LOVE your IMMIGRANT Neighbor: Practical steps to support undocumented citizens and build community, 2nd Blog of 4

SECOND OF FOUR BLOGS:  Build Individual Relationship with Immigrants
"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some have entertained angels without realizing it."  -Hebrews 13:2

You have made the choice to be an immigrant advocate. You believe building communities of love, welcome, and support are the only ways forward in this unrecognizable political landscape. You have reached out to folks in your community you believe might be undocumented. You have handed out lots of red cards. What next?

First: Re-check in with your undocumented neighbors and friends. Do not send them explicit texts stating their status, but you can send communications like this, “Just making sure you are okay. I can only imagine how exhausting this must all be.”

Second: Ask if there is something specific you can do to ease their life. 
Here are some examples:

• See if they want to place a pick-up order for their groceries. Offer to deliver to them. Often shopping is incredibly fear-inducing for undocumented immigrants. 
• See if there is a meeting at their child’s school they are nervous about going to alone. Offer to go with them.
• Do they need any documents notarized? Offer to make an appointment at your local library (usually libraries offer this service) and go with them especially if they need another witness for their documents.
• Offer to be a reference for them with any place of employment.
• Share a list with them of service providers, from doctors to plumbers, who you know are safe.

Third: Find out their birthday. Yes, really. How will this keep them safe? It won’t, but it will bind up their broken hearts. Knowing someone’s birthday is almost a universal, cross-cultural way to express that an individual life matters. If they wonder why you are asking, simply explain you want to make sure that you remember that day. If they are concerned you might be fishing for personal information, assure them you don’t need the year, just the month and day. Write that day down in your calendar. Make sure you do not forget it. On that day do whatever feels right from sending a card to baking a cake. It doesn’t really matter. What matters is that you have indicated to this person that they matter and that you plan on celebrating their birthday in the future with them.

Fourth: Invite them to your home for pizza and games. Or lasagna and a movie. Or tea and biscuits. Why? This simple act of community will remind them they belong and there are places where they are safe and valued. Being in your home might feel like a mini-vacation from the fear they experience every day. You can not begin to imagine how this simple act will bind up their hearts.
This particular act might not feel like advocacy. It might not even feel like you are doing enough. You, like me, might want to start marching in the streets and screaming at the top of your lungs. I hear you. But remember, the only way forward is together. The only way to defeat hate is with love. This will be a long four years. We need to build as much loving-community in as many pockets of our life as we can. These four steps might be more important than marching. (BTW please still march with really, really big signs!)