Reposted:
A Faithful Witness to Building Welcoming
Communities
For pdf, visit What is Sanctuary? - Unitarian Universalist Association
You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the
shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my
God, in whom I trust.”
-
Psalm 91:1-2
As the faith community, we are
called to accompany our community members, congregants and neighbors facing
deportation.
Sanctuary Movement and the
Immigrants’ Rights Movement
People of faith from all traditions called on Congress to pass
immigration reform, yet Congress failed to move forward on meaningful
legislation. Meanwhile, the deportation machinery grew stronger becoming more
advanced under the Obama Administration, with an alarming rate of more than 1,100 people being deported every day,
totaling nearly 2.5 million deportations over under this administration. The
organizing efforts of undocumented youth in 2012 pushed the administration to
create the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which has
allowed close to a million undocumented students to travel and work legally.
In 2014 a resurgence of the Sanctuary Movement began out of need in the community to
stop deportations at a case-by-case level. In May of 2014 Daniel Neyoy Ruiz took Sanctuary in Southside
Presbyterian Church in Tucson Arizona, the same church that helped nearly
fifteen thousand political refugees escape the tragic civil wars in Central
America during the 1980s. Daniel won a stay of removal after 27 days of living
in Sanctuary. As this spread through the media at a time when President Obama
was delaying Executive Actions on immigration, many more immigrants facing a
deportation order looked to congregations in their region to take refuge and
fight to keep their families together. Over the next years more than a dozen
people came forward to take refuge in Sanctuary, the majority were able to win
a stay of removal or an order of supervision within several months, but the
Immigration Customs Enforcement delayed justice on many occasions such as with
Rosa Robles-Loreto who only found victory after 461 days of Sanctuary. Some
left the church with a written promise from ICE they would not be deported, but
they continue to fight their case to gain some sort of relief from deportation.
This resurgence of the Sanctuary Movement has created a platform to raise
up the prophetic and moral witness while at the same time lifting up the
stories of those leaders who are brave enough to speak out against the
injustice of deportation. This surly brought significantly increased public
pressure on the Obama Administration to announce the President’s Executive
Action on Immigration on November 20th, 2014.
Now the Sanctuary Movement again is playing a critical role in responding
in the post-election reality wherein fear, discrimination and xenophobia has
taken a new precedent in our countries politics. With the promise of the Trump
Administration to deport millions, people of faith we
have a moral responsibility to act. Sanctuary is a tool that helps escalate
these efforts by offering our neighbors who face a deportation order safe
refuge and sanctuary in our congregations.
Faith Pledge for Sanctuary
What
is Sanctuary?
An Ancient Tradition of Faith Communities
Sanctuary is one of the most ancient
traditions that we have as a people of faith. The ancient Hebrew people had
allowed temples and even whole cities to declare themselves places of refuge
for persons accused of a crime they may not have committed, a practice that
allowed those wrongfully accused to escape swift and harsh retribution until
the matter could be resolved. In the late Roman Empire fugitives could find
refuge in the precincts of Christian churches. Later, during the medieval
period churches in England were recognized
sanctuaries, offering safe haven for a temporary period to accused wrong doers.
In the United States the first practical provision of anything like sanctuary
occurred in the years before the Civil War. The Underground Railroad came into
being to help slaves flee the South and find safety in many congregations
throughout the country. Sanctuary is about providing safe space to those who
are victims of unjust laws.
The Sanctuary Movement in the 1980s
When refugees from the Civil Wars in Central
America began to flee to the United States in the 1980’s, the U.S. government
did not recognize them as political refugees. Many were deported and received
by death squads upon their return. From this dire injustice,
the Sanctuary Movement was born. It peaked with over 500 congregations
establishing an underground railroad whereby refugees move through the United
States to safe houses and safe congregations. Many clergy in the Tucson area
were indicted and eventually acquitted for their involvement in assisting
Central American refugees. The Sanctuary Movement sought to remind the United
States government of its own asylum and refugee laws,
which they were not following when it came to the refugees of Central America.
