Border Policy: Addressing the Root Causes of Hunger and Immigration
We urge Congress to embrace smarter immigration and border enforcement policy.
Bread for the World recognizes immigration to be a hunger issue on both sides of the border. We call on Congress to take a comprehensive approach, one that welcomes the migrant and addresses the underlying causes of undocumented immigration. Not only would this be the moral thing to do but it also makes fiscal sense.
Even though the United States spends more than $11 billion on border enforcement annually, thousands of new undocumented immigrants arrive every year.
This level of spending on border enforcement, including personnel, has had minimal impact on curtailing undocumented immigration and has come at a high economic and human cost. Data from the Department of Homeland Security, for instance, shows that known migrant deaths have nearly doubled over a decade.
We urge Congress to embrace smarter immigration and border enforcement policy. This should include funding for programs that address push factors of migration from Central America; a reasonable pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants; and effective oversight and accountability of border enforcement practices and personnel, in any border enforcement funding bill.
Border patrol funding is nearly 17 times more than aid support for Central America
Tools
from our Resource Library
For Education
Climate, Racial Equity, and Hunger Series: Latino/a Communities
Climate Change Worsens Hunger in Latino/a Communities
Climate, Racial Equity, and Hunger Series: Indigenous Communities
Climate change threatens the traditions and lifestyles of Indigenous people.
Climate, Racial Equity, and Hunger Series: African American Communities
While climate change impacts everyone, regardless of race, policies and practices around climate have historically discriminated against and excluded people of color.
For Faith
Finding Hope, Ending Hunger on Both Sides of the Border: A Bilingual Latino Devotional
Devotional writers challenge us to feel the Spirit of God within us and to hear God’s urgent call to demand justice so all can put food on the table.The Bible on Health as a Hunger Issue
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in faith.” These words from Colossians 2:6 remind us of the faith that is active in love for our neighbors.
The Bible on...
Faith Leaders' Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty
A diverse body of Christian leaders calls on the churches and Congress to focus on the integral connection.
For Advocacy
Fact Sheet: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to respond to changes in need, making it well suited to respond to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fact Sheet: Why We Need $200 Million for Global Nutrition Programs
Bread for the World and its partners are asking Congress to provide $200 million for global nutrition.
Fact Sheet: Hunger by the Numbers
In 2017, 11.8 percent of households in the U.S.—40 million people—were food-insecure, meaning that they were unsure at some point during the year about how they would provide for their next meal.