Published: March 21, 2025
February 23.2025
Dear Senator Barrasso, Senator Lummis and Representative Hageman,
Jackson Hole members of the Religious Society of Friends Worship Group (Quakers) welcome immigrants in our community without regard to documentation or official status.
We object to recent Trump administration actions that subject our immigrant neighbors to unnecessary fear. harassment and danger" We also oppose bills being debated in the WY legislature that intentionally or unintentionally threaten our immigrant neighbors.
We are alarmed that President Trump has rescinded a longstanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (lCE) policy that restricts ICE agents from conducting immigration arrests in or near "sensitive locations" like hospitals, schools, and houses of worship. We believe that no one should be prevented from attending religious services or school, or seeking necessary health care out of fear of detention.
We recognize that immigrant families living in Wyoming may have a mix of US citizens, documented and undocumented members in multiple generations. We feel that deportation of critical family members. or entire families is cruel and unnecessary.
We are concerned with the safety of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and TPS (Temporary Protected Status) enrollees, who have met legal requirements for maintaining their status. but may now be subject to deportation.
We are appalled by the Trump administration's use of Guantanamo Bay and military bases as immigrant detention facilities, and the accompanying unnecessary cost. We acknowledged that illegal immigration is a complex worldwide problem. We urge the US Congress to return to their work on a reasonable, enforceable and humane immigration system lor our country. Reactivating the bi-partisan agreement that was scuttled before the last election would be an excellent starting point.
Respectfully submitted by Jackson Hole Friends Worship Group
David Dornan, Clerk of Meeting
Karen Jerger. Recording Clerk
This message was approved by consensus among Friends. reached through a process of respectful discussion and spiritual discernment.