Sacred Texts
· God calls
people of faith to remember that they once were strangers in a strange land and
they must, must welcome the stranger as an expression of covenant faithfulness
(Leviticus 19:33-34)
· We must
“learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead
for the widow” (Isaiah 1:17)
· We are
called to love our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:27)
LINKS on Sanctuary Movement of
the 1980s
The Public Sanctuary Movement: A Historical Basis
of Hope by Eileen Purcell
The
Origins of a Political Trial: The Sanctuary Movement and Political Justice by
Sophie H. Pririe
Current Day Sanctuary Movement
Drawing on this tradition, communities of
faith have once again seen the need to declare Sanctuary for immigrants as the
rise of deportations continues to separate families. In the 1980’s we were
compelled by the call to welcome the stranger, as we opened our doors to newly
arriving refugees. Now we are moved by the call to love our neighbors as
ourselves, as those who are entering into Sanctuary are most often long term
members of our communities - our neighbors.
In 2007, an initiative known as the New
Sanctuary Movement took shape with coalitions of congregations in major cities
throughout the country. As work place and neighborhood raids escalated,
these congregations opened their doors to provide refuge to those facing
deportation. See NSM toolkit
here
(http://imirj.org/new-sanctuary-movement-toolkit-for-congregations/).
The New Sanctuary Movement helped win the Morton
Memo and Prosecutorial Discretion in 2011 and President Obama’s Executive Actions on
Immigration in 2014, which has helped stop thousands of
deportations through case-by-case advocacy. Those entering sanctuary are
generally eligible for Prosecutorial Discretion, but local ICE field offices
have been very reluctant to offer this relief from deportations in which the
community has had to engage in public advocacy to win stays of removal or an
order of supervision and in most cases.
With a Trump Administration we could
potentially lose these victories, so we must work together to advocate and
fight to keep prosecutorial discretion guidelines where community members can
still win a stay of removal and be able to keep united with their families
while having the opportunity to get a work permit and drivers license.
Executive Actions on Immigration
After countless actions, vigils, prayer services and even
civil disobedience as a prophetic witness the Obama Administration set forth
the Executive Actions on Immigration on November 20th, 2014 that
would benefit 5 million undocumented people. This was a huge victory for the
immigrants’ rights movement. As expected, our opponents hit back hard attacking
the President’s announcement, attempting to move legislation against Executive
Action (which failed to pass) and 26 Republican Governors filed a lawsuit in
Texas. The judges ruled according to partisan lines and enjoined the Executive
Actions that would expand Deferred Action. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court,
but there were only 8 justices and so the decision on DAPA was tied 4-4 meaning
it went back to the lower court decision and DAPA was never put into affect.
The Trump Administration has promised to rescind Executive
Actions of President Obama, and so these Prosecutorial Discretion guidelines
are expected to change.
Central American and Haitian Humanitarian
Crisis
In the summer of 2014, an influx of
unaccompanied children and families fleeing gang violence in Central America’s
Northern Triangle began presenting themselves at the U.S.- Mexico border
seeking asylum. Many of these children and families who have lost their asylum
cases because they were unable to find legal counsel or due to “rocket dockets”
that are meant to expedite trials but in reality deny due process. These
children and families should have the opportunity to appeal their case with
adequate representation.
The overall deportation numbers of fiscal
year 2015 was 235, 413 significantly lower than the 2012 all time high of 409,
849 as a result from Executive Action. However, the Obama administration seems
to have made the political calculation they need to get their quotas up and
have chosen to target Central American asylum-seeking families for deportation.
Haitians have begun presenting themselves at
the border for asylum at new levels. Advocates have called to provide Temporary
Protective Status for Haitians because of the 2010 earthquake and 2016
Hurricane Matthew, but the Obama administration has responded with expedited
removal proceedings instead, giving little time for Haitians to present their
asylum case.
The Trump Administration may try to ignore
the asylum seekers all together and deport them immediately. We will have to
stand up and protect our asylum laws and ensure that asylum seekers actually
get their case heard with legal assistance and enough time to prepare the case.
The Sanctuary network will be extremely important in supporting Central
Americans and Haitian asylum seekers.
Sanctuary Goals and Strategy
As the faith community, we are called to
accompany our community members, congregants and neighbors facing deportation. By
offering sanctuary we can fight individual cases, advocate to stop deportations,
and make it possible to win deferred action at a case-by-case level to keep
families together.
