Four Hispanic pastors of evangelical churches across the country sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security asking the department to respect undocumented communities and put their humanity first.
The pastors — Rev. Luis Cortez of Esperanza USA, Rev. Gabriel Salguero of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, Dr. Noel Castellans of the Christian Community Development Association, and Bishop Jose Garcia of Bread for the World — highlighted the negative effects of ICE in targeted communities, underscoring the fear families have lived with since the Feb. 21 release of two DHS memos. These memos expanded the scope of deportations, targeting any undocumented immigrant charged with any criminal offense, and expediting the removal process.
The letter from religious leaders says one of these memos expanded the definition of criminal in a way that led to unfair arrests, detentions, and deportations of immigrants. According to the four leaders, the memo’s expanded definition of “criminal” has “not only included undocumented immigrants with serious criminal histories but pastors, hard working mothers, fathers, DACA recipients and numerous other immigrants with low-level or no criminal offense records.”
They continue:
These deeply troubling and erratic actions have resulted in paralyzing fear in our churches and communities and do not reflect the values we as pastors hold dear, nor do we believe it is congruent with the values of the United States of America.
The pastors acknowledged the need for law, but insisted that the laws implemented by ICE were “un-redemptive” and “unjust,” with consequences that far outweigh the infractions. They asked that laws be fairly defined, taking into account the consequences of deporting, detaining, or arresting a person with a family in a community.
They also asked that sensitive areas remain sensitive. ICE's sensitive locations policy assures that arrests, interviews, and searches cannot happen in sensitive areas such as schools, places of worship, funerals, weddings, and during public demonstration.
The recent spike in deportations, and increased ICE presence in certain communities, has led to significant concern. Churches have been pushing for immigrants’ rights for years, but with an increase in deportation threats this year and a loosened definition of sensitive areas, some communities are in panic.
In their letter, the pastors called for unity, citing their faith as a catalyst for promoting just treatment of undocumented communities.
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