If you are not currently in Tucson, it was perhaps easy to miss this Tuesday article... Tucson church ready to offer immigrant family sanctuary today
If you are wondering why I write "Part Two," it is because Southside Presbyterian Church has been there, done that. This "sanctuary" thing. To write an extremely concise history lesson, more than 10,000 Central American migrants seeking refuge from violence and persecution in the 1980's (and due to the US' role in the conflicts were refused refugee status) slept on Southside's floors in just a few years, and after 30 years Southside will once again provide sanctuary to resist the US government's deportation orders.
This time, Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson opened its doors to a man facing a forced removal order, as well as his wife and 13-year-old citizen son. This family, the Southside congregation, and other members of the Tucson community argue Daniel Neyoy Ruiz is a perfect example of a solid community member who should be granted discretionary relief from deportation. Daniel's "offense" was to cross a border without proper documentation in order to provide a better life for his wife and future family, and he was "caught" in 2011 when he was pulled over for smoke coming out of his car.
Two months ago, he was given a 60-day voluntary departure order, which was set to expire Tuesday at midnight and become an order of removal, meaning Border Patrol could grab him and forcibly deport him anytime after 12:01am. It has become Border Patrol and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) protocol to not go into "sensitive spaces" such as faith-based centers and schools unless an order comes from high up the chain of command, so we are praying that holds true in this case. Too many families have been separated by this government's attempts to enforce immigration law, and the Southside community, supported by a wider network (including my home church St. Luke Presbyterian!), is trying to provide a safe space for this family in the country they consider home.
At around 5:30pm on Tuesday, we welcomed Daniel and his family, followed by press, into the kiva, Southside's sanctuary built in a circle in honor of native traditions in this region.
Daniel, his wife, and their 13-year-old son are surrounded by clergy of various religious and faith traditions, as well as members of Southside church and the Tucson community at large.
Pastor Alison Harrington of Southside and Pastor Randy Mayer of Good Shepherd UCC (and Borderlinks' board co-president) led the welcome and prayer for the family in English and Spanish. Pastor Alison posted the words on her Facebook this morning, and I copied them at the end of this post.
Reverends Alison and Randy, as well as other clergy read Bible verses to highlight why we are called as people of faith and conscience to give this family refuge.
Attorney and immigration rights activist Margo Cowan called DHS (Department of Homeland Security) last week to close this removal case, but they did not respond... So she specifically brought this case to light and proposed it for sanctuary at Southside because it falls squarely within what the Obama administration has determined a good example a community member who should not be deported just because we can. "Daniel is like so many others we have not had the pleasure of coming to know," she said. "We are going to keep this family until his case is closed... We're here to say to the U.S. government to close his case."
(Apologies this iPhone picture is blurry...) With an interpreter at his side, Daniel took the mike to extend his gratitude and say a few words. "For these last three years I have been filled with fear that I would be separated from my family. I have tried to work for my family... I have seen all the changes in my son since he was little, and now that he is an adolescent, he needs me more than ever... The only thing I ask is to be able to stay with my family."
Pastor Alison again returned to the pulpit, proclaiming, "We at Southside are not strangers to Sanctuary; we know the blood sweat and tears of Sanctuary. We know that we don't have another option because our faith calls us to stand against injustice."
As you can see, Southside is not alone in this. Daniel and his family are in fact not members of Southside, but belong to an evangelical church in the community which is also supporting this act of sanctuary. Pastor Alison also gave a shoutout to St. Luke Presbyterian in Minnetonka, Minnesota (!) as well as Most Holy Trinity Catholic church for stepping up. It was wild for me, a member of St. Luke, to have seen this Tucson church ready to offer immigrant family sanctuary today article just Tuesday morning and then see a flurry of emails from my home church regarding this resolution that Pastor Alison highlighted in this press conference:
"We ask for your prayers of support:
We the Session of the St. Luke Presbyterian Church in Minnetonka, MN, have voted unanimously to support our sister church, Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson, in their decision to provide sanctuary for Daniel Neyoy Ruiz. This action includes asking for a special offering to monetarily support Southside in their ministry to Daniel and his family.
