We are hearing so much in the news about the problems with migrants at the border, and the malfeasance of the Trump regime detaining people in inhumane and squalid conditions. I wanted to share with you a positive story and a picture of a family that is seeking asylum-- and why they are seeking asylum. My church is putting our faith into action by housing people who need sanctuary or are seeking asylum. As reported in today’s Columbus Dispatch, there is a family from Honduras staying in my church.
There are four of them-- a mother, father, a 2-year-old boy and a 3-week old baby girl. They have been in Ohio for a few weeks now. They were government employees in Honduras, when they were approached by criminal gangs for help in covering up a crime the gang committed. They made the decision that they were not going to go along; as a result, they had to flee their home and hide out in the countryside, working in the fields for six months. When they were approached again by the gang members, they knew they had to flee Honduras, and started out toward Mexico.
Their journey through Mexico took a year. The father took on odd jobs or begged for money so they could have a chance at survival. Even so, there were some days when they didn’t have any food or water. When they came to the border, they went through the process the Trump regime set up for asylum seekers-- they waited in Mexico. They presented evidence to immigration authorities that made their case for asylum quite credible, so they were granted admission to the U.S. Shortly after they arrived in the U.S., the mother gave birth to the baby girl in Arizona. Two days after the baby was born, they were put on a bus and sent to Canton, Ohio.
Folks at our church found out about the family through immigrant advocates, who knew of our church. You see, we at Just North UCC had sheltered a woman in sanctuary for three months, from October 2018 to January 2019. Her public pseudonym was “Angelica”, and we took her in to sanctuary because she was under the threat of immediate deportation to Mexico. Her family had crossed illegally into the U.S. over 20 years ago. Angelica is married and has three children, all American citizens, as is her husband. She applied for a U visa, given to victims of crime who assist law enforcement, but was denied. Angelica wanted to appeal the decision of USCIS, but a deportation order was already issued under the Trump regime’s edict to deport “illegal” aliens. So we gave sanctuary to Angelica. Her visa was granted in January, and she is now back home.
So we had room in our church again for another family. Some church members visited the Honduran family in Canton, and asked them if they would like to come to Columbus and stay with us while their asylum petition is being processed. They agreed. We are so glad that they are here. They are eager to be able to work and get a place of their own, but in the asylum process, getting a work permit takes around 6-8 months, and they cannot work “under the table” while they are waiting for the work permit-- that could seriously harm their asylum case if the authorities found out. As the father put it, “We’re professionals in our country,” he said. “We’d like to contribute in this country, too.” So for now, they are relying on the charity of our church and individuals to help them while their asylum case is processed.
I have few doubts that this family will do well in the U.S. The father carries his cell phone around the church and uses Google Translate to translate our English to Spanish when people talk to him, because his English is not very good. But he is learning and trying hard to master English. As employees of the Honduran government, they were civil servants, and if they were fleeing because they were standing up to gang control and corruption, I have no doubt that they will succeed in this country-- they have already proven their integrity. They want what anybody else wants-- a good life and safety for themselves and their families.
What I have learned from our experience with Angelica, and with the Honduran family, is that everyone who comes to the United States from south of the border has a story. They have different circumstances surrounding their coming here, and if they are not really causing any problems, if they are able and willing to contribute to society, I don’t see why they shouldn’t be able to stay and pursue permanent residency. When our church took in Angelica, I had some real concerns: she did not have legal status, she had a deportation order, and if she left the church grounds, she was subject to ICE picking her up immediately. However, ICE cannot come into a church and take away someone who is in sanctuary. With the Honduran family, I have no reservations at all-- they have a credible case for asylum, they have legal status, and they are free to come and go from the church as they wish. I look forward to taking a meal to them someday soon, and getting to know them better. My wife held the baby girl this morning after the service, and she is really cute… like all babies at 3 weeks!
There was a news conference this afternoon at church, and in his remarks to open it, our pastor said, “We believe life is good, life is sacred, life holds promise. We stand here today in moral critique of a nation that is struggling, that is faltering. We need to re-focus our vision, we need to restore our virtue. We need to open our communities, we need to strengthen our commitment, we need to find our way, together. This ministry reflects that part of our faith. It’s grounded in sacred stories, like Sarah and Abraham….”. In addition to members from Just North UCC, pastors from other local churches supporting this work, including Columbus Mennonite Church, who is holding Edith Espinal in Sanctuary, and First English Lutheran Church, who is providing sanctuary to Miriam Vargas, were also in attendance. They spoke of their congregations’ values of welcoming immigrants, because it’s what is written in the scriptures. It really is fundamental to the teachings of Jesus, of the Old Testament prophets, to welcome the immigrant, not to denigrate them. We are making a stand and trying to show this country that we can do better.
So much of what is in the news today about refugees and migrants from south of the border hurts my heart and I am sure it hurts your heart too. What we are doing at our church warms my heart, to know that we are doing at least a little bit to welcome the refugee, to provide sanctuary to those who need it.
If you would like to help the Honduran family staying at Just North UCC, please click here.