A Letter From Bishop Bos Regarding Recent ICE Activity
Dear siblings in Christ,
The apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians, “If one member suffers, all suffer together.” As Christians we understand our connection to each other, even strangers, as the Body of Christ. When one part of the body suffers, the entire body feels it.
I am reminded of this as we learn of two more people killed by ICE officers in the past week. It seems protocols to make ICE interactions safer have been disregarded in some settings. I grieve this, as many of us can only imagine what it feels like to live in constant terror, not just as immigrants, but as citizens in places where violence has taken place.
In our own synod we have recently learned of ICE activity on our campuses. Officers have pursued people onto church properties, or have come looking for suspects on our properties. We are working with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, our attorneys handling our injunction against ICE raids, to ascertain our congregations’ rights during these infringements.
As always, the best defense is knowing your rights, and having a plan, should a law enforcement incident happen on church property. Please consult our synod website for information. You may also reach out to Victoria Villa, our Disaster Relief Coordinator, at victoria@socalsynod.org, who can answer questions in real time. You may also call the synod office at 818 507 9591 if you have questions, and we can direct you to Victoria.
We have won an injunction to keep our congregations free of unlawful entry. Please let us know if your congregation experiences ICE activity, and we will advise as much as possible. Always remain safe, gathering information but not interfering in a law enforcement action. We value life and freedoms and are working together to hold these things sacred.
Please continue to pray for communities affected by violence and the families who suffer. Please also pray for members of law enforcement, that they may be free from harm, and also commit to safety and respect of all.
MORE RESOURCES —→ https://www.socalsynod.org/immigrant-support'
SAMPLE SIGNAGE FOR CHURCH GROUNDS
