Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church advocate for an end to detention and other unjust immigration policies, envisioning a just society in which everyone, regardless of national origin, has basic human rights including livelihood, family unity, self-determination, and physical and emotional safety; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention of The Episcopal Church deplore and specifically oppose and specifically call for an end to the U.S. government’s policy of immigration detention, which is clearly at odds with human welfare and dignity and is also expensive, ineffective, and unnecessary; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention also oppose and call for the U.S. government to cease using electronic monitoring and surveillance of immigrants as an “alternative” to detention, including ankle monitors and mobile-phone-based surveillance technologies, which unjustly deprive them of liberty and privacy and threaten the human rights of all people; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention direct the Office of Government Relations and urge all Episcopalians to advocate for our government to address these serious shortcomings in our treatment of the “strangers in our midst” by advocating for elimination of detention and surveillance in favor of proven policies that:

• Provide true community-based and community-supported alternatives to detention
• Fund non-governmental non-profit organizations to deliver case management support based on individualized needs assessments, including the provision of clear information regarding participants’ rights and obligations with regard to immigration processing and the consequences of non-compliance
• Include referrals to community-supported services, including legal services, social services, and medical and mental health support
• Treat asylum seekers and migrants with dignity, humanity, and respect, assuring that any restrictions and compliance obligations placed on participants are the least onerous possible