At a time when some state leaders — including Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman — vowed to deny public benefits to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, yesterday Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick sent a different message to DREAMers.

Under a new policy laid out by Patrick, undocumented immigrants who have been approved under DACA will qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges.

Exit polling from Tuesday’s presidential election is offering new hope to activists advocating for comprehensive immigration reform. The Latino community was instrumental in reelecting President Barack Obama, as record numbers turned out to vote and supported the president by over 70 percent. These numbers send a clear message to opponents of immigration reform that demonizing immigrants and blocking progress makes for a poor political strategy.

When I go out with my Dad, he often wears a cap identifying him as a Korean War veteran.  Over and over again, people tell him, “Thank you for serving.” Over and over again.

I’m always struck by the contrast between that appreciation and the sad, hidden truth about our country’s treatment of some other veterans. I’m speaking of the government’s detention and deportation of many immigrants who served in our armed forces but who are not yet citizens. 

Candles burn near the bloodstained concrete sidewalk where a youth was tragically killed when more than a dozen bullets shot across the wall into the Mexican bordertown. I've walked that sidewalk running parallel to the border wall and Calle Internacional in Nogales, Sonora possibly hundreds of times. It is with this intimate awareness of the context that I describe how recent deaths in the name of homeland security are an affront to all families of the borderlands.

Four deaths in six weeks across the border region, one common offender

For thus says the Lord:

Montana will vote next month on a ballot measure that would not only cost the state millions of dollars and intrude on its citizens, but would also deny basic services to thousands of people all in the name of fear. 

Months of tireless efforts by advocacy groups and the faith community will soon come to fruition in Maryland. In a couple of weeks,  a ballot referendum, known as “Question 4,” will determine if undocumented youth will have the opportunity to access higher education at the same rates as other Maryland youth. The measure, which passed through the General Assembly last year and was then signed into law by Gov. Martin O’Malley was challenged by state legislators who pressed for a referendum.

We all know the conversation on immigration in the United States can oftentimes become contentious, with inaccurate portrayals of immigrants inhibiting progress. The most recent attempt to fuel the debate with fear driven messaging is by NumbersUSA.   A new ad by the organization tries to pit racial groups against each other by suggesting that immigrants admitted to the country on work permits are “stealing” jobs from other racial minorities.

The words we use are powerful, especially when it comes to talking about people created in God’s image. Word choice shapes how people perceive events and respond to the arguments made by people in the public arena. As Christians, we are called to speak up when our society uses language that dehumanizes and degrades our brothers and sisters.