(RNS) — A broad group of prominent national and local Jewish organizations has sent a letter to President Donald Trump voicing stern opposition to his immigration policies and urging him to abandon plans for what they describe as “widespread persecution of immigrants.”
The letter, provided exclusively to Religion News Service before being unveiled on Monday (Jan. 27), railed against Trump’s immigration policies, which include promising to enact the “largest deportation” in U.S. history and largely freezing the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
“As 88 organizations that represent millions of diverse American Jews across the country, we write in opposition to your Administration’s plans to launch mass deportations, build massive detention camps, and conduct sweeping raids,” the letter reads.
The authors pointed to Judaism’s lengthy experience with immigration throughout history, noting Jewish people “have been forced to flee, denied access to safety, scapegoated, detained, and exploited.”
“This history and our Jewish values make immigration policy — including ensuring a functioning and welcoming refugee program and protection of the right to seek asylum — deeply personal to the Jewish community,” the letter reads.
The letter also appeared to reference Trump’s decision to end an internal government policy of discouraging immigration raids on hospitals, schools and houses of worship, a move that has been condemned by a wide spectrum of faith groups.
“During times of uncertainty and vulnerability, the places where people most often turn are …