For Immediate Release – June 21, 2019
Contact: Gebe Martinez | gmartinez@gmail.com | 703-731-9505
Erin Williams | ewilliams@faithinaction.org | (202) 748-0699
Mary Lareau | mlareau@uucf.org | (703) 346-3027
WASHINGTON, DC, Jun. 21, 2019 — In response to President Trump’s announcement that his administration would deport “millions” of undocumented immigrants in the coming weeks, the Congregation Action Network asserted its faithful solidarity with immigrant families across the DC Metro area who have been put into a fresh state of fear and trauma. Network clergy are speaking out and urging their communities to stay safe and their congregations to take action.
“Shame on us, U.S., for creating a state of fear for vulnerable people,” says Pastor Julio Hernandez, of Arlington, Va. “The community is already struggling for survival. The threats of raids re-traumatizes those who don’t have documents and want to live like the rest of us. We are all humans. If we start to dehumanize one group for political benefit then we are in danger of harming ourselves,” he says.
The Network has urged its members to reach out to local governments and law enforcement and urge them not to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Lack of access to area detention facilities or support from law enforcement will make it harder for ICE to carry out widespread arrests.
“God promises often in the sacred scriptures of my faith to protect, defend, and comfort those in distress,” says Rev. Dr. Sharon Stanley-Rea, Director of Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries. “I am disturbed, as a Christian and a U.S. citizen, with the need for hardworking, family-focused immigrant friends and neighbors to raise cries for God’s protection against terrorizing ICE raids that threaten not only to separate families, but to separate us from our best values of welcome, compassion, and hospitality. Instead of spreading fear, we are ready now as faith communities to stand in solidarity with immigrants to offer love, to continue to urge our cities to invest in support for our immigrant neighbors that keeps our cities strong, and to ask our sheriffs and police not cooperate with ICE in such raids.”
Over the last two years, CAN member congregations and individuals have prepared for Trump’s tactics by distributing “Know Your Rights” materials throughout the region and training for how to witness and record any possible raids. The Network also has a “Deportation Defense” program that includes offering physical sanctuary within faith communities, similar to the case of Rosa Gutiérrez López, who has been in sanctuary for more than 6 months at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda, MD.
“We are all humans. If we start to dehumanize one group for political benefit then we are in danger of harming ourselves.”
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The Congregation Action Network, formerly known as the DMV Sanctuary Congregation Network, is network acts in solidarity to end detention, deportation, profiling, and criminalization of immigrants and demands justice, dignity, safety, and family unity. In the face of hate and discrimination our faith calls us to act with love, compassion and hospitality. More information at https://live-faith-in-action.pantheonsite.io/federation/congregation-action-network/
Faith in Action, formerly known as PICO National Network, is the largest grassroots, faith-based organizing network in the United States. The nonpartisan organization works with 1,000 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through its 46 local and state federations. For more information visit www.faithinaction.org.
Faith in Action is a 501c(3). Faith in Action and its affiliates are non-partisan and are not aligned explicitly or implicitly with any candidate or party. We do not endorse or support candidates for office.
