I love in Hendersonville, North Carolina. There are two groups here who are beginning the process of attempting to assidst our Hispanic neighbors. One group is called the Justice Initiative. It meet the second Tuesday of every month in the dental office of the blue Ridge Community Health Services complex on Route 64 and Howard Gap Roads.
HendersonCounty has adopted a program through ICE whose purpose is to detain and deport "illegals". It was supposed to deport only felony criminals. However, in actuality it arrests and deports people without documentation and a driver license. It has caused a "rain of terror" for our Hispanioc neighbors. The Justice Initiative is attempting to address this problem.
There is also a group called the Response Team that is for members of Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville. The church has a large Hispanic group of people who are nearly completely segregated from the Caucasian part of the parish. We hope to create understanding between these groups and assist the Hispanics in their most pressing needs. It is difficult to know how to go about this. We need help. There is such hostility toward the "undocumented" in our community. What can we do to change laws and better the situation?

Thank you for your efforts.
Since our first immigrants crossed what we now call the Bering Strait, the Western Hemisphere has been enriched by the gifts each new group has brought. Our present immigrants are a blessing today, and a major part of our hope for tomorrow. As descendants of immigrants, it is our God-given privilege, and responsibility, to welcome and assist our newly arrived "fellow travelers." The love and assistance we extend to them are the proof of our Faith and gratitude for our heritage; as also they are socially and economically prudent and practical, and are the test of the integrity of the American political and social experiment.

We are all God's children - I pray our arms are opened wide to make room for all who seek refuge. We must never tire of doing all we can to make the necessary changes.

It is so great to see so many people from all races come together to support immigrants, especially in the past couplle of years. Thanks for your suppot guys! Let's keep it up!

A thankful immigrant

North Carolina Council of Churches,

Thanks for doing this important work. You have my full support regarding hospitality for immigrants in North Carolina. I pray for justice and refuge for all people.

Rev. Tiffney Marley