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FAITH COMMUNITIES VOW TO CONTINUE SANCTUARY DESPITE TRUMP’S REMOVAL
OF PROTECTIONS FOR CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS  
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Felicia Hyde
January 22, 2025
Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity
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_ They will continue to welcome immigrants and offer solidarity,
support, and services regardless of immigration status. _

A migrant child at the border wall near San Diego., Mike
Blake/Reuters

 

In the wake of the Trump administration’s cancellation of the 2011
“sensitive areas”
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communities associated with the Interfaith Movement for Human
Integrity are reaffirming their unwavering commitment to sanctuary.
This commitment includes continuing to welcome immigrants and offering
solidarity, support, and services regardless of immigration
status.  

The “Sensitive Locations Memo,” introduced during the Obama
administration, advised immigration enforcement officers to avoid
making arrests in places like schools and houses of worship. Despite
its repeal, faith communities remain steadfast in their solidarity.

"We strongly condemn the harmful executive actions that have spread
fear and perpetuated misleading narratives criminalizing and
demonizing immigrants to justify mass arrests," said Rev. Deborah
Lee, Executive Director of the Interfaith Movement for Human
Integrity. "The truth is sanctuary policies keep communities safer
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immigrants being targeted, including those who are legal permanent
residents and already served decades of prison, are essential members
of our families and communities. We believe in the power of
transformation and firmly oppose the painful separation of families
and the forced deportation of individuals to places they hardly know

The Sacred Tradition of Sanctuary Across Faith

Sanctuary is a deeply rooted, sacred tradition guided by principles of
love, protection for the vulnerable, compassion, and equality for all.
It's history spans critical movements, from the Underground Railroad
and the abolition of slavery to providing refuge for Central American
migrants fleeing violence and supporting mixed-status families facing
deportation in the past two decades.

“Our faiths compel us to prevent harm and honor the sanctity of
families, communities, and human life,” said Rev. Dr. Tovis Page,
Co-Minister of the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo and Program
Director of the Peninsula Solidarity Cohort. “This is especially
critical today, as immigrant communities endure mass arrests, racial
targeting, and the spread of fear and animus.”

“Faith communities have practiced sanctuary long before the 2011
memo,” added Rev. Allison Tanner. “Our commitment to welcome,
dignity, and inclusion remains steadfast. Political intimidation will
not deter us. We will continue to find creative and transformative
ways to uphold the sacred practice of sanctuary.”

Rabbi Dev Noily of Kehilla Community Synagogue echoes this sentiment.
“The Torah teaches that ‘...when an immigrant comes to live with
you in your land, you should not wrong them.  You should treat the
immigrant who lives with you as one of your citizens.  And you should
love them as yourself:  for you were immigrants in the land of
Egypt.’ (Leviticus 19:33-34)  No action of intimidation will deter
us from standing alongside our immigrant neighbors!.”

“Our sacred texts value the dignity and well being of every person.
It is immoral that these policies of mass detention and mass
deportation are enriching the pockets of for-profit detention centers
whose stocks are soaring
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while immigrant families who feed this nation, provide care and keep
this nation running will suffer immensely,”  said Sister Joan
O’Donnell from the Sisters of Mercy Western Region.  A Renewed
Commitment to Solidarity

 A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO SOLIDARITY

The Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity is rallying faith
communities to take meaningful action, including:

* Educating and Empowering: promoting Know Your
Rights information and sharing rapid response hotline numbers to
equip communities with critical information.
* Providing Safe Spaces: Offering houses of worship as places of
respite, safety, and healing during immigration raids.
* Accompanying At-Risk Communities: Supporting immigrant families
in accessing fairness, due process, and basic survival.
* Denouncing Racism and Xenophobia: Rejecting family separations
and mass detentions fueled by racist and xenophobic rhetoric.
* Training Faith Leaders: Ensuring staff in faith institutions
understand their constitutional rights and are prepared to protect
their communities in the case of an ICE visit or raid on their
property.

“This is a pivotal moment to renew our commitment to sanctuary in
its myriad forms”, Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister of
the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco affirmed.
“Sanctuary is about advocacy, accompaniment, and standing together
in unity. It’s about listening to those who are most vulnerable and
finding ways to love and be present to our neighbors.  To be clear,
no political action can extinguish our commitment to love, justice,
and the protection of all people.”

A Call to Action: Join the Sanctuary Movement

Faith communities are invited to join the #SanctuaryPeople network 
a movement engaging in public witness, advocacy, and rapid response
efforts to protect immigrant neighbors. View more resources
about Know Your Rights
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how to be engaged in Sanctuary
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tuned for a public faith action in February. For more information
contact [email protected].

Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity
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a statewide California organization that works for the dignity and
full inclusion of immigrants and people impacted by incarceration. 
We believe that all people are sacred across bars and borders.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and events

www.im4humanintegrity.org
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* faith-based movements
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* sanctuary
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