Daniel is facing deportation at 12:01am on Wednesday morning. In response, Southside Presbyterian, beginning tonight at 5:30, will be offering sanctuary to Daniel and his family. Despite being an ideal candidate for prosecutorial discretion, Daniel, unfortunately, worked with an attorney who never asked the government to administratively close his case. Daniel, like so many others, slipped through the cracks and is now facing permanent separation from his beloved wife and 13-year-old son.
Daniel and his wife Karla have contributed to the Tucson community for 14 years. They are active in their own church; Daniel also plays in the Rondalla as part of the music ministry at other local churches. Their son Carlos knows no other home. As a student at Challenger Middle School, Carlos ultimately hopes to one day become an immigration attorney so that he may help other mixed-status families like his to be able to stay together."
Daniel is facing deportation at 12:01am on Wednesday morning. In response, Southside Presbyterian, beginning tonight at 5:30, will be offering sanctuary to Daniel and his family. Despite being an ideal candidate for prosecutorial discretion, Daniel, unfortunately, worked with an attorney who never asked the government to administratively close his case. Daniel, like so many others, slipped through the cracks and is now facing permanent separation from his beloved wife and 13-year-old son.
Daniel and his wife Karla have contributed to the Tucson community for 14 years. They are active in their own church; Daniel also plays in the Rondalla as part of the music ministry at other local churches. Their son Carlos knows no other home. As a student at Challenger Middle School, Carlos ultimately hopes to one day become an immigration attorney so that he may help other mixed-status families like his to be able to stay together."
As Pastor Alison declared, "Sanctuary is not just a family finding refuge in a building, but also finding shelter in a community..." So we showed our community support by the clergy first laying hands on the family's shoulders, followed and surrounded by the rest of the community members gathered.
And what would it be without some singing!
Following the conference/service, Daniel and his family interviewed by various members of the press. According to Amy Beth, my YAV-mate serving there under Pastor Alison, apparently today there has been a constant press presence at Southside, and Daniel said he felt a bit like an overnight celebrity.
As promised earlier in the post, here are the words Pastor Alison Harrington and Pastor Randy Mayer spoke to commence this act of sanctuary:
Welcome into Sanctuary
leave fear behind
and enter into this place with hope
for God is with you
Welcome into Sanctuary
leave worry behind
and enter into this place with faith
for we are with you
Welcome into Sanctuary
leave anything that burdens you behind
and enter into this place with joy
for the strength of God and the love of the people
will be like mighty wings covering you with protection
until you can return home together to live in peace
until that blessed day, welcome into Sanctuary. Amen.
Bienvenidos a Santuario
Dejen atrás sus temores
y entren a este lugar en paz
porque Dios está con ustedes
Bienvenidos a Santuario
Dejen atrás sus preocupaciones
Y entren a este lugar con fé
Porque estamos con ustedes
Bienvenidos a Santuario
Dejen atrás todo lo que los agobie
Y entren en este lugar con alegría
Porque la fortaleza de Dios y el amor de la gente
Serán como poderosas alas que los cubrirán con protección
Hasta que puedan regresar juntos a su casa a vivir en paz
Hasta que llegue ese bendito día, bienvenidos a Santuario.
Amén.
Amen. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers as they await an official ruling on Daniel's case, as well as the millions of other families who are separated by migration and deportations.
leave fear behind
and enter into this place with hope
for God is with you
Welcome into Sanctuary
leave worry behind
and enter into this place with faith
for we are with you
Welcome into Sanctuary
leave anything that burdens you behind
and enter into this place with joy
for the strength of God and the love of the people
will be like mighty wings covering you with protection
until you can return home together to live in peace
until that blessed day, welcome into Sanctuary. Amen.
Bienvenidos a Santuario
Dejen atrás sus temores
y entren a este lugar en paz
porque Dios está con ustedes
Bienvenidos a Santuario
Dejen atrás sus preocupaciones
Y entren a este lugar con fé
Porque estamos con ustedes
Bienvenidos a Santuario
Dejen atrás todo lo que los agobie
Y entren en este lugar con alegría
Porque la fortaleza de Dios y el amor de la gente
Serán como poderosas alas que los cubrirán con protección
Hasta que puedan regresar juntos a su casa a vivir en paz
Hasta que llegue ese bendito día, bienvenidos a Santuario.
Amén.
Amen. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers as they await an official ruling on Daniel's case, as well as the millions of other families who are separated by migration and deportations.
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