We are going back to Lansing - will you join us?
On Tuesday, November 12 Strangers No Longer is going back to Lansing. Click here to register. This post-election trip is to continue to urge the legislators that the Drive Safe bills must come up for debate and get passed before year-end. These bills allow a driver license or state-ID card to be issued without proof of citizenship (just like it was before 2008).
Click here to register. We’ll make it easy for you with buses, lunch, guest speakers. If there ever was a time to dip your toe in the waters of social justice, this is it!
A heartbreaking fact in Michigan: Over 100,000 men and women in our state work on our farms, restaurants, hotels, and in our manufacturing industry – but since 2008 we do not allow them to have driver's licenses or state ID cards because of their immigration status.
People can’t legally drive to work, their children to school, or go to the grocery store. They don’t have an acceptable ID at banks and pharmacies. Enrolling their children in school becomes a problem.
Think of the emotional trauma that comes from being treated as “less” or as a “societal problem” instead of as a person who contributes to our community and economy.
We have a chance to correct this problem with the Drive Safe bills.
There is a good chance that they will come out of committee yet this year.
Understanding Immigration in 2024:
How it Informs our Faith Webinars
Once a Month on Tuesdays from June to September at 7:00pm.
Immigration will be a hot topic in the coming election season and we need to understand the issues and be prepared with facts to talk to our family, friends, and neighbors this summer. To help us get prepared, our SNL education team has developed four sessions that will cover different issues about immigration. You're going to want to attend every session and since they will all be webinars, you will be able to participate no matter where you are this summer!
1) Common Sense Reforms to U.S. Immigration Policy - Tuesday, June 18 - Over 100 attended (Click here for the recording.) (Click here for the transcript.)
2) What is Really Happening at the Border? - Tuesday, July 16 - over 100 attended (Click here for the recording.) (Click here for the transcript.)
3) Research Shows: Immigrants Make Societies More Successful with author Zeke Hernandez - Tuesday, August 20: (Click here for the recording.)
(Click here for the transcript.)
4) Catholic Social Teaching and Voting - Tuesday, September 17: Register Here
Click here for more information
Our Annual Banquet was a Success!
Our thanks to Dylan Corbett, Exec. Director of Hope Border Institute Terrence Lester's Island Music Duo and Joyas de Mexico
Over 400 attended, gift baskets were auctioned off, music, food, and fellowship were enjoyed!
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Assembly to Affirm Human Dignity - December 2023!
Over 100 SNL members and friends gathered at the Union Carpenters and Millwrights Skilled Training Center in Detroit on December 15th for the second annual Assembly for Human Dignity. We were honored to host Fr. Cornelius Okeke, pastor of St. Andre Bessette in Ecorse, Michigan State Senator Stephanie Chang, and Michigan State Representative Tyrone Carter.
The event was an opportunity to reflect on the year of 2023 and look ahead to 2024. As we contemplated Advent, we remembered members of SNL who passed away this year.
We heard from our Circles of Support, cheering them on for their accomplishments including direct support for families, advocacy for the Drive Safe bills in Lansing, and educating fellow parishioners about immigrant issues. We learned about our high school students involved in “Youth in Action for Immigration.”
Our immigrant Circles presented an updated Platform for Human Dignity that now includes issues regarding wage theft. (Click here for the updated platform.) Immigrant members gave moving testimony about the impact of unjust laws regarding driving and employment in Michigan.
Our Drive Safe Advocacy Day on February 28th was a Success!
Over 160 SNL members and friends made the trip to Lansing. We met with 65 legislators. We had a large representation from both our Latino and Anglo members.
We welcomed some VIPs to our meeting room: Sen. Stephanie Chang, Sen. Jeff Irwin, Sen. Mary Cavanagh, and Paul Stankiewicz from the Michigan Catholic Conference.
Over 30 students and their teachers from three high schools joined us—Cristo Rey in Detroit, Shrine in Royal Oak, and Brother Rice--to meet with legislators.
Our event was the lead story on WLNS Channel 6 news in Lansing at 12 noon.
Sen. Jeff Irwin, whose office arranged for our meeting rooms, introduced Strangers No Longer on the Senate floor in the morning.
Rep. Tyrone Carter introduced our high school students on the House floor in the afternoon.
Over 20 Dominican Sisters joined us, expanding our meetings to include legislators from the Adrian area.