Amplify the moral imperative to stop
deportations by lifting up the stories of sanctuary cases and ensuring the
prophetic witness of the immigrant taking sanctuary is heard at the national
level.
Defend administrative policies such as Prosecutorial
Discretion so that we can still win stays of deportation case by case and
keep sacred spaces and schools protected under the Sensitive
Locations guidelines
Work alongside undocumented students to
defend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program (DACA)
Support local work to defend Sanctuary cities
or local detainer policies and push back against unjust enforcement policies
such as the Priority Enforcement Program or 287 g in the jails
Participate and help create protection
networks to provide know your rights education, sanctuary space, legal
assistance, housing assistance, family planning and bail support funds
Stop the Trump border wall and any attempt to
increase criminalization or mandatory sentencing for immigrants
Defend asylum seekers by pushing back against
expedited removal and helping provide critical resources such as legal
assistance so they can defend and win their case.
Expanding Sanctuary Beyond the Congregations
Congregations,
schools, and hospitals are considered “sensitive locations” under the ICE Sensitive Locations policy, but
this policy could be revoked. Students are beginning to organize on college
campuses to call on university administrations to create safe spaces on
campuses and not collaborate with ICE. Campus organizers will be working to
protect undocumented students by organizing to keep the DACA program intact.
Sanctuary cities have come out declaring they will continue to be Sanctuary
cities in midst of a Trump Administration. We must protect and expand Sanctuary
spaces.
Sanctuary in the Streets
As a result of announcement of increased
raids by the Obama Administration last year, many have organized rapid response
networks. New Sanctuary Movement Philadelphia created the Sanctuary in the Streets to bring
faith communities to protect people in their homes, should ICE arrive.
Know Your Rights
It is imperative to educate all immigrant
communities on know-your-rights resources. The most important information is DON’T OPEN THE DOOR to Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE), police or anyone else if they do not have a warrant
signed by a judge.
Report When A Raid
Is Happening:
HOTLINE: 1-844-363-1423
TEXT ALERTS WATCH
ICE: 877877
Find Partner Organizations
Talking Points/ Messaging
General
Talking Points:
· As the faith
community, we are doing what Congress has refused to do: protect immigrant
families from an immigration system that is separating families and deporting
people who are woven into the fabric of their communities and congregations.
· The
immigrant community is very concerned about the prospects of a Trump
Administration, but they are also ready to fight against unjust immigration
policies expected to come. The role of the faith community is to walk in
solidarity and accompany immigrant leaders in this struggle for civil and human
rights. We are preparing to build out our movement for Sanctuary and for those
of us who are ready to resist, we will put our bodies between ICE and our undocumented
community members.
· The
intention to focus on immigrants with criminal convictions is designed to
criminalize the entire immigrant community. Undocumented immigrants might have
an immigration related conviction or they may have been targeted by a policing
system that is racially biased focused on low-income people of color. We are
the faith community, we believe in transformation and forgiveness, even if someone
has made a mistake in the past doesn’t mean they should be deported and
separated from their family.
· We know that
Sanctuary Cities or limited detainer policies actually create a safer community
for all people, so that law enforcement can try and build trust with the
immigrant community and victims or witnesses aren’t scared to come forward.
· We are
seeing a widespread and growing commitment by faith communities to provide
sanctuary to our community members who will need sanctuary because of the
expected harsh policies expected in the next administration.
· Our
congregations open their doors to provide sanctuary we stand in solidarity with
immigrant leaders fighting to keep all families together, regardless of
immigration status.
· Neither the
Obama administration nor the Trump Administration should target Central
Americans or Haitian families seeking asylum, but should instead utilize their
resources towards to provide legal representation to those who have been unable
to attain assistance.
· Detention
and deportation has become a money making business that is feeding the prison
industrial complex and lining the pockets of private corporations with billions
of dollars.
· We are have
worked hard to hold the Obama administration, ICE and DHS accountable to their
and we will continue to fight, and make sure the Trump Administration listens
to the voice and stories of immigrant leaders who deserve justice, not
deportation.
· We are
praying for the future administration will take a position of discernment,
compassion and morality with the understanding to protect the Deferred Action
for Childhood Arrival that has benefited nearly a million undocumented youth.
