Sacred Heart Church in El Paso offers sanctuary to migrants

On January 21, President Trump issued an Executive Order allowing federal immigration authorities to enter schools and churches for the purpose of arresting those suspected of being in the country illegally. This is outragious. For centuries, churches especially have provided sanctuary to those under suspicion of having committed crimes, in the past largely because the West had not developed the concept of due process yet. Those accused of crimes were given sanctuary in churches and monasteries to give them time to develop their case for innocense. Governments, including the United States, have long recognized and respected the sanctuary status of churches. The last thing Trump needs is the image of ICE agents entering a Catholic church during Mass and pulling people out of pews or out of the choir or even the sanctuary to take them to jail.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the US bishop’s conference, said in response to Trump’s Executive Orders: “Some provisions contained in the Executive Orders, such as those focused on the treatment of immigrants and refugees, foreign aid, expansion of the death penalty, and the environment, are deeply troubling and will have negative consequences, many of which will harm the most vulnerable among us.”

A blanket policy where all illegal immigrants are treated the same is not what we need. It is unjust and cruel. Those who are members of criminal organized gangs, who are members of cartels, or who have committed crimes, especially violent crimes, in the US or in their home countries need to be deported, no questions asked. Those who came here escaping poverty or political oppression, or who were brought here by their parents as children or came as unattended children, need a process they can enter where they can be vetted and their status considered reasonably and justly. As it is, those who enter this process currently are at risk of identifying themselves as undocumented aliens and subject to automatic deportation. We need a process that people can feel safe entering without risk of automatic or immediate deportation. Then they can be properly vetted and, if found to be productive people, allowed to stay legally until they can gain citizenship. If they are found to be unfit, especially because of regular criminal activity (not petty crimes committed years ago), then they are subject to being deported.

In any case, the action of Trump removing sanctuary status from churches, or allowing federal immigration agents to pull children out of schools, is despicable. The Congress and the courts need to get involved to stop this, and stop it now.

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.