Latino churches are on edge as the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration intensifies, NBC claims in a new report.
The article describes a women’s Bible study being conducted via video call because “online gatherings are one of the ways some Christian denominations are offering their services now, as in-person attendance has fallen in some places due to fears of immigration raids on places of worship, according to Christian leader Carlos Malavé. He directs the Latino Christian National Network, a network of pastors and church leaders [representing] some 4,000 churches across the United States.”
What scared people?
“For three decades, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy restricted operations on churches, schools and hospitals. But it was reversed in January by the Trump administration, sowing fear among parishioners about whether it is safe to attend their church. This reversal prompted many pastors to rethink the way in which their services are delivered. Malavé said this is happening even in areas where congregations supported President Donald Trump in last year’s election.”
“The churches are alarmed, obviously tremendously alarmed by the raids,” Malavé said.
“They started resorting to holding those services, Bible studies and meetings, through Zoom and those resources, which they at least already had experience with during Covid-19.”
If people are afraid to attend church due to a possible immigration raid, wouldn’t that probably indicate that they, or their friends or relatives, are illegal aliens?
Sure enough, according to the article: “A new report published jointly by groups and religious associations of different denominations estimates that 1 in 18 evangelicals and 1 in 5 Catholics in the U.S. (averaging one in 12 Christians) are at risk of deportation or losing a loved one to the deportations contemplated by the Trump administration. Up to 80% of those potentially at risk of deportation are Christians, according to the report.”
A judge stepped in to make a ruling.
“Malavé said that fears have diminished somewhat after a judge ordered a temporary halt at the end of February to the policy allowing immigration raids in churches and other venues. The judicial order followed a request from several religious groups that the Trump administration reconsider the policy.”
However…
“’The fear is still there,’ Malavé said, because, for many, going from hearing what the Trump administration wanted to do ‘to seeing what’s starting to happen is still a shock.’ He said that during the presidential campaign, many Latino Christians thought Trump was only going to go after ‘criminal immigrants.’”
“Instead, people are seeing the reports of increased arrests and deportations, including of people without criminal records or who are in the country legally; the pause on processing some green card applications; and the rescinding of Temporary Protective Status or parole programs that had already passed thorough reviews by authorities.”
Yes, it’s a big change. The law is actually being enforced now. People had gotten used to it not being enforced. So it’s going to be hard on some of them.
“Malavé said that the Latino Christian National Network has been offering webinars to church leaders ‘so they can guide their church members on what their rights are; how to deal with the emotional crisis, the spiritual crisis this is creating in our people; what documents and paperwork they need to have in case a person is arrested by ICE and all those types of procedures.’”
But don’t get the wrong idea.
“‘We don’t advocate living in a country where there are no laws, nor do we advocate breaking laws,’ Malavé said. ‘We understand that there are laws for everything, including immigration laws, and we believe those laws must be respected.’ But ‘our first position is that we must protect our people,’ said Malavé, as part of the church’s commitment and responsibility to safeguard the Latino community’s well-being.”
Allow me to recommend another solution.
Rather than allow illegal aliens to cause problems for everyone, advise them that, if they are breaking the law by being here, they should return to their home country. The churches could help them go back.
After all, isn’t God everywhere?
Can’t Latin Americans be Christians in their home countries, and not just in the USA?
You can find more of Allan Wall’s work at his website and Mexico News Report.
