As with many UUs, trying to make this world a better place is the center of my connection to Unitarian Universalism.  Ever since I was the harpist for two different new symphony orchestras in Mexico during the ’70s and ’80s I have kept my Spanish alive by making friends and being useful where needed.  I live near Trenton NJ which has a large hispano hablante population and I have a dear friend who is undocumented and a single mom of six ages 4 to 17.  I’ve been the emergency contact with all the schools for years in case she is deported, which has been a constant worry for both of us!  Each time we attended a legal clinic to make sure there was no way for her to adjust her status, we found no relief. She works in elder care, often 60 or more hours a week.  She is truly an essential worker.

When I heard of the Immigration Action Team (IAT) connected with UUSJ, I registered for the next Zoom meeting and discovered a group of knowledgeable and caring men and women from various professions; the clergy, the law, business, academia, and me–music!

This year we have been arranging advocacy calls with aides handling immigration issues for a number of Representatives and Senators, including Manchin, Sinema, Murkowski, Collins, Cassidy, Toomey and Portman.  Once we have a call lined up, I have been helping contact statewide UU congregations looking for immigration advocates who are constituents of the invited Congressional/Senate office to share their personal experience and reasons for urging the inclusion of a Pathway to Citizenship in current legislation.  These calls are the most satisfying advocacy opportunities I have ever been privileged to find and I participate gladly.  Our IAT group will search for new ways to advocate as circumstances change.  I’m thrilled to be part of the IAT.

Georganne D’Angelo,
Member Immigration Action Team