January 05, 2016
Written by Anthony Moujaes

United Church of Christ pastors from Arizona and California to Minnesota are encouraging others in the faith community to shield families that are at-risk for deportation. Immigration enforcement officials are preparing to round up and deport hundreds of undocumented immigrants in January, according to news reports, including many who fled Central America for the United States because of escalating violence.

The Rev. Ken Heintzelman, pastor of Shadow Rock UCC in Phoenix, and his local colleagues are still figuring out how they will respond to offer assistance if there any raids in their area. Shadow Rock already provides sanctuary to one family and has helped other immigrants avoid deportation.

Though Heintzelman said there are more questions than answers at this point, the moral statement from the faith community remains unchanged. "You cannot say, 'Love your neighbor as yourself' and turn your back on people threatened with deportation," Heintzelman said. "God brought these people to our doorsteps, and we are determined to help them."

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The Rev. T. Michael Rock, who pastors Robbinsdale UCC in Robbinsdale, Minn., believes "what ICE is doing is criminal. These are people with lives and families, and it is our faith imperative to respond and offer hospitality," he said. "People of faith have been doing that for 2,000 years."

Rock added that his congregation is keeping immigrants at risk for deportation in its prayers, and will consider offering sanctuary if a family comes to its doorstep.

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http://www.ucc.org/news_ucc_churches_offer_sanctuary_from_january_immigration_raids_01052016

January 05, 2016
Written by Anthony Moujaes

United Church of Christ pastors from Arizona and California to Minnesota are encouraging others in the faith community to shield families that are at-risk for deportation. Immigration enforcement officials are preparing to round up and deport hundreds of undocumented immigrants in January, according to news reports, including many who fled Central America for the United States because of escalating violence.

The Rev. Ken Heintzelman, pastor of Shadow Rock UCC in Phoenix, and his local colleagues are still figuring out how they will respond to offer assistance if there any raids in their area. Shadow Rock already provides sanctuary to one family and has helped other immigrants avoid deportation.

Though Heintzelman said there are more questions than answers at this point, the moral statement from the faith community remains unchanged. "You cannot say, 'Love your neighbor as yourself' and turn your back on people threatened with deportation," Heintzelman said. "God brought these people to our doorsteps, and we are determined to help them."

snip------------------

The Rev. T. Michael Rock, who pastors Robbinsdale UCC in Robbinsdale, Minn., believes "what ICE is doing is criminal. These are people with lives and families, and it is our faith imperative to respond and offer hospitality," he said. "People of faith have been doing that for 2,000 years."

Rock added that his congregation is keeping immigrants at risk for deportation in its prayers, and will consider offering sanctuary if a family comes to its doorstep.

snip--------------

http://www.ucc.org/news_ucc_churches_offer_sanctuary_from_january_immigration_raids_01052016

Religious groups offer sanctuary to immigrants targeted in ICE raids

Religious groups and activists vowed Wednesday to offer refuge to illegal immigrants who are the targets of ongoing federal raids meant to combat a new wave of border-crossing from Central America.

The announcement recalled the sanctuary movement of the 1980s that provided safe haven to several thousand people fleeing civil wars in El Salvador and Guatemala, with churches in Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities sometimes filled with people seeking asylum in the United States.

During a news conference via telephone, a national network of immigrant groups said they are prepared to defy federal authorities who are seeking to apprehend illegal Central American immigrants. Advocates said those immigrants again are fleeing violence in their homelands, this time perpetrated by gangs engaged in drug trafficking and other crimes.

“We feel we are once again living through a nightmare,” said Alison Harrington, pastor of Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson. “Once again, human lives are at stake.”

snip----------------------

(more at link)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/religious-groups-offer-sanctuary-to-immigrants-targeted-in-ice-raids/2016/01/06/183e5dd6-b416-11e5-a76a-0b5145e8679a_story.html

Religious groups offer sanctuary to immigrants targeted in ICE raids

Religious groups and activists vowed Wednesday to offer refuge to illegal immigrants who are the targets of ongoing federal raids meant to combat a new wave of border-crossing from Central America.

The announcement recalled the sanctuary movement of the 1980s that provided safe haven to several thousand people fleeing civil wars in El Salvador and Guatemala, with churches in Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities sometimes filled with people seeking asylum in the United States.

During a news conference via telephone, a national network of immigrant groups said they are prepared to defy federal authorities who are seeking to apprehend illegal Central American immigrants. Advocates said those immigrants again are fleeing violence in their homelands, this time perpetrated by gangs engaged in drug trafficking and other crimes.

“We feel we are once again living through a nightmare,” said Alison Harrington, pastor of Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson. “Once again, human lives are at stake.”

snip----------------------

(more at link)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/religious-groups-offer-sanctuary-to-immigrants-targeted-in-ice-raids/2016/01/06/183e5dd6-b416-11e5-a76a-0b5145e8679a_story.html