In the 1980’s refugees from El Salvador were not allowed to seek legal asylum in the United States. Faith groups all over the country started giving them sanctuary in their church buildings.
Immigrant communities are under pressure again. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is being pushed by our fearful president to be more aggressive in finding and deporting undocumented people. A new Sanctuary Movement is rising up and taking on the challenge of supporting immigrants.
This week, there are three action you can take to support the Sanctuary Movement.
- Petition our local Immigration Detention facility, NORCOR to allow family visitation.
- Sign up for the Friday, April 27 new Sanctuary Movement Training.
- Participate in the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice’s action on Saturday April 28, protesting NORCOR, Oregon’s Immigrant detention facility in the Dalles.
Action of the Week No.1, sign this petition to ask for family visitation for immigrant detainees at NORCOR. To find out more about NORCORClick here.
Action of the Week no. 2 is Love Resists Training on April 27, from 1-5 pm. The training, Readying Ourselves for Solidarity with Sanctuary is the Friday before the UUA Western Regional Assembly begins at the Double Tree Hotel in Portland. Find out about the modern sanctuary movement and connect with UU activists from all over the Western Region. There will be time at the end of the training for issue groups other than sanctuary to caucus. This training is supported by the UUA, UUSC, the Oregon, Washington and California State Action Networks and UURise a UU sanctuary/immigration rights group. It is free and open to the public. Click the link above to sign up.
Action of the Week no. 3 The Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIRJ) is having a vigil/action at NORCOR in the Dalles on Saturday April 28th from 10:30am to 3pm. Join this coalition group as they bring people of faith from all over the region to stand in solidarity with the immigrants held at NORCOR. For more on this organization and this particular action click here. Contact Michael Pollard to see if there is still room for you on the UUCS chartered bus to NORCOR . mpollard608@aol.com. A $10 donation is requested to cover bus costs.