The first two weeks of the second Trump presidency have been distressing, at best, as we learn about the rollback of human and civil rights protections in the U.S. Many congregants have been asking if we are a “Sanctuary Church”, and if not, what would we need to do to become one. The nuanced answer about our commitment is below.
What is not nuanced is that First Unitarian Portland would ask ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) or DHS (Department of Homeland Security) for a warrant in the unlikely event of their entering the church campus. The sign above will be posted at our entrances around the church. We expect that our staff and congregants would not give any information to immigration authorities about any person’s immigration status. The Portland Immigrant Response Coalition (PIRC) requests that community members report immigration enforcement actions to their hotline: 1-800-622-1510. The policies and legal strategies are rapidly changing and we are watching the developments closely. This is the information we have today and we’ll inform the congregation of any changes.
As to our commitment as a sanctuary church, in 2017, First Unitarian signed a pledge with the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ) to be a Sanctuary congregation. The definition of a sanctuary congregation was expansive and adaptive to the time, as few houses of worship in the national “New Sanctuary Movement” were being called to physically house people.
Our commitment was, and is, to be part of a movement to expand sanctuary beyond the walls where individuals or families might be harbored. We have and will continue to work for sanctuary policies in cities, counties, schools, campuses, and will participate in community support networks, rapid response actions, and learning more about intervention. One example of this type of sanctuary involvement was in 2018 when First Unitarian supported 17 asylum seekers who were released from Sheridan Prison. We provided temporary housing and purchased tickets for each of them to travel to hosts throughout the country.
Another example is the collaboration between our Immigrant Justice Action Group and Advancing Racial Justice Action Group to host a webinar series called “How Do We Protect Immigrants in Our Communities?” Earlier this week they hosted speakers from Innovation Law Lab, the Oregon for All Coalition, and Voz to hear what the current needs and strategies are for protecting the rights of undocumented community members. You can watch that forum here. On March 4 at 7pm, they will host the second session on legislative advocacy for immigrant rights. Please watch the Front Steps for registration information.