An Updated Consensus Statement on Immigration
In June 2025, the JCRC Bay Area Council adopted an updated consensus statement on immigration, affirming the Jewish community’s shared support for policies that promote dignity, safety, and inclusion for immigrants and refugees.
This update was not made lightly. As national conversations and local conditions around immigration continue to evolve, with rising enforcement, legal uncertainty, and deep community impact, the times demand renewed moral clarity and strategic direction. This statement ensures that JCRC’s advocacy is grounded in the values, priorities, and lived experiences of our diverse Bay Area Jewish community.
Developed through months of learning, dialogue, and deliberation, the statement reflects the collective voice of 71 Jewish organizations and over 100 Council members across the region. It is both a reaffirmation of Jewish values and a framework to guide our work moving forward.
Why Immigration Is a Jewish Issue
Jewish tradition commands us, time and again, to protect the stranger, because we were once strangers in the land of Egypt. That moral imperative has guided generations of Jewish advocacy and continues to shape our response to modern immigration challenges.
We know from experience what it means to flee violence, cross borders, and rebuild lives in unfamiliar places. These experiences form the backbone of our communal commitment to immigrant justice today.
UPCOMING WEBINAR:
Welcoming the Stranger: Jewish Teachings and Community Action in Support of Immigrants
Tuesday, August 12 at 4:30 p.m. PST
Join JCRC Bay Area for a timely conversation on the Jewish values that shape our response to immigration, the real-world impact of current policy, and how our community can take action. We’ll hear from Senator Jesse Arreguín and Assemblymember Gail Pellerin about key upcoming legislation, learn how to get involved with Rapid Response Networks from PACT, and explore common myths and moral imperatives. Additional speakers to be announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a JCRC consensus statement?
Consensus statements represent official positions adopted by the JCRC Bay Area Council, which includes 71 Jewish organizations and over 100 community leaders. These statements reflect broad agreement across our diverse community and guide JCRC’s public policy and advocacy work.
How are consensus statements created?
Consensus is reached through a structured, inclusive process. JCRC provides education, facilitates civil discourse, and creates space for deliberation. A statement is only adopted if at least 75% of voting Council members approve it, though most statements exceed 85% support.
Why did JCRC choose to speak out on immigration now?
Immigration has long been a core concern for the Jewish community, but recent policy shifts and enforcement practices have brought new urgency to the issue. This updated statement reaffirms the Jewish community’s commitment to standing with immigrants – especially in a time of heightened vulnerability.
Find Help, Get Involved, Share Resources
JCRC does not provide legal or direct services, but we work closely with organizations that do. If you or someone you know is impacted by immigration enforcement, or if you want to share trusted information, here’s where to start:
These resources are not intended to provide legal advice on any matter. We strongly advise you to speak with legal counsel to understand your potential risk.
Know Your Rights
- Know Your Rights: Immigrants’ Rights – ACLU
- National Immigration Law Center: Know Your Rights Resources
- Resources for Schools
- Resources for Employers
Legal Services
- Bar Association of San Francisco – Volunteer Legal Support: If you are an attorney looking for ways to volunteer your legal services to immigrants in need, this website provides you with information on how to get involved.
- San Francisco Immigrant Legal Defense Collaborative: A collaboration of 16 San Francisco-based legal service organizations with diverse areas of expertise and different social support programs.
- San Francisco Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs: Operates and funds programs that help immigrants including free legal services, language accessibility, and training and workshops for immigrants.
- Immigration Advocates Network: The Advocate Resource Center connects the advocate community to webinar training and materials from national experts. It contains an immigration related library, updates and news, opportunities for pro bono legal volunteers, and a national directory for legal assistance.
- List of Bay Area Immigrant Legal Services
Rapid Response Hotlines (Bay Area)
Rapid response networks in California respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detentions and raids. Many counties have a local rapid response hotline available 24/7. Contact your local rapid response network to learn more about these ways you can support the immigrant community:
- Alameda County: 510-241-4011
- Contra Costa County: 925-900-5151
- Marin County: 415-991-4545
- West Marin County: 415-755-3622
- San Francisco County: 415-200-1548
- San Mateo County: 203-666-4472
- Santa Clara County: 408-290-1144
- Santa Cruz County: 831-239-4289
- Find your local Rapid Response Network: California Rapid Response Networks
California Bills We’re Supporting
- AB 49: Limits immigration enforcement on school and daycare campuses
- AB 1025: Allows parents to designate a “standby guardian” for their child in the event of an immigration enforcement action
- SB 81: Protects confidentiality in health and care facilities
Find Help, Get Involved, Share Resources
