The Ruth Project: Waco Immigrant Services Center

 

     This morning I met with Carmen Branscum. Carmen is a Social Work Intern at the Ruth Project here in Waco. The Ruth Project is joint venture of both the Waco Regional Baptist Network and the Isaac Project of Buckner International. She came to talk with me about what they do and how we can possibly be a part of what they do.

     The Ruth Project is the Waco Immigrant Services Center.  They provide legal and social assistance to the undocumented immigrant community, those not documented for long term stays and immigrants seeking to secure citizenship here in the U.S. Their clients are predominately undocumented immigrants who are seeking legal status and help with the immigration laws and process. They also seek to help educate the citizen community on immigrant issues.

     Specifically they help clients with:

• Initial Consultations
• USCIS Document Preparation
• Legal Case Management (including immigrant victims of crime)
• Public Education Forums Regarding Changes in Immigration Laws
• Connecting Clients to Relevant Social Service Providers With the Waco

Carmen Branscum

     The Ruth Project is accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals. It is the only organization of its kind with a full-time presence here in the Waco area. Carmen shared with me that many of us do not understand how difficult immigration law is and when you add on top of that a language barrier it can seem impossible to navigate. The Ruth Project is able to help in the process and do it in a way that is affordable. Carlos Charco is the director of the organization.

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     I shared with Carmen that I have been thinking about the impact of undocumented immigrants. My experiences in foster care have have made me sensitive to the topic and recent events have made me think through the church’s response to and involvement in immigration issues.

     The flash point as I see it for most U.S. citizens is the “illegal or ‘undocumented’ immigrant.” We just don’t know how to feel about someone who has come into our country improperly. The facts are people come into our country improperly in several different ways and for different reasons: they come on their own, they are smuggled in by U.S. citizens seeking cheaper labor, they come as children with their families, etc.

     Yes, the Ruth Project works predominately with these people. They do so after they have entered the U.S. and they do not actively encourage people to enter the U.S. to seek their services. They are a Godly response to a civic issue that already exists.

    Faith based organizations and churches are best at being compassionate and U.S. Governments are best at enforcing law. We are blessed that our government allows us to do what we are best at.  I wrote about this issue before in my blog so I’ll point you there instead of repeating myself.

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Discipleship & Home Groups

    The Ruth Project is an organization our home groups at Park Lake can use for one of their compassion projects. In the span of a year each home group is required to participate in four onsite compassion projects. Because of the legal nature of the Ruth Project not many volunteer opportunities exist in the organization, but a home group can sponsor a project/event to raise awareness and monetary support for the organization.