Talking
Points for Specific Sanctuary Cases:
· As people of
faith, we are called to welcome the sojourner and love our neighbor. In the
case of INSERT NAME, he/she has been part of our community for a long time.
He/she is not a stranger but our neighbor and we are accompanying him as he
stands up for his right to stay united with his family
· INSERT NAMES
want to make sure their family stays together and that INSERT NAME does not
become one of the hundreds of people unnecessarily deported each day under the
current administration's policies.
· One of our
key belief statements as the DENOMINATION is: INSERT STATEMENT. As in the
tradition of the prophets and apostles, God calls the church to speak truth to
power, liberate the oppressed, care for the poor and comfort the afflicted. We
are responsible to a higher calling, a higher law that takes precedent over our
flawed and outdated immigration laws.
· The church
has been a space of sanctuary for those wrongly persecuted for thousands of
years. The ability to provide
humanitarian sanctuary defines who we are and our call as people of faith to
care for the most vulnerable among us.
· We witnessed
the power of the Sanctuary Movement was in the 1980s. The church was able to
protect Central Americans from being deported and returned to death squads in
the Civil Wars they faced at home, which the United States refused to
recognize. Thousands upon thousands of lives were spared because of the
Sanctuary movement.
· Now in the
midst of a new Administration that has promised extreme measure persecuting
immigrants, faith communities once again must demonstrate leadership and action
to keep families together, to keep parents with their children, to protect our
brothers and sisters like INSERT NAME, from this grave injustice.
Who are those seeking Sanctuary?
Most Sanctuary cases begin with a lawyer or legal service
clinic identify someone who has been working to stop their deportation order
without success. The legal service team assesses whether someone will be
eligible for prosecutorial discretion. Those who enter into Sanctuary should
have a reasonable potential of receiving a stay of removal, order of
supervision or some other form of administrative relief.
The legal service team then consults with Sanctuary
organizers and involved pastor to begin a conversation about a potential
Sanctuary case. Ideally this happens months in advance, but sometimes the
individual comes to a legal clinic or local organizers in the 11th hour,
requiring a congregation to act quickly.
Each case is different, sometimes often there is a family
linked that would be separated, but not always.
How do we “Declare Sanctuary?”
The public aspect of the Declaration of Sanctuary is
critical. It is by bringing attention to the case, mobilizing the community,
and advocating for the individual that we are able to successfully get cases
closed. We encourage every community of faith to enter into a time of prayer
and discernment so that when cases arise, they are ready to act. Once a
congregation has made the decision to declare Sanctuary for an individual it is
publicly announced at a press conference and prayer vigil, at which time the
individual and their family enters into the premises of the house of worship.
The individual in need of Sanctuary remains at the house of worship until they
are granted a stay of deportation. Of course, an individual may decide at any
time to leave Sanctuary for any reason and should have the full support of the
community to do so. Living within Sanctuary is not an easy thing; the financial
cost of not working, the media attention, and the strain on a family can all be
burdensome.
There has been liturgy developed by Southside Presbyterian
Church and Shadow Rock UCC in Phoenix that can be adapted for a prayer vigil
declaring Sanctuary, but individual congregations should develop liturgy that
is appropriate to their own religious background and setting.
Advocacy
One of the most important aspects to
Sanctuary is the advocacy that we do on behalf of an individual. In partnership
with legal service providers and immigrants’ rights organizers a strategy is
developed and a multitude of different people are identified as the focus of
our efforts, local ICE field office, ICE headquarters, Department of Homeland
Security and the White House in general. They and other members of the
administration are the focus of phone calls and letter writing. There is also a
great deal of work organizing a broad base of support for the individual as
well as finding key allies. Often the City Council and the Board of Supervisors
as well as local religious leaders are approached to use their power and
influence to get the individual’s case closed. We are always working to get more letters of
support, more petitions signed, phone calls dialed in and more congregations
working with us. We have developed relationships with key allies in Washington,
DC and partnerships with national organizations who have worked closely with us
on cases. Having an effective media plan is extremely important in garnering
the type of attention needed to sway decision makers to close the deportation
case.
The type of case by case advocacy to win a
stay of removal is likely to become much more difficult under the Trump
Administration, but we will fight to keep Prosecutorial Discretion guidelines
that weigh positive equities of each case and continue to allow our
undocumented community members to win a stay of removal to defer their
deportation order.
