Immigration and Friends’ Testimonies

Danielle Short, AFSC Colorado Human Rights Director

Friends have been concerned about exploitation and dehumanization of workers for many years, most notably in our opposition to slavery. I see these injustices in the context of immigration today, but as Friends, we have not reached clarity about a collective spirit-led response to this issue. My experiences working with immigrants confirm my belief that the Quaker Testimonies call us to pursue just and humane policies towards immigrants. For me, the core question of Quakerism is “how can we best honor the human dignity in all of us?” My faith calls me to work for a society where we celebrate the dignity and gifts of everyone, regardless of immigration status.