Immigration Task Force

Due to COVID-19, task forces have been meeting virtually. Please contact the chairperson listed to get the latest information regarding meetings.

Immigration Task Force Meeting

SOPHIA's Immigration Task Force is currently working to keep the proposed provision of Driver's Cards for undocumented people in the Governor's state budget proposal. It brings new revenue to the state and ensures that people can get to work, school, and church.

Meetings: 6:30 PM on the 2nd Monday of each month at Country Financial (17040 W Greenfield Ave Suite 200, Brookfield WI 53005)

Contact: Bernie Gonzalez at bernie.gonzalez@countryfinancial.com

Recent Work & Resources

Zero Tolerance

On June 27th, SOPHIA hosted a ‘Zero Tolerance’ presentation, during which reporter H. Nelson Goodson*, a respected immigration rights and reform journalist, gave his testimony and informed attendees about what he saw firsthand at the border during his recent trip to McAllen, Texas. Goodson reported on the conditions of children and families that he witnessed, and that there are still thousands of children without their parents.

All those who attended share the same sentiments and outrage of the millions of people not only from our country, but from the international community. Although the Trump administration has implemented an Executive Order to stop children from being separated from their parents, there is still a long way to go to begin treating asylum-seekers and other distressed immigrants humanely and with dignity.

Bernie Gonzalez, SOPHIA organizer, calls all to action. Recent SOPHIA actions include:

1. Legislative visit with Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner on July 2, 2018.

2. Pilgrimage in coordination with the catholic community ‘Share the Journey’ on September 8, 2018.

3. Letters to the editor (ongoing).

We are all responsible for continuing to pressure ALL leaders with decision-making power.

*Follow H. Nelson Goodson’s blog at Hispanic News Network, U.S.A. http://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/

Share the Journey Pilgrimage

On Saturday, September 8th, nearly 50 people Shared the Journey in a Pilgrimage from St. Joseph Catholic Church to St. Mary’s Parish. We walked in prayer, in support of our immigrant and refugee brothers and sisters all across the world. This Pilgrimage was initiated by SOPHIA with support and participation from the four Catholic churches in Waukesha, under a directive from Pope Francis to care for migrants across the globe.

Participants represented all four Catholic churches and many of SOPHIA's member congregations. At St Mary's, more joined the pilgrims as we gathered in the community room at St. Mary's to hear Daryl Morin, a successful southeast Wisconsin business owner and a leader of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) speak of our current immigration situation, illustrated with many examples of suffering by refugees and immigrants that Mr. Morin has witnessed in his extensive travels.

Participants took action by signing a petition demanding that legislators and public officials reunite the more than 500 immigrant children still separated from their parents in the United States.