Steps to stop ICE's 'climate of terror'
By: Morris County interfaith clergy
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Guest columnists
..... As faith leaders representing diverse religious traditions, we the undersigned speak with one voice in response to the immigration enforcement actions that took place on Speedwell Avenue in Morristown [NJ] o January 11. [2026]
.....
Across our varies faiths, we share a fundamental conviction: Every human being is cerated in the image of God and possesses inherent dignity hat cannot be diminished by legal status, country of origin, or any other circumstance. Our faith traditions call us to welcome the stranger, to defend the vulnerable, to speak truth to power, and to stand with those who are marginalized. When masked agents in unmarked vehicles detain people from laundromats, businesses and public spaces without transparency or countability: when families are left in anguish not knowing where their loved ones have been taken; when entire com unites live in fear - this violates the dignity we are called to uphold. Immigration agents engaging in indiscriminate sweeps are creating a climate of terror among our neighbors, regardless of immigration or citizenship status. People washing their clothes on a Sunday morning, including a high school student, were taken into custody. this is not justice. This is not who we are as a community.
..... We can upon immigration enforcement authorities to:
* cease immoral, unconstitutional and indiscriminate enforcement actions that target individuals based on race, ethnicity or national origin.
* Provide transparency and due process to those detained and their families.
* Respect the dignity and humanity of all persons, regardless of mitigation status.
* Allow access to pastoral and spiritual care for those who are detains.
..... We call upon our faith communities and all people of conscience to:
*
Speak out against fear-mongering and dehumanizing rhetoric.
* Offer practical support to those affected by these enforcement actions.
* Remember that our strength as a community comes from our diversity and our shared commitment to human dignity.
Continuing to seek justice
..... As people of faith, we cannot be silent when the sacred dignity of any person is violated. We will continue to work for justice, compassion and the protection of all members of our community.
..... Together, we stand with our immigrant neighbors in Morris County [NJ] and beyond.
..... The Rev. Hannah Faye Allred, the Rev. Dr. Edwin David Aponte, Paul Becker, the Rev. Dr, Tanya Linn Bennett, Jeffrey bird, Bernadette Blong, the Rev. Deacon Ken Boccino, the Rev. Emilie Boggis, the Rev. Don brown, the Rev. Thomas A. Brown, the Rev. Sarah J. Cairatti, the Rev. John Callanan, the Rev. Jerry Carter, the Rev. timothy Clarkson, the Rev. Dr. Lisa Clayton, the Rev. Kisha Cohen, the Rev. Luana Cook Scott, the Rev. Timothy Daniels, the Rev. A. Craig Dunn, the Rev. Sarah green, the Rev. Loran Erixson, Rabbi Murray Ezring, the Rev. Julie Hapspel, the Rev. Ryon Herin, the Rev. Carol Howard, the Rev. Susan Ironside, the Rev. Manuel Islas, the Rev. Elizabeth Ivell, Dr. Melanie Johnson-Debaufre, Catherine Keller, the Rev. Thomas Kildea, Dr. Dong Sung Kim, the Rev. Ellen Kohn-Perry, the Rev. Dawn Maffetone, the Rev. Launce A. Mann, the Rev. Jeff Markay, Rabbi Ellie Miller, the Rev. Gladys G. Moore, the Rev. Michael Muller, Deacon Mark Nixon, PHd; cantor Shana Onigman, the Rev. Sasha Ostrom, the Rev. Robert A. Picken, Deacon Trink Prinz, the Rev. Gilman Ramos, the Rev. Dr. Robert Rogers, Rabbi Michael Satz, the Rev. Chris Scrivens, Pastor Philip Scherzer, Rabbi Inna Serebro-Litvak, the Rev. Nicolette L. Siragusa, the Rev. Dr. Althea Spencer Miller, the Rev. Carie Stanley, the Rev. Dr. J. Terry Tood, Amanda Tufts, the Rev. Caroline Unzaga, the Rev. Kim Padfield Urbanik, the Rev. Heahter Valosin, the Rev. Dr. Eunice Vega-Perez, the Rev. Danila Vigilante, Bishop Rohan Walker, the Rev. Audry Webber, the Rev. Traci West, the Rev. Dr. Sidney Williams, the Rev. Marilyn N. Wolfe, the Rev. Dr. Thomas V. Wolfe, the Rev. Julie Yarborough, the Rev. Sharon Yarge, Stephen Yun,