November 24, 2025

We, the pastors of the New York Community comprised of diverse faith traditions, reject the current attitude that dehumanizes and demonizes immigrants and refugees seeking hope, opportunity, and an escape from violence and poverty by coming to our country.

We support a thoughtful reform of our nation’s immigration laws, a secure border, and a reasoned vigilance against criminals, but not policies that cast immigrants into detention centers with unhealthy conditions, overwhelms families with fear, denies them of their legal status, and deprives them of access to pastoral care.

We cannot stand silent when the strangers and immigrants in our midst are subject to such vilification, cruelty, and violence.

Our religious writings are replete with the protection of the vulnerable and needy.

The Book of Psalms 82:3 teaches us to uphold the rights of the afflicted and the oppressed.

The Torah reminds us, “Do not oppress the stranger for you too were strangers in Egypt.”

The Gospel tells us that, at Judgment Day, Jesus will ask us, “When I was a stranger, did you welcome me?”

Islam Quran 4:36 teaches, “Do good to parents, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers.”

The marginalization of immigrants is contrary to what our country and our faiths have always stood for. We cannot preach “love the stranger” in our sanctuaries and behave differently on the streets of our city and all cities throughout our country.

†Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York, Chair

Rev. Dr. A.R. Bernard, Sr., President

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Vice President

Members

Imam Talib ‘Abdur-Rashid
Bishop Robert Brennan
Bishop Victor Brown
Rabbi Angela Buchdahl
Rev. Herbert Daughtry
Rev. Jacques DeGraff
Rev. Que English
Bishop Matthew Heyd
Imam Dr. Tahir Kukiqi
Elder David Marriott
Rabbi Michael Miller
Bishop John O’Hara
Rev. Al Sharpton
Rev. Msgr. Kevin Sullivan