Petitions with Groundswell:
Sample Letter of Support from Good Shepherd
United Church of Christ
Work to get Denominational Support
United Church of Christ News reports on
Denver launching Sanctuary Coalition
Leadership of those in Sanctuary
This is perhaps the most important aspect of
Sanctuary; we are not the leaders of this movement, those in Sanctuary are. It
has been the courage and the faith of those who have come out of the shadows to
say, “we are undocumented and we are unafraid” that has inspired our work.
Those taking Sanctuary are putting everything on the line and are often risking
a great deal for the benefit of the larger movement; their leadership, their
voice, their opinions and wisdom should be prioritized at all times. They should
be involved in every aspect of the campaign as they choose to be. Sanctuary is
hard work and requires great sacrifice - if at any time a family wishes to
leave Sanctuary, their wishes should be respected and celebrated. We should
always remember that Sanctuary is not something that we do for our undocumented
brothers and sisters; it is something we do with
them. This is a great leadership development opportunity for those taking
Sanctuary, please share leadership development resources, as you are able with
the broader network.
What are the logistics of
Sanctuary?
Living Arrangements
Ideally, the family will have space on the
grounds of the house of worship that will not be used for any other purpose for
the duration of Sanctuary. They should be encouraged to arrange the room in
whatever way they would like and to make it as much like home as they can. Easy
access to showers, bathrooms, and a kitchen should be considered in designating
a space for the family (sometimes showers will need to be configured in some
way for those locations without permanent showers). Because the entire purpose
of declaring Sanctuary is to keep a family together, the entire family is
invited to stay at the house of worship. While the individual living in
Sanctuary does not leave the premises, the family comes and goes as they
choose. At times visitors and media can overwhelm the family. They should be
encouraged to establish whatever boundaries they need.
It is the practice of immigration officials
and law enforcement agencies to respect the sanctity of houses of worship by
not coming on their property for the purpose of apprehending an individual who
has an order of deportation.
It is possible that under the Trump
Administration we will see the need to house many undocumented people at once
or that allies will have to go to where an enforcement action is happening to
try and block that deportation.
Legal Questions
Everyone always wants to know - are we
breaking the law? Law is a lot like scripture - its up to your interpretation.
There is a law against bringing in and harboring persons not authorized to be
in the U.S. (insert footnote. INA Sec.274) While we are clearly not bringing
people in, whether we are harboring someone is up for interpretation. Some
courts have interpreted harboring to require concealment of a person, when
we declare Sanctuary for an individual we are bringing them into the light of
the community, not concealing them in the dark of secrecy (U.S. V Costello,
66 F.3d 1040, 7th Cir. 2012). Other courts have interpreted harboring to
be simple sheltering (U.S. V Acosta de Evans, 531 F.2d 428 (9th Cir.
1976).
Those who are entering sanctuary will most
likely have an opportunity to win relief from deportation, this means that they
are not a high priority for deportation and that ICE can and should grant them
prosecutorial discretion. In essence, the Sanctuary Movement is holding the
administration accountable to their own standards and guidelines as put forth
by the President’s Executive Actions.
There is risk in offering Sanctuary, however,
the field practice over the last forty years shows that no congregation has
been prosecuted for allowing undocumented people to find shelter and safety in
their house of worship.
The space of sanctuary is sacred. Immigration
officials know that if they went into a house of worship to arrest a pastor
they would have a public relations nightmare on their hands. To date no one has
ever been arrested for offering Sanctuary.
Insurance Questions
The General Liability Insurance should cover
any mishaps that could occur while someone is living in Sanctuary. We have
never had any incidents wherein a congregation had to make an insurance claim,
however, if you would like to talk with your insurance company please do.
What is “Private” Sanctuary?
This is a tactic often used before a public
sanctuary case is launched. Many coalitions have taken someone into Sanctuary,
and used the threat of going public in negotiation processes with ICE officials
with the intention of winning a stay of removal before launching a public
cases. The Sanctuary Movement has won many cases this way and should be
considered a part of the strategy before going public to the media.
