Greetings,
In this newsletter, read about the first ESL class graduation from Iglesia Bautista Unión de Cristo in Dallas. You can also learn about passport requirements. We also have some immigration news and information on upcoming immigration trainings.

Iglesia Bautista Unión de Cristo Celebrates its First ESL Graduation!
In September 2008, we featured a small group of volunteers from Iglesia Bautista Unión de Cristo, who started four new ESL classes. These volunteers including, Erica Zamora, Cesar Zamora and Maribel Paz, worked tirelessly during the last eight months and taught ESL to about 60 students. Earlier this month, they graduated 20 students to the next level of English proficiency.

That's 20 lives that have been impacted by the good work of this small church. Hats off to Unión de Cristo and may the Lord continue to bless this ministry. If you would like your church to touch lives like this, please contact me at richard.munoz@bgct.org.

Facts about Immigration
 
Time to get a passport- the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires that all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Bermuda have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer's identity and nationality to enter or depart the United States from within the Western Hemisphere."  

The first phase of the initiative began in January 2007, which required all air travelers to present a passport when entering the United States. The second phase of the initiative began on June 1, 2009 and applies to all travelers. According to the State Department you must have a passport, passport card, or other travel document approved by the Department of Homeland Security to reenter the country. For information about obtaining a passport or passport card, click here. If you plan to travel to Mexico, Canada, or Bermuda this summer, you should apply for your passport now. Processing time is currently 4-6 weeks.
 

Scripture Reflection:

Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:17).  

This is one of my favorite verses.  Note that we have to "learn" to do well. It takes effort to do the Lord's will.  Lord, may our ministries on behalf of the stranger, the oppressed, the orphans and widows affirm the words you gave to Isaiah all those years ago. Amen.

Blog Spotlight
U.S. Citizens having trouble getting passports

This week on the ISAAC Blog, we discuss passport troubles (Monday), English "only" issues in Tennessee (Wednesday), and address a disturbing story from Arizona (Friday).

National News
Christian groups calling for immigration reform

Obama/Congress- immigration reform this year?

Immigration records saved from destruction

• To view the 2009 Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. training schedule, click here.

• For the 2009 Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) training schedule, including webinars for non-profits, click here.

This month please pray for Luis in Texas. He is trying to get permission to have his wife and family join him in the United States.
 
For our complete list of prayer requests, visit the ISAAC Blog.