March 14, 2018

"If We Want to Support Refugees, We Need To End the Wars That Create Them"

"Ultimately, with sanctuary should come a renewed commitment to challenging the U.S. foreign policies that actually displace people."

The sanctuary movement needs an anti-war voice.

BY Azadeh Shahshahani and Maha Hilal

IN THESE TIMES in partnership with Foreign Policy In Focus.
Posted on Portside, March 14, 2018

"The concept of sanctuary, providing refuge and protection to people who are marginalized and oppressed, has a long history in the United States—even when the United States itself is responsible for that repression.

An early example of sanctuary in the United States is the Underground Railroad of the 19th century, which helped people escape slavery through routes and houses identified as safe by abolitionists and freedom seekers. In the 1950s and 60s, African-American organizers of the civil rights movement often held meetings in churches. Immigrant justice advocates have pioneered “sanctuary churches” since the 1980s.

These days, the concept is most often associated with so-called “sanctuary cities”—state and local jurisdictions that say they refuse to cooperate with federal efforts to deport undocumented residents. These cities have been relentlessly targeted by the Trump administration.

Meanwhile, through three iterations of the Muslim Ban and other policies, Trump has drastically cut the number of refugees accepted into the United States from other countries.

The administration's aggression has reignited movements to challenge anti-immigrant policies and defend the rights and safety of immigrants. Successful legal challenges have been lodged against an anti-sanctuary city order, for example, while other challenges initially delayed the full implementation of the Muslim Ban. Still, none of that fightback has deterred the administration from its war on sanctuary, or on immigrant communities more generally.

Troublingly, the U.S. foreign policies that displace people from other countries remain firmly in place. And here, there's a lot of room for the sanctuary movement to grow.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

With the administration creating such a hostile atmosphere, the role of sanctuary to protect vulnerable communities has become even more critical. But in the long term, sanctuary has to mean more than just providing refuge, or filing legal briefs on behalf of the displaced, though these services are vital.

Ultimately, with sanctuary should come a renewed commitment to challenging the U.S. foreign policies that actually displace people." ...

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