Trenton Meeting speaks on Refugees, Immigrants and Asylum Seekers

Quaker "Minutes" are a time honored way for a local or regional Meeting to express itself on issues or concerns. When there is agreement within that Meeting and there is a desire to have this expression preserved in our history and shared with the wider community, a Minute is created.

On June 8, 2025, Trenton Meeting approved the Minute of Support for Refugees, Immigrants and Asylum Seekers in our country. It is important to note that the creation of this Minute is not the only way that Trenton Meeting is taking action.

We have allocated and distributed funds to groups and organizations that work every day with the affected communities. Among others, these include Trenton's LALDEF (Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund) and Eastern Service Workers Association.

We were in strong support of the successful lawsuit to protect our worship practice from disruption by immigration enforcement officers that was filed and argued the Democracy Forward law firm. It was filed by a number of Quaker Meetings on the US eastern seaboard. See https://www.pym.org/dhs-lawsuit/ for additional information.

We provide services, groceries and other items to the community around us without concern for a person's legal status.

We are committed to providing short term sanctuary to any individual needing time in a space that is protected from the invasion of immigration agents, per the lawsuit mentioned above.

Trenton Quaker Minute of Support for Refugees, Immigrants, and Asylum Seekers

As a Quaker religious body, we support the humane and considerate treatment of all people, and especially those refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers who have fled corrupt and dangerous conditions in their home countries to be here in the United States.

As stated by the Quaker-based American Friends Service Committee, “We believe in the inherent worth of every person, no matter where they were born.  Immigrants – like all people – should be treated with dignity and have their rights respected.”

Many verses of the Bible address the “stranger,” such as Matthew 25:35 which says, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

Refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers should never be referred to with dehumanizing terms such as “criminal alien” or “illegal immigrant.”  We call on religious and secular leaders and groups to treat all immigrants and persons with respect.  Due process must be made available to all. Not doing so is illegal, cruel, hurtful, and can result in major mistakes including detaining citizens or people with full rights to be here, for immediate deportation.  Eliminating due process for some makes it easier to eliminate due process for all.

We encourage people to speak up to put an end to heavy-handed removals, to provide for due process, and to honor the humanity of every person.  When it is asked of us, “What did you do to protect the most vulnerable?” we must have answers of which we are proud.

Minuta de Apoyo de los Cuáqueros de Trenton a Refugiados, Inmigrantes y Solicitantes de Asilo

Como cuerpo religioso cuáquero, apoyamos el trato humano y considerado hacia todas las personas, y especialmente hacia aquellos refugiados, inmigrantes y solicitantes de asilo que han huido de condiciones corruptas y peligrosas en sus países de origen para venir aquí a los Estados Unidos.

Como lo declara el Comité de Servicio de los Amigos Americanos (American Friends Service Committee), una organización cuáquera: “Creemos en el valor inherente de cada persona, sin importar dónde haya nacido. Los inmigrantes – como todas las personas – deben ser tratados con dignidad y que se respeten sus derechos.”

Muchos versículos de la Biblia se refieren al “extranjero”, como Mateo 25:35, que dice: “Porque tuve hambre y me diste de comer, tuve sed y me diste de beber, fui extranjero y me recibiste.”

Nunca se debe referir a los refugiados, inmigrantes y solicitantes de asilo con términos deshumanizantes como “extranjero criminal” o “inmigrante ilegal”. Hacemos un llamado a los líderes y grupos religiosos y laicos a tratar a todos los inmigrantes y a todas las personas con respeto. El debido proceso debe estar disponible para todos. No hacerlo es ilegal, cruel, dañino y puede resultar en errores graves, incluyendo la detención de ciudadanos o personas con pleno derecho a estar aquí, para su deportación inmediata. Eliminar el debido proceso para algunos facilita eliminar el debido proceso para todos.

Animamos a las personas a alzar la voz para poner fin a las expulsiones autoritarias, garantizar el debido proceso y honrar la humanidad de cada persona. Cuando se nos pregunten: “¿Qué hiciste para proteger a los más vulnerables?”, debemos tener respuestas de las que nos sintamos orgullosos.