A Message from Rabbi Bellows

February 1, 2026/14 Sh’vat 5786

Friends,

On Friday, January 30th, the Reform Movement published a statement on ICE Actions and Funding. I have copied three sections of the statement, along with a link to read the entire statement. We are living in precarious times; our faith, and the prime tenets of Judaism call for us to stand up for what is right and just. May all our actions lead towards justice and healing.

Core American values, rights, and principles are threatened by ICE’s violations of immigrants’ civil rights and of those protesting to protect their neighbors and their communities, as well as ICE’s militaristic actions in cities nationwide that are sweeping up people without probable cause. Too many ICE officials are undertrained or dismissive of basic rights. Countless individuals have been injured while exercising their First Amendment rights. Families have been separated, and children have been used as bait to ensnare their parents. Horrifically, two civilians, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed by ICE agents – and at least six more have died in ICE custody in 2026 so far.

Let us be clear: secure borders paired with orderly immigration processes reflect a healthy democracy. So, too, does abiding by the international agreements regarding refugees and asylum seekers to which the U.S. is a party. Immigrants who qualify should have a path to citizenship that reflects fair and compassionate eligibility standards. These are policies for which we have advocated over many decades. 

We harken back to the words of the CCAR’s 2006 Resolution on Immigration: “…the United States is a nation of laws, which must be enforced and respected in order to maintain a civil society. At the same time, we expect that — especially in a Constitutional republic founded on principles of human dignity — the laws in question must be both just and equitable.” Today, we would add that enforcement of those laws must also be just and equitable.

Rabbi Lisa Bellows

Read the full statement here:

Statement from the reform movement on ICE Actions and Funding