Chicago New Sanctuary Coalition

When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the stranger. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the stranger as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Leviticus 19: 33-34)

The Chicago New Sanctuary Coalition is...

...a coalition of interfaith religious leaders, congregations and communities called by our faith to respond actively and publicly to the suffering of our immigrant sisters and brothers.

We stand together in our faith that everyone, regardless of national origin, has basic human rights, including but not limited to: 1) livelihood; 2) family unity; and 3) physical and emotional safety. We witness the violation of these rights under current immigration policy, particularly in the separation of families due to unjust deportations, and in the exploitation of immigrant workers. We are deeply grieved by the violence done to families through immigration raids and unjust detentions. We cannot in good conscience ignore such suffering and injustice.

We are called to challenge faith communities and leaders through education, advocacy, and action to live in compassionate solidarity with our immigrant sisters and brothers. We are committed to lifting up the voices of immigrants, working for just and humane immigration policies, and the transformation of the social and economic systems that perpetuate the poverty in immigrants' home countries that drive much of the migration. We also seek ways to build relationships of solidarity between faith communities - relationships that have the power to change hearts and minds necessary to ensure that not just our religious communities, but our world, is a sanctuary of peace and justice for all people.

Therefore, We Covenant To:

Take a public, moral stand for immigrants' rights
Reveal, through education and advocacy, the actual suffering of immigrant workers and families under current and proposed legislation
Be a prophetic voice against hate, workplace discrimination, and unjust deportations

Our Mission

We are an interfaith coalition called to challenge faith communities and leaders through education, advocacy, and action to live in compassionate solidarity with our immigrant sisters and brothers.

Our Vision

We will educate all people about the failures of our nation's current immigration system. Through this transformative education, we will stand together as one prophetic voice demanding the most just and humane immigration policies necessary to ensure that not just our religious community, but our nation, is a sanctuary of peace and justice for all people.

Our Values

We believe in the dignity of all persons, regardless of their national origin. Together we will bear the fruit of Sanctuary: Justice, Unity, Physical and Emotional Safety, Equality, Solidarity and Peace.