Community Support
Families living in Sanctuary are often in
need of support in a multitude of different ways. Most importantly they need
the support of our friendship - so plan game nights, hang out with them, do
what you can to make them feel at home and a part of your congregational
family. It is also important that they are able to retain some normalcy as a
family - enabling them to cook for they can help with this. You may find that
congregation members will want to show their love and support by bringing food,
which may be helpful a few nights a week, but it is important that the family
is able to care for themselves and control as much as possible in a situation
that is very much out of their control. Instead of bringing meals, encourage
people to bring food that they can cook with.
There may also be the need for financial
support, particularly if the individual in Sanctuary normally works. People
should be encouraged to give to the family, either directly or through the
house of worship (these donations to benefit an individual are not tax
deductible). Care should be taken to respect the pride of the family in these situations.
It is difficult for all of us to be in a situation where we have to depend on
others. We have often reminded individuals that by being in Sanctuary, they are
engaged in hard work; both for their families but also for the movement and
that work should be compensated.
Training other Congregations
Instead of only one or two congregations
taking on the work of Sanctuary, it is important that other congregations also
show support. Coalition congregations join together in advocacy efforts, joint
sign-on letters, logistical support, vigils and cooking. Having other
congregations engaged creates training opportunities for leadership from other
congregations to become accustomed to the work of Sanctuary, an experience they
can bring back to their congregation as they prepare themselves for a future
opportunity of offering Sanctuary.
Communications
It is important that we use common messaging
so that we can influence and push forward a national narrative on Sanctuary and
the urgency for the Administration to stop their
Sample Press Advisory
For Immediate Release
November XX, 2016
Media Contact
Name
Email
Cell
***Media
Advisory***
DATE,
TIME
LOCATION
Congregations
Open Doors for Immigrants to Stop
Trump’s
Deportation Plan
Through
the Sanctuary Movement, faith communities launch new campaign to stop family
separation and provide safe refuge in midst of promised attacks
City- The
Sanctuary Movement, a network of faith communities in XXX, is holding a press
conference to announce faith communities’ resistance to President-elect Donald
J. Trump’s plan to deport millions of immigrants, which would separate families
and devastate immigrant communities. Since the 1980’s, the Sanctuary Movement
has taken up the call to welcome the stranger by providing safe haven to
immigrants and refugees in need. Since 2014, 13 churches in 9 cities have
provided Sanctuary to 15 individuals seeking to remain in their communities
helping them win a stay of deportation with support of 400 congregations
nationwide. Now the Sanctuary Movement is calling on all congregations across
faiths to open their doors and provide refuge for immigrants facing detention
and deportation. Congregations also welcome anyone who has been victimized by
discrimination or hate crimes into these sacred safe spaces to unite the
community around love, respect and dignity for all.
These faith communities are also
supporting those willing to answer the call to provide sanctuary at schools,
hospitals, college campuses, community centers and family homes. At this press
conference, faith leaders commit to work with partner immigrants rights
organizations to create sacred space of sanctuary wherever it is needed.
What: Press Conference of
immigrant leaders and faith leaders committed to resisting President-elect
Trump’s deportation plan.
When: Time/ Date
Where: Location
Who: co- sponsor list of
organizations
Speakers: List
of speakers
###
Sample Press Release
December
25th, 2015
For
Immediate Release
Press
Contact: xxxx
On Christmas Day Faith Leaders
Offer their Churches
as Sanctuary to Those Hunted in
Raids
We Open Our Doors to Today's
Josephs and Mary’s Despite ICE's Plan to deport them
Sanctuary
Movement leaders who have offered their congregations as spaces of refuge for
immigrants facing deportation are outraged by the news that Immigration Customs
and Enforcement and the Department of Homeland security plans to conduct raids
targeting families who have fled violence and persecution in Central America.
Faith
leaders from many traditions remind our decision makers that the story of
Christmas is about a prophet and savior born in a stable and a refugee family
that fled the political violence that could have killed Jesus as a baby.
In
defiance of a court order to stop detaining children, the Obama administration
has increased the detention of families by 173% over the last several months
according to the Migration Policy Institute. And now the administration has
announced it will search for and deport asylum-seeking families to the danger
they are seeking to escape.
In the
spirit of Christmas, faith leaders are declaring they are ready to once again
open their doors to provide refuge for immigrants facing deportation and unjust
targeting from ICE.
