Sanctuary churches to protect undocumented immigrants

Religious congregations, including synagogues and churches, say that they will offer sanctuary to undocumented immigrants if President-Elect, Donald Trump’s promised deportations begin. Trump vowed to deport the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the US, during the Presidential election. He has modified his stance since his victory, claiming that his focus will be on deporting up to three million undocumented immigrants who have criminal convictions.

Trump had also pledged to construct a wall on the border between the US and Mexico in a further bid to cut down on the number of undocumented immigrants entering the country. The New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia executive director, Peter Pedemonti, says that there has been a massive increase in support and inquiries from congregations all over the US, who wish to become sanctuary sites following the election.

Pedemonti’s coalition includes two synagogues and 17 churches, which have teamed up to offer safe haven sanctuaries and to oppose deportations. However, it is difficult to find out exactly how many faith communities would be willing to offer sanctuary to undocumented immigrants.

Since 2014, thirteen churches across nine cities have given sanctuary to 15 immigrants who were facing imminent deportation. This is according to Noel Anderson, the national grass-roots coordinator for the immigrant legal services provider, the Church World Provider. Anderson believes that there may be as many as 400 congregations over the country that would be willing to give sanctuary, or at least, to support the efforts of others.