By Bill Brady
In the face of slashed federal funding and heightened deportation patrols, immigrant outreach by the local religious community is changing in ways visible and invisible.
Visibly, there is a renewed emphasis on activities such as the monthly prayer vigils outside the regional headquarters of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Ft. Snelling. Invisibly, a cone of silence has descended upon many church-sponsored activities aimed at helping recent arrivals to America.
Several faith communities and agencies contacted for this story declined to comment on what they are doing, where they are doing it and when.
“Harriet Tubman didn’t carry a trumpet, and neither do we,” said one source.
Many of these organizations have halted written communication with their own constituents for fear of attracting unwanted attention.
One organization, Arrive Ministries of Minnesota, did send an email in early March to alert supporters that its contract with the U.S. State Department had been terminated. Arrive is one of 10 refugee resettlement organizations to be jettisoned from a program that had been in place for 45 years with largely bipartisan support.
Despite the blow to their budget, Arrive’s leaders maintain their mission is unchanged.
“We stand proud of and thankful for the 12,108 men, women, and children we have welcomed with the love of Jesus since 1988,” stated the email, signed by executives Rebekah Phillips and Wendy Meyering. “We will not stop advocating for refugee resettlement as an expression of God’s command to welcome the stranger.”
Vigils continue
Similar commitment is evident with the Minnesota Interfaith Coalition on Immigration, sponsors of the monthly prayer vigils outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building at Ft. Snelling. The 7:30 a.m. vigils have been taking place on the second Tuesday of every month for at least six years, but are seeing a resurgence of interest this year.
People of “any faith and no particular faith” join for an hour of prayer and song, according to MNICOM’s web site. A rotating cast of faith communities and social justice groups supply speakers, whose job is to provide attendees with “concrete opportunities” to advocate for immigrant detainees. The March speaker lineup featured Craig Loya, Episcopal Bishop of Minnesota. The next vigil is scheduled for April 8.
Postscript: As this story was going to press, the Minnesota Department of Human Services announced a new Refugee and Immigrant Helpline to connect people to information, resources and supports in their local communities. The hyperlink is https://mn.gov/dhs/refugee-and-immigrant-helpline/. Callers to 1-800-814-4806 are promised to receive “guidance people can trust,” with navigators ready to answer questions in English, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian and other languages upon request.
Bill Brady is copy editor and occasional reporter for the Bugle.
