Often overworked, sometimes underpaid, the human rights of migrant workers are generally unprotected by the laws of host countries. And their welfare is often ignored by the embassies of their own countries. The physical and mental health of migrants is often endangered by neglect and withheld treatment. Many migrant workers return home indebted, disabled, and ill, both physically and mentally.

In the harsh environments in which they live, some migrants escape responsibility through the abuse of alcohol and prohibited drugs. Others have been sexually abused, flogged, or even imprisoned and held hostage until their families can raise money to ransom them. In some cases, migrants have been killed or have, in despair, committed suicide. Sometimes the families of migrants receive only their bodies with little or no explanation of how they died.

The facts reviewed up to this point attempt to show the human face of the migrant workers issue. However, there are also broader consequences. Many of the migrant workers come from traditional societies and their issues tear at the fabric, and even threaten the continuing existence of these societies. Traditional societies have become increasingly subject to the tremendous social and psychological pressures brought on by the absence of breadwinners, many of them women and mothers. These pressures sometimes result in broken homes and broken bodies.

In the face of these problems, how have our churchesÑespecially in the receiving countriesÑresponded? How should they respond? How should they search the sheep and seek them out? How should they ease the burdens of the oppressed, the poor, the suffering? And how many migrants must lose their faith in a just God before the churches give them sanctuary?

Many questions have been asked. Much has been said. Much more needs to be done. Let no more tomorrows come before our churches seriously recognize the plight of migrant workers as an issue of justice requiring urgent action.

APJN, as part of its Christian responsibility and mandate, takes the side of vulnerable, exploited, and marginalized migrant workers. APJN commits itself to their empowerment and offers them its services and support as expressions of our obedience to God's commandment to Love our Neighbors.

APJN appeals to the churches of the Anglican Communion in sending and receiving countries, and to countries that were once created by immigrants and developed by migrant labor, to take a leading role in the search for justice for the least of these our brothers and sisters.

APJN urges the governments and state policy makers to

• repeal all unjust and anti-migrant laws and policies, and
• enact legislation to protect the rights and promote the well-being of migrant workers and their families.