Tougaloo, MS – Father Odel Medina of St. Anne Catholic Church in Carthage is scheduled to testify at the congressional field hearing on the Mississippi immigration raids, led by the House Committee on Homeland Security and taking place at Tougaloo College on November 7.
As in any type of disaster befalling a community—whether natural or man-made—Mississippi religious institutions have been tirelessly working to bring relief to families impacted by the massive August enforcement action. Nearly 700 workers were arrested, their children stranded and spouses devastated.
In Canton, First Presbyterian Church and Sacred Heart Catholic Church teamed up with legal advocates and community members to support families going through this disaster. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance mobilized with a grant in support of local efforts.
Laurie Kraus, director of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, noted: “The ICE raids came on a weekend that was already horrific and brought an additional layer of suffering and desperation,” referring to the hate-fueled murders in El Paso and the subsequent mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio. “But the faith communities of Mississippi came through.”
“Contrary to what certain elected officials tell us, the individuals and families impacted by the raids are not criminals. They are valuable members of this community,” said Reverend Steven S. Bryant, First Presbyterian Church. “They are our friends and neighbors. Some have made Canton their home for decades, and they have made our community a better place. Since the traumatic raids of August, Canton has rediscovered what it means to ‘love thy neighbor.’
“We are working hard to help our neighbors get back on their feet. Some politicians tell us we are ‘safer’ because of the raids. No, our safety was never an issue. But if any good has risen from the raid, it is our in our renewed passion to love our neighbor, and to reject any powers that demonize and hurt them.”
Franciscan Action Network (FAN) wrote about these raids:
These are not images from some war-torn country, but from one state in the United States of America, where thousands of immigrants had hoped to escape violence in their own countries and find a safe place to call home, to work to provide for their families and contribute to their communities…. Every American should be horrified by this enforcement action which has left children homeless and plants without workers in the largest single-state workplace ICE raid in US history.
The group’s executive director, Patrick Carolan, said: “How a country treats its children is a measure of the moral fiber of that country. These images depict a country whose government shreds that fiber.”
“Why has the current Administration declared war on our neighbors who are helping to put food on our tables?” asked Lawrence E. Couch, Director of the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
“These hardworking men and women have lived and worked in our country for many years, raised their families, and contributed their talents and resources to our communities. Now the families’ breadwinners have been dragged away, arrested, and the family safety net has been cut down. What we should do instead is offer them a pathway to citizenship. That is what has made our country great,” said Couch.
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of 53 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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