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'It feels dangerous': Faith leaders mum on sanctuary for immigrants

By: Hanna Adely
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... Eight years ago, when Donald Trump first became president, a group of churches and synagogues across New Jersey vowed to offer sanctuary to immigrates who were seeking protection from deportation.
..... Now, as Trump enters his second term, clergy members said they remain committed to helping immigrants, but were restrained in talking about details. They worried it could turn their congregations into targets.
..... "It is not safe any longer to say what we are going to do because of the political situation," said the Rev. Ramon Collazo, who leads Lutheran congregations in Elizabeth and Union City. [NJ] "It could be more harmful for the people we are trying to help."
..... "That's what I tell other pastors, that this is a very dangerous time, and we need to be wise in order to help people," hes aid.
..... Their concerns come as Trump vows to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants, about 470,000 of whom live in New Jersey, and to strip legal protections form other groups of migrants.
..... On Tuesday, [01/21/2025] Trump administration also announced that it had rescinded a long-standing policy preventing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents form making arrest in or near so-called sensitive locations, including houses of worship, schools and hospitals.
..... "Criminals will no loner be able to hide in America;s schools and churches to avoid arrest, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement. "the Trump administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to sue common sense.

Feels 'dangerous'

..... When immigration authorities sought to deport Indonesian Christians who had fled persecution in tier native country during the Obama administration and Trump's first term. the Reformed Church of Highland Park [NJ] took them in.
..... The Rev. Seth Kapor-Dale brought national attention to their plight and the church became a front line in the debate on immigration policy. But different times call for different responses, he said.
..... "We would be hesitant to offer sanctuary in the way we did during the Obama administration and first Trump Administration," Kaper-Dale said. "It feels a little dangerous now."
..... "We are still committed to serving our neighbors," he added, "however, the behavior of the president on this matter, the xenophobia he is promoting, the violence of his people, makes us want to community at risk."
..... Despite reports of agents now being free to enter "sensitive locations," Kaper-Dale said that he would be shocked if agents came into a church services or a church parking lot. "I think hte message is, "don't dare challenge me," he said.
..... Immigration agents ahve quesitned and detained people in surprising places befoer, inlcuding school bus stop, an immigation rally and workplaces or ahve simply stopped people walking down the street, clergy members said.
..... Despite the risk, Rabbi Elliott Tepprman of Bnai Kesket synagogue in Montclair said the congregation remained committed to providing sanctuary.
..... "We would offer the opportunity, if we could, to individuals seeking a safe place to stay who are facing deportation," Tepperman said. "The goal of that would be to cerate a space where they could stay that ICE and other immigrate officials would not cross so that they could pursue legal means to have their cases heard."
..... "I think we are living in a moment that is going to require some bravery," he added. "If Trump is going to target congregations being safe havens, then we are going to practice more bravery than this small effort requires."

Concerns about violence

..... The fear is not simply about political targeting or immigration raids, but also about the potential for violence amid a sharp rise in anti-immigration rhetoric and far-right extremism.
..... Kaper-Dale specially described it as a fear of "wackos with guns." He pointed to the 2018 shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, where 11 people were killed and six wounded.
..... The shooter,a white supremacist, was reportedly motivate by a far-right conspiracy theory that alleges that Jews are perpetrating "white genocide" thought efforts to replace white people in the U.S. He railed against a Jewish charity for working to "bring invaders in that kill our people" in a social media post before the shouting.
..... "Imaging we had Fox and CNN drawing attention to this place as a place where sanctuary is provided," said the Highland Park [NJ] pastor, fearing a person might target a church they see as interfering with Trump's agenda.
.... Colazo - who leads Santa Isabel Lutheran Church in Elizabeth and the Lutheran Church of St. Matthew in Union city [NJ] - said his congregations include men and women who are in different stages of immigration. Advocates have been working to help the community be prepared, including knowing their rights, having proper documents when possible and having a plan for the care of their children in case they are detained.
..... But they also plan for the worst, he said.
..... "We know there is always a risk," he said. "We're not scared, but I'm always cautious and I'm always alert in offer to protect my people. I have told them, 'We have a plan if something happens,'"

What's next?

..... Administration officials say the initial target of immigration enforcement will be those with criminal histories.
..... Trump has called illegal immigration a national security issue and said that undocumented immigrates bring crime and violence. Studies have shown that crime rates among immigrants, including those who are undocumented, are consistently lower than U.s.-born citizens.
..... The administration's reach could extend further, as it strips legal protections from groups of migrants. Trump has signed an order to end humanitarian-parole, a temporary permission to remain in the U.S. legally, for people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
..... The execute order states that parole will be decided instead on a case-by-case basis.
..... He has also called for curbing Temporary Protected Status, granted to foreign nationals whose countries deemed too unsafe for return.
..... While sanctuary grew in Trump's first term, it was not new. The movement sprung up in the 1980s as churches declared they would provide sanctuary for Central Americans fleeing violence in their home countries.
..... Over the years, faith groups have continued to be places of support and sanctuary. On January 13, [2025] faith including Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, archbishop of Newark, gathered January 13 [1015] at St. Lucy's Church in Newark to oppose mass deportations.
.... Tobin said mass deportation would impact immigrates who "have been part of communities for 15, 20, 25 years" and rip apart families.
..... "In the present political climate, there's been a well-organized and well-funded effort to cultivate fear and suspicion toward immigrations. To demonize them and to devalue their contributions to our collective life," he said.
..... The officiant of an inauguration prayer service attended that Trump attended Tuesday [01/21/2025] also urged the newly sworn in president to "have mercy" on immigrates adn transgender children - making what she called "one final plea."
..... "In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,: Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde said during her sermon at the National Cathedral as Trump and Vice President JD Vance watched alongside their families.
..... "Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land," Budde said.
..... Tobin also hoped that the Trump administration would not go through with any attempt to arrest undocumented immigrates in houses of worship.
..... "My hope is that this country would respect the tradition not only of the United States, but most countries in the international community, and respect houses of worship," Tobin said.

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