal immigration reform, October 14, 2009
Vermont
- Champlain Valley UU Society, Middlebury, VT:
- Giving a hand to immigrants, November 1, 2010
Virginia
- UU Church of Arlington, VA:
- Giving a hand to immigrants, November 1, 2010
- UU Clergy Join Other Faith Leaders in D.C. to Advocate for the DREAM Act, December 17, 2010
- A United Faith Community Stands with Immigrants for a Halt to ICE Programs, February 13, 2011
- Standing on the Side of Love to End “Secure Communities”, August 29, 2011
- Bull Run Unitarian Universalists, VA:
- UU Rev witnesses on immigration at DC vigil, June 18, 2009
Washington
- University Unitarian Church, Seattle, WA:
- Standing on the Side of Love with Immigrant Youth, September 23, 2011
For more information contact socialjustice @ uua.org.
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Last updated on Wednesday, December 14, 2011.
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