For Immediate Release January 21, 2025
Contact: Heather Cabral, 202-550-6880, hcabral@faithinaction.org
Faith in Action joins faith communities, other organizations across sectors in opposing mass deportation plans
WASHINGTON – Faith leaders from across the religious spectrum are joining educators, healthcare leaders, and people of goodwill in denouncing a Trump Administration decision to reverse longstanding rules that prevented Immigration and Customs Enforcement from entering sensitive locations such as schools and churches. In a statement, Bishop Dwayne Royster, executive director of Faith in Action, connected the rule change to Trump’s broader mass deportation plans and cruel day-one executive actions:
“The Trump Administration’s decision to end long-standing rules that protect sensitive locations is a reckless violation of religious liberty and American values that treat houses of worship, schools, and hospitals as sacred places. Today’s announcement, like yesterday’s executive orders, is one piece of the Administration’s broader mass deportation plan – a wholly immoral plan that will devastate communities, rip apart families, and wreak havoc on our economy.
“We knew this was coming and we are prepared. We will not stand idly by as our neighbors, friends and children, and families in our pews and schools are targeted for deportation. We join with people of goodwill across tradition – whether they are education, healthcare or faith leaders – in opposing all efforts to harm migrants in this country.
“My faith teaches that each and every person is a beloved child of God who is created in God’s likeness and that whatever we do unto the least among us, we do unto Christ. Holy scripture also reminds us, across traditions, that we must care for migrants and refugees. And so, we are resolved to do all we can to protect our immigrant siblings in the coming days, weeks, and months. We are in the fight for the long haul.”
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About Faith in Action
Faith in Action 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.
