Episcopal Migration Ministries

Immigration & Asylum Seekers

Each day, individuals and families seeking asylum flee their home countries to escape violence, religious persecution, and war. In an effort to respond faithfully to the needs of our neighbors, the Episcopal Diocese of Texas Episcopal Migration Ministries Network seeks to distribute factual information about the ongoing humanitarian needs at its southern border and to equip congregants with resources to welcome and embrace migrants in our communities.

EDOT Episcopal Migration Ministries strives to share the realities of the migrant experience, to provide education around immigration laws and policies, to support partner organizations serving migrants in our communities, and to help individuals and Episcopal congregations walk in love as we endeavor to follow Christ and serve our neighbors.

Asylum seekers flee persecution and travel to another country to seek safety and request asylum. To receive asylum in the U.S., they must prove their persecution occurred, and that it occurred due to the membership in a protected group, as defined by U.S. and international law. Seeking asylum in the U.S. is an incredibly long, complex, and fraught process, often taking years. Many asylum seekers are detained in jail-like settings during this process. When a person receives asylum in the U.S., they become an asylee and are eligible for a number of federal assistance programs, including those offered by EMM’s resettlement affiliates.