Episode 419: Immigration Conversation with Christy Staats

Christy Staats - Midwest Mobilizer for the National Immigration Forum<br/><p></p><br/><br/><br/><p>Since April 2020, the number of people apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) near the Southwest border has been rising steadily. In early 2021, these increases have become a touchpoint in the public debate, with growing concerns voiced about the public health and humanitarian ramifications of increasing migrant arrivals. Should we treat the situation at our border as something to stoke our fears, or as Christians should we treat it as a humanitarian crisis, an opportunity to care for least of these, as Jesus has called us to do?</p><br/><br/><p>&#160;</p><br/><br/><p>My guest today is Christy Staats. Christy has worked with Cru for 15 years, 11 of which were in the UK and is now affiliate staff. She created Crossings in 2015 for her church in Northeast Ohio to encourage Americans to welcome and come alongside newly arrived refugees in partnership with resettlement and community development organizations and led a similar work with Cru nationally.&#160;She was invited to join the Bibles, Badges and Business work of the National Immigration Forum in 2018 and has been organizing and speaking with faith, law enforcement and business leaders about the need for immigration reform since.&#160;She is nearly finished with her Masters in Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.&#160;She&#8217;s here with me today to help us better understand some of the ministry opportunities awaiting us at the Southwest border and some of the challenges that are presented there.</p><br/><br/><br/><p>Links Discussed In This Show:</p><br/><br/><a href="http://www.evangelicalimmigrationtable.com/restitution">Restitution</a>&#160;<br/>&#160;<br/><a href="https://forms.bushcenter.org/2021NIFIC">Sign Up for Interview with George W. Bush about his new book and immigration&#160;</a><br/>&#160;<br/><a href="https://p2a.co/3SuMKNq">Advocacy to support Dreamers, TPS, and Farmworkers&#160;</a><br/>&#160;<br/><a href="https://