Washington, DC – The New York Times is reporting that immigration raids, previously announced by President Trump, will begin this Sunday. Religious leaders from diverse faiths are denouncing these aggressive actions against families.
“These raids come from a place of fear, suspicion, and hate; living in that kind of hate is antithetical to the gospel that teaches love for humanity. Families are sacred, both those we are born with and those we find.” said Katie Adams, Domestic Policy Advocate for the United Church of Christ and Co-Chair of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition. “Our communities are sacred and the fact that these raids are scheduled to begin on Sunday, the Christian holy day, is further proof that these actions are morally bankrupt.” Quotes from additional faith leaders, and community preparedness resources, follow below.
Also today, 235 religious leaders and fifty-one faith-based organizations are issuing a letter to Congress in support of the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act of 2019. The bill, which is being introduced by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today, would expand and codify the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) existing “sensitive locations” policy and ensures that immigrants are able to worship, access education, and receive medical care without fear of deportation.
The bill prevents immigration agents from engaging in enforcement actions at or within 1,000 feet of sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, courthouses, and places of worship without prior approval and exigent circumstances.
“We know from sacred texts across faith traditions that nations will be judged by how they treat the most vulnerable: the widow, the orphan, the refugee, during trying times,” the supporters write.
Ava Steaffens, CEO of the Christian Community Development Association, said: “President Trump’s threat of immigration raids on our communities is yet another demonstration of this Administration’s attempt to terrorize our immigrant neighbors. As Christian leaders who are living out Jesus’ call to love neighbors and welcome strangers, we at the CCDA disapprove of these threats and call on both Congress and the Administration to work together on behalf of the flourishing of immigrants. At a time when we need to ensure that DHS agencies work to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance to address migrant needs, using resources toward raids, which separate families and create chaos and fear is unacceptable.”
Rev. Jennifer Butler, CEO, Faith in Public Life: “The Trump administration’s cruel family separation raids and deportations expected to begin on Sunday are immoral. As a pastor, I am outraged that our government would terrorize families and children for political gain on a Sunday, a holy day. This evil, vicious plan is an escalation of the president’s white supremacist agenda. Faith and community leaders will respond with unflinching defense of our immigrant family members and neighbors. Our hearts cry out, but our resolve in the face of Trump ripping families apart is strong. We need to invest in common sense and humane solutions, not more camps and more detentions and deportations.”
According to Patrick Carolan, Executive Director of the Franciscan Action Network: “The Office of the Inspector General and several members of Congress have witnessed and disclosed photos of the mistreatment and basic human right violations of children and parents in detention centers at our southern border. Yet, the Trump administration is moving forward with family separation raids. This is abuse, plain and simple. As people of faith, we will not stand for it. We must invest in commonsense and humane solutions that do no further harm to our brothers and sisters.”
Stated Carol Zinn, SSJ, Executive Director, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, said: “The treatment of children at our southern border is immoral. It violates every tenet of our faith and every value of this nation. Now we hear that President Trump’s long-threatened raids will begin this weekend causing more harm to children and families. Plans to ‘sweep up’ thousands of our undocumented neighbors without regard to the children these parents would leave behind or the communities that would be devastated by their loss is unconscionable.
“Catholic teaching is clear. We are called to respect the dignity of every human person no matter their immigration status or station in life. As women of faith we are compelled to speak out about these injustices and to recommit ourselves to the Gospel call to welcome the stranger and to stand with those in need.”
Rev. John L. McCullough, President and CEO of CWS added: “Christians know Sunday as a sacred day for families to be together and gather in their houses of worship. Yet this Sunday, millions of immigrant families in the United States will have a shadow of fear cast over their lives. Children should not have to live in fear that their parents won’t return from work or be there to pick them up from Sunday school.
“It is not lost on us that at this time last year millions across the nation were marching against family separation and the horrific images of children ripped from their mothers’ arms. The intent and impact of these raids is the same: to shock and deter through cruelty and inhumanity. CWS staff and our partners are ready to bear witness to the raids and provide support to affected communities through Sanctuary, legal defense, and solidarity with those impacted. We call on national, state, and local leaders to stand against deportation policies that separate families – and demand Congress cut funds for ICE’s detention and deportation force.”
“The United States government is becoming increasingly heavy-handed in its tactics and is becoming increasingly less recognizable to its citizens and all peoples around the world. Our bedrock American ideals marry well with our Catholic faith in being a haven for those in need and welcoming people into our homes and communities. The National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd calls on the Trump Administration to withdraw its planned raids and calls on Congress to pass legislation prohibiting immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of schools, houses of worship, hospitals and courthouses,” said Lawrence E. Couch, director of the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster, deputy director of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights said: “These raids are cruel, immoral, and inhumane. They strike at the heart of our communities and tear families apart. The United States should be a country of welcome. Instead, the Trump administration is acting like the leaders of the biblical Sodom, whose primary sin, according to rabbinic literature, was their abuse of foreigners. The people of Sodom acted out of fear, hatred, and intolerance. It is shameful that our country is following their example.”
Said Rev. Adam Taylor, Executive Director, Sojourners: “The proposed raids wouldn’t be just morally wrong—they would be evil. Matthew 25 isn’t merely a suggestion to welcome the stranger and care for the ‘least of these’—the most vulnerable members of society. It’s a command, and it’s one of Jesus’ clearest judgements in which he quite plainly says how you treat the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the prisoner is how I will sort which of you truly are my followers and which of you are merely pretending. Followers of Christ must actively resist the weaponizing of fear, the trauma of family separation, and the other grievous harm that the administration wishes to inflict on thousands of families on Sunday, our holiest day of the week. We must follow the Christ by working to protect all those the administration seeks to terrorize.”
Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, director of the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness said: “The Presbyterian Church (USA) is appalled by the United States government’s treatment of migrant persons at the southern border. We believe that the separation of families, lengthy detentions, and merciless raids scheduled on holy days are indisputably antithetical to the Christian call. A call to treat every person with dignity, love and compassion. We entreat the Department of Homeland Security to expand the definition of ‘sensitive locations’ so that migrant men, women and children are able to access needed resources and able to worship in peace and security. The U.S. Congress should always promote humane and compassionate immigration policies.”
Raids response resources from faith-based organizations
CLINIC Raids Response Toolkit: The toolkit is based on best practices and lessons learned from communities conducting rapid responses during ICE raids and arrests. It provides a plan of action for communities to support and guide people during and after a raid, as well as a how-to guide and a model notebook to help build an inclusive rapid response team.
National Council of Jewish Women Resource List: Resources to protect communities against immigration raids, including how to engage congregations and a script to call lawmakers.
Sanctuary Resources:
- Find a Sanctuary Coalition Near You
- Rapid Response Toolkit for Faith Allies
- #SacredResistance Pledge to open your house of worship in case of raids
- Resources on how to become a Sanctuary congregation, build a coalition, etc.
- For step-by-step instructions on how to accompany families targeted by raids and put pressure on the administration to stop them, visit: http://bit.ly/FaithfulRapidResponse.
T’ruah Resources:
- With NCJW, we’re organizing Immigrant Solidarity Vigils around the country for August 10-11, the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av
- Mikdash: A Jewish Guide to the New Sanctuary Movement
Read the full letter, signed by 235 religious leaders and 51 faith-based organizations, here.
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of 52 national, faith-based organizations brought together across many theological traditions with a common call to seek just policies that lift up the God-given dignity of every individual. In partnership, we work to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of all refugees and migrants.
Follow us on Twitter @interfaithimm
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