Lopez has been in the U.S. for 13 years and has taken sanctuary in the church in order to avoid deportation and being separated from her three children who were all born in the U.S. All of her children are under the age of 11 and one has Down Syndrome.
The 40-year-old’s immigration case is pending in court. According to the DMV Sanctuary Congregation Network, Gutiérrez was supposed to self-deport on Monday, however decided not to out of concern for her children and her own safety.
DMV Sanctuary Congregation Network helped the mother find refuge at the church. This is the first immigrant to seek sanctuary at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church.
