"You too must befriend the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." (Deuteronomy 10:19)
Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly has continuously and consistently advocated for the rights of immigrants in resolutions passed in 1992, 1995, 1997, 2003 and 2007, and the Rabbinical Assembly had distributed a High Holiday packet on the issue;
Whereas there is recognition of the need for appropriate border enforcement measures given legitimate security concerns and the interests of American citizens and workers;
Whereas many of the approximately 12 million undocumented individuals and their families currently residing in the United States are law abiding and taxpaying, live in fear due to workplace raids, harsh detentions and deportations brought about through state laws and legislation, which are often costly and destructive to states’ economies; and
Whereas proposals have been put forward to deny citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants or those on temporary visas born in the United States thus subverting the intent of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution.
Therefore be it resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly call upon the United States Congress to work towards comprehensive immigration reform in order to streamline our immigration system and deal with this problem in an effective and humane fashion;
Be it further resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly urge Congress to enact legislation to allow the children of the undocumented as well as foreign students studying here to become permanent residents on a path to citizenship and contribute their talents and skills to the civic and economic life of the United States; and
Be it further resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly reaffirm its support for faith groups and organizations working on behalf of the rights of undocumented immigrants and legal immigrants in keeping with Jewish values and teachings.
Passed by the Rabbinical Assembly Plenum, March, 2011