Resources for Immigration Questions

“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35)

As Christians, the call to love God is tied closely to the call to love our neighbor – the hungry, the thirsty, and the stranger. In this time, when many of our immigrant neighbors, members, and churches feel especially vulnerable, we want you to know that we are with you. And we want to provide some resources and support as we all work together to love God and love our neighbor.

Mutual Aid

General mutual aid lists:

Example Guides and Resources

The Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law offers a Fourth Amendment Toolkit for Organizations

Download the Toolkit

USAHello offers a Multilingual Immigration Guide that is updated weekly

See the guide

Trainings and Education

Monarca hosts regular “know your rights” and “rapid response” trainings. 
Border Collaboration Network hosts webinars with helpful resources. The Border Collaboration Network monthly webinar seeks to connect persons, ministries, and organizations actively supporting asylum-seeking migrants and refugees. Webinar topics have emphasis on evolving humanitarian responses in the areas of hospitality and housing, accompaniment and sponsorship, legal services and policies, and advocacy.
Screening & Protection Tools by National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA)
Global Refuge has created a video with updates on the current immigration situation and the status of their programming.
Recording of “Ten Month In: State of Human Rights for Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Humanitarian Protection Holders” webinar by We Are All America (password: 4!eUdS9! / slides)
National Immigrant Justice Center contains a lot of helpful information.
Guidance for ICE Activity at Congregations – a slideshow from a presentation hosted by the Saint Paul Area Synod
Training Active Bystanders

Articles

“Immigration Ministry – 8 Things Churches Should Do in 2025” article by Pastor Leah Schade
Guidance from Wisconsin Council of Churches regarding sensitive spaces
“Know Your Rights” – National Immigration Law Center
“Warrants – What to Look For” – National Immigration Law Center
“5 Ways to Help Refugees and Immigrants in 2025”  – Global Refuge (includes ways to donate and advocacy information)
Minnesota Multifaith Network MnMN Immigration Resources
“The Cost of Self-Deportation” – National Immigration Project

Public Voice

The Synod has received requests from the media responding to executive orders and immigration policy. If you would be open to connecting with media about how these actions are impacting your community, please let us know. The Synod will not share anyone’s contact information without permission.
The ELCA’s Social Message on Immigration is a useful tool for talking about immigration in your congregation and says clearly that as a church “…we will work for policies that cause neither undue repercussions within immigrant communities nor bias against them.”
Presiding Bishop Eaton Issues Statement on Immigration Executive Orders (1/28/25)
A Pastoral Message from Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Region 3 Bishops (1/28/25)
Love Insists – A Message from Bishops of the ELCA to the Church (10/9/25)
For the Dignity of Our Neighbors – A Message from Bishop Jen Nagel (12/4/25)
Letter on Immigration Restrictions Following National Guard Shooting – Signed by ELCA (12/9/25)
In Support of Somali Neighbors – A video made by and featuring several MAS leaders (12/9/25)
Bishop’s Statement on ICE in Minnesota (1/12/26)
A Letter from the Bishops in Minnesota (1/15/26)

Information for Families and Children

From Salud Chicago:

From Teaching for Change:

In the face of the traumatizing ICE abductions and deportations impacting students and their families, we recommend these two picture books. They provide an opportunity for young people to talk about their fears. Without minimizing the dangers, they also suggest ways to cope as well as possible. Tengo Miedo (I’m Scared) is a bilingual workbook that can be used in schools, homes, and community centers. We recommend Until Someone Listens for its depiction of family separation. However, as with many children’s books, the young person’s activism is not portrayed in the context of the immigrant rights movement. We believe it is important for young people to learn about collective organizing throughout history and today. We Are the Builders by Deepa Iyer and We Care: A First Conversation About Justice by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli would be useful companion books to learn about the roles we can each play.

From Center for Law and Social Policy and National Immigration Law Center

New multilingual “Know Your Rights” resource for parents detained by ICE using this digital toolkit

From Free Families

Free Families Toolkit

Volunteer

Neighbors Helping Neighbors – Volunteer to be a carer, connector, or vetter and help people sheltering in place get their needs met.
Dios Habla Hoy (DHH Church) – DHH packs groceries boxes for people sheltering in place and is looking for partner organizations to help them deliver groceries due to high demand. If your congregation has the capacity to create a team to help deliver groceries semi-regularly, this might be a good opportunity for you. To learn more please reach out to Grace Harrison.