VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 5/28/13)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) is encouraged that the Senate Judiciary Committee, by a 13-5 bipartisan vote, recently passed the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S.B. 744) onto the Senate for a full vote. The Senate committee mark-up spanned three weeks and covered many of the 300 amendments offered.

 “We commend the Senate Judiciary Committee for the spirit of collaboration, resulting in adopting some amendments that modestly improved the bill and opposing amendments that would have derailed the entire effort,” says the Rev. Aundreia Alexander, Esquire, ABHMS national coordinator of Immigration and Refugee Services and member of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition’s steering committee. “But the bill is not yet law. Much work is to be done to ensure that the final legislation represents a fair, comprehensive and humane immigration policy that makes our nation stronger.”

To learn about amendments to the act and further advocacy steps, American Baptists are urged to tune in to a free Interfaith Immigration Coalition webinar at 4 p.m. EDT on June 3. The number to dial is 805-399-1000, and the access code is 104402. To receive the visual portion of the webinar, register online at http://ow.ly/lmkob.

In the meantime, Congressional In-district Visits can be scheduled for the congressional recess, now through June 3. This is the last opportunity to meet with senators to advocate for immigration reform. For more information about the visits, go to www.interfaithimmigration.org.

For more information about the bill and amendment votes, visit www.judiciary.senate.gov.

ABHMS thanks American Baptists who have called their senators to express support for immigration reform.

ABHMS offers a number of resources to assist individuals and congregations with immigration advocacy. For more information, visit www.abhms.org > Ministries & Programs > Justice Ministries >Immigration and Refugee Services, or contact The Rev. Aundreia Alexander, ABHMS national coordinator of Immigration and Refugee Services, at aundreia.alexander@abhms.org or 800-222-3872, x2430.

ABHMS—the domestic mission arm of American Baptist Churches USA—ministers as the caring heart and serving hands of Jesus Christ across the United States and Puerto Rico through a multitude of initiatives that focus on discipleship, community and justice.

American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.