For Immediate Release – June 21, 2019
Contact: Gebe Martinez | gmartinez@gmail.com | 703-731-9505 or Erin Williams | ewilliams@faithinaction.org | 
(202) 748-0699
“We must all come together to show moral outrage against a campaign that targets non-White immigrants. Our nation is better than this.”
WASHINGTON, DC — The following is a statement by Richard Morales, Policy and Program Director for LA RED, Faith in Action’s immigrants’ rights program:
“As we noted earlier this week, when Trump announced on the day of his formal re-election campaign speech his plans to remove immigrants and asylum seekers from the U.S. through raids, we immediately initiated our deportation defense plans. If his purpose was to create fear, and chaos, we immediately reassured immigrants and communities of color that we would fight back.
“We now have word that raids could begin this weekend and target cities that have resisted turning local police into immigration agents, in order to foster good community relations with all residents, regardless of immigration status.
“Make no mistake: Trump is doubling down on his family separation policy and we and our elected officials at all levels of government must stand up and say ‘NO. We will not be bullied. We will not allow Trump to continue ripping children away from the arms of their mothers and fathers so that Trump can secure the support of his nativist base.
“We must all come together to show moral outrage against a campaign that targets non-White immigrants. Our nation is better than this.”
“Meanwhile, we are prepared for Trump’s tactics. Since the start of the Trump administration, our leaders have been trained for possible raids, and we are distributing ‘Know Your Rights’ materials. We also have ‘Deportation Defense’ guides ready and are prepared to record and witness any raids as they occur. Our congregations also are ready to offer sanctuary, as they have done in individual cases, as in the case of Rosa Gutiérrez López, who has been in sanctuary for more than five months at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda, MD.
“We are ready to fight hate and stand up for love of our fellow human beings.”
