As an outspoken faith community on issues of justice, First Unitarian Portland is periodically invited to sign on to amicus briefs, as a “friend of the court” for various lawsuits aligned with our faith principles. In 2019, we joined a Supreme Court case as one of many faith communities defending DACA ( Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). On June 18, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled to protect DACA by overturning the Trump Administration’s termination of the program. 

In December 2020, First Unitarian Portland was invited to join over 75 other faith-based organizations to sue the Trump administration for improperly diverting funds to build sections of the border wall. That case was filed by the Sierra Club on January 19, 2021. We were informed today that on his first day of office, President Biden signed an executive order terminating the “national emergency” at the southern border, pausing work on the wall to the extent permitted by law, and ordering an assessment of current plans and contracts. It is likely the court will find this lawsuit moot, and that is wonderful news!

First Unitarian Portland continues to join voices with faith communities around Portland, Oregon and across the country. The declaration below, written for the border wall amicus brief with the help of our Immigrant Justice Action Group, is an example of the statements of conscience that represent our church community.

First Unitarian Church of Portland, Oregon affirms our Unitarian Universalist faith principles, our belief in the inherent dignity and worth of every person, and the interconnected web of our communities and lives. Our church mission is to create a welcoming community of diverse individuals; to promote love, reason and freedom in religion; to foster lifelong spiritual growth; and to act for social justice. As a member of the New Sanctuary Movement, we have partnered with immigrant and refugee community groups throughout our city, our state and across the country. Our church’s involvement in the New Sanctuary Movement has included providing humanitarian aid on the U.S./Mexico border to our migrant siblings seeking refuge, providing temporary respite to asylees once released from improper detention in federal prison, supporting DACA recipients to re-apply for their status, educating our congregation about draconian immigration policies, accompanying undocumented Oregonians to ICE check-ins, advocating for statewide laws and policies that support undocumented Oregonians to work, live and play free of constant stress of fear of removal. We believe that the war on people seeking asylum due to religious or any other form of persecution is immoral. The border wall, as part of a national and lethal policy of “prevention through deterrence,” should be deconstructed, not expanded. We condemn the Trump administration’s abuse of power as demonstrated in the misallocation of tax monies to construct more sections of the border wall. We are especially outraged by the disregard for the native communities whose sacred land has been destroyed, and the ecosystems that are permanently disrupted by the wall’s arbitrary bifurcation. It is a matter of faith that we join this amicus brief.