“As
pastors we know that each and every family is a holy family and the individuals
and families who have fled violence don’t just need our prayers, they need
sanctuary,” explains Rev. Alison Harrington of Southside Presbyterian Church
in Tucson Arizona. “We open our doors to today's Josephs and Mary’s despite
ICE’s plans to deport them.
When we
heard that the Obama administration is beginning plans to round up Central
American families and deport them back to the violence they have been fleeing,
we couldn’t help but imagine what would it have been like if the President was
pharaoh in Egypt at the time of Jesus’ birth when he and his family had to run
from the death squads of Herod. What if he had ordered the deportation of the
Holy Family?"
Rev.
Adan Mairena of West Kensington Ministry, Philadelphia, PA added, "Our elected
officials cannot say ‘God bless America’ and at the same time deport, exclude,
dehumanize, and criminalize those who come seeking refuge, in this case God's
children from Central America. They are those whom Jesus called ‘the least of
these.’ If we continue to go down this road of moral decay the consequences
will be grave.
As a
Christian I stand on the side of divine law and cannot remain silent as our
elected leaders give into the darkness that works to divide God's family as
opposed to uniting it. I, and others like me, will continue to put our faith
into action no matter what."
Rev.
Chris Jimmerson
from First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin where they recently offered
sanctuary to Sulma Franco contributing his reflection, “‘Do not neglect to show
hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’
(Hebrews 13: 2). The Christian Bible, indeed the sacred texts of most all of
the world’s religions are filled with admonitions such as this to treat
strangers among us with love and hospitality. Yet, ICE continues to detain
entire families, including children, who have fled persecution, trauma and
threats against their very lives, re-traumatizing them and threatening to
deport them to the very places where their lives will again be threatened. Our
immigration courts continue to deny asylum to folks who clearly do have a
well-founded fear of persecution and if returned to their country of origin
could face fatal consequences.
As a
Unitarian Universalist minister, I stand on the side of love, called by the
world’s great faith and wisdom traditions to decry ICE’s new plans to detain
and deport even more Central American families. Our faith calls upon us to do
just the opposite – to offer refuge and support, compassion and hospitality to
these women, men and children. This is our only morally justifiable action.”
###
Sample Op-Eds
The Story of Daniel in the Hill
Protecting One Dad from Broken
Immigration System
Social Media
If all
the organizations involved expand our social media work, our outreach to the
public is larger. When we are able to garner traditional media, we must make
sure to push it out through social media.
Hash tags allow you to enter a forum of
everyone else using the same hash tag; this amplifies the impact of the twitter
post.
#not1more #allin4relief #allinfor11million
#keepyourpromise #letrosastay #timeisnow
Tweeting @ an organization or a law maker is
helpful to pressure decision makers and to invite other organizations to
retweet your comment.
Allies
@GroundswellMvmt @CWS_IRP
@bend_thearc
Targets
@BarackObama @WhiteHouse @DHSgov
Sample Tweets
·
A church is fighting NAME's deportation by offering #Sanctuary.
Add your name in solidarity LINK TO PETITION
·
Tell @DHSgov & @BarackObama to #WeStandWithRosa Add your name
in solidarity → LINK TO PETITION #Sanctuary #Not1More
·
Churches offer #refuge for Central Americans facing U.S.
deportation http://reut.rs/1m9UTgo via @Reuters #not1more
(the initial period “.” is important when is
in the beginning of the tweet)
·
.@UPCTempe Church Grants #Sanctuary to Immigrant Facing
Deportation
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2014/09/tempe_church_grants_sanctuary_to_immigrant_facing_deportation.php
#not1more
·
ICYMI: On Christmas day faith leaders around the US reiterate
their offer of Sanctuary to those hunted in ICE raids. http://buff.ly/1QWHu80
Sample Face Book Posts
·
A church is fighting NAME's deportation by offering
#Sanctuary. Add your name in solidarity
LINK TO PETITION
LINK TO PETITION
·
Tell Homeland Security Chief and President to
let ____ Stay!
Add your name in solidarity → LINK TO
PETITION
#Sanctuary #Not1More
#Sanctuary #Not1More
·
Churches open their doors on Christmas
to #immigrants
seeking refuge #not1more
deportation
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/12/26/3735048/churches-open-doors-to-immigrants/
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