Religious leaders accompany immigrants

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued an urgent “special message” this week expressing solidarity with immigrant communities living “in a climate of fear and anxiety due to profiling practices and immigration laws… and the growing denigration of immigrants.”

Weeks earlier, in Fresno, religious leaders from different denominations gathered in front of the offices of the immigration agency ICE to hold a vigil to send a message of spiritual support to families who are currently feeling the consequences of the policy of mass deportations. The gathering was organized by the organization Faith in the Valley.

Daniela Rodriguez, a fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, and reporter for Radio Bilingüe, reports.

The organization Faith in the Valley recently called on other religious leaders to hold a vigil in front of the ICE offices to send a message of spiritual support to immigrant families.

Nora Zaragoza Yáñez, supervisor of the network, explains the reason for the gathering…

“The different religious leaders, based on everything that is happening with our immigrant community, decided to form this vigil to let the immigrant community know that they are not alone, that their spiritual guidance is here and they are here to support their faithful.”

The vigil brought together faithful of different religions to call for unity and the defense of human dignity.

“Regardless of a person’s immigration status, regardless of what faith one is a faithful follower of, we are all human beings. We have certain rights and dignity as people, which should not be taken away. That is the message: if we can all put our differences in faith aside and really focus on the fact that we are people, we are human beings, then who can be against us, right?”

Why did they choose to gather outside the ICE offices? Nora responds:

“It’s the processing center building. So, when the community unfortunately catches or detains them, they send them here. Then they send them to a detention center.”

Nora has witnessed how, in recent months, fear has grown among the immigrant community:

“The community is afraid to go about their normal lives. We are entering a time where the dignity of the person and civil rights are no longer respected. Regardless of a person’s immigration status, the Constitution protects the civil rights of all people.”

In light of this reality, Faith in the Valley has set up a support and guidance hotline for the community. The idea is that if ICE operations or immigration emergencies are reported, people can contact them.

“We are here 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can call our surveillance network and we are on call and ready to help you.”

Father Joaquín, from Santa Inés Mission in Fresno, also participated in the vigil. For him, a profound transformation is needed in the country.

“The time has come to create a new America. Enough of the experiment of the founding fathers’ dream. Now we need a new America that transcends the two main parties, whether liberal or conservative. When people say ‘God bless America,’ let them say ‘God bless all America,’ let God bless all of America, all the constituents on this earth.”

During the ceremony, the priest criticized the political use of religion and abuses against the migrant community.

“Christianity has deteriorated into a religion, into an ideology. Not all who call themselves Christians are true followers of Jesus of Nazareth. They have made Christianity a way to manipulate. For example, President DDD has sold Bibles to promote himself.”

Father Joaquín Arriaga makes a direct appeal to immigration agents to reflect on their actions.

“All the people at ICE who are dividing families are dividing America. They are enemies of this country because they do not obey the Constitution or the commandments of God’s law.”

He sends a message to the immigrant community in the Central Valley.

“Do not let yourselves be called undocumented, illegal, or ‘aliens,’ because we are unprotected immigrants of America. And tell the agents to do a true service to America, not just something they are paid to do.”

The vigil concluded with prayers in different languages and an invitation to maintain hope and solidarity amid fear and uncertainty.

Many thanks to Daniela Rodriguez, a fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, and reporter for Radio Bilingüe.