Prayer Vigil at the Detention Center

Thank you, Jennifer. Yes, I am aware of the things and sources you mention.

I have some Canadian colleagues, and they have had quite a time of it, too, working through the labyrinth that is the immigration process. The extra layer for the undocumented, of course, is the lack of legal standing and all the pressures and obstacles that brings to them and their families. For Hispanics, there is also the profiling and being stopped randomly by police (this has happened to people I know). In addition, many do not have the educational levels and financial stability that some who come from other countries have.......

Thanks for the solidarity with others.

Thanks for your encouraging words, Glen. Yes, it will need a lot of effort to change things -- not only in terms of legislation, but also in regards to the attitude of many. And, the latter is the more long-range task.

When the church, when Christians, stand for justice and righteousness, when the world sees this activism, then the world will know that the church is the hope of the world. Jesus is the hope of the world.

There are a lot more signs to be held, marches to be marched, letters and phone calls to congressional representatives. Thanks Danny and countless others willing to step out--thumbs-up or shouts and spit.

Danny,

Great to read this about your recent vigil...I suppose in terms of policy proposals, the above commenter has a point. But public witness and moral protest is clearly in the Biblical tradition and just your showing public concern helps shape concerns. Way to go.

As you may recall, we did a prayer vigil/protest rally every week for four years in support of a group of Chinese immigrants that were seeking asylum and were detained here in York County Prison. Those guys from the Golden Venture were not being given fair trials, there was extraordinary dirty dealing from the White House on down. Our batch of pro bono lawyers turned it into the largest single pro bono case in the history of American law. They tell us that our prayerful presence outside the jail made a difference, for the detainees, public opinion, and for them as they worked away week after week.

Interestingly, I wrote about it at my blog just this past week, as a new book (The Snakehead) tells some of our story. We just had the author here, some of the freed asylum-seekers showed up, as did some Church World Service refugee workers. Even this book signing became a chance for our community to wonder about the American dream, about faith-based activism, and how so-called liberals and conservatives can join together for human rights.

Check out my review at www.heartsandmindsbooks.com. I hope it gives you (and others doing public ministry of this sort) renewed courage that it does matter. Protest and presence is not enough. But it is a part of the picture. I tip my hat to you and yours! Best wishes in the struggle.

Byron

Thank you, Jennifer. Yes, I am aware of the things and sources you mention.

I have some Canadian colleagues, and they have had quite a time of it, too, working through the labyrinth that is the immigration process. The extra layer for the undocumented, of course, is the lack of legal standing and all the pressures and obstacles that brings to them and their families. For Hispanics, there is also the profiling and being stopped randomly by police (this has happened to people I know). In addition, many do not have the educational levels and financial stability that some who come from other countries have.......

Thanks for the solidarity with others.

Thanks for your encouraging words, Glen. Yes, it will need a lot of effort to change things -- not only in terms of legislation, but also in regards to the attitude of many. And, the latter is the more long-range task.

When the church, when Christians, stand for justice and righteousness, when the world sees this activism, then the world will know that the church is the hope of the world. Jesus is the hope of the world.

There are a lot more signs to be held, marches to be marched, letters and phone calls to congressional representatives. Thanks Danny and countless others willing to step out--thumbs-up or shouts and spit.

Perhaps you are asking about what the ICE program is all about.
I, myself, just learned more about this program (as a Canadian, I am sometimes frightened and appalled at the breaches of human rights that occur with the thinnest veil of national security interests....but I digress...)
For a useful briefing on the issues affecting the latin american community, in particular, and to learn a bit about the ICE raids, you could start by reading the Sojourner's articles on Postville, Iowa; or, Professor Erik Camayd-Freixas' article on his own experience "Interpreting after the Largest ICE Raid in US History: A Personal Account." As someone who works in immigration and settlement work in my own context, inspired by the Christian injunction to care for the widow, the alien at our gates, I was actually stunned and shocked to learn about how ICE, under the auspices of Homeland Security, has actually managed to skirt the judicial process that already exist for dealing with immigration issues. Now, the detention and arrest of people by ICE and the mass prosecution of large numbers of people, without the public scrutiny of their peers is sanctioned....instead of deporting people instantly, hundreds of people are being held under criminal charges --separating hundreds of families....

Yes, Byron, I remember your telling me about your vigils for that group of detained Chinese immigrants. People like you are examples for the rest of us! I read you review on the website (by the way, thanks for your words about my book on immigration!). There is a lot to ponder about the AMerican Dream and what it really means and for whom...... Keep up the great work at Hearts & Minds.

All kinds of changes would be constructive. The hardest thing to change will be people's attitudes toward outsiders and those who are different. One would hope that for Christians, the Bible would play a significant role is shaping a new lens for looking at others.

Of course, better legislation is needed, and that on many fronts. Two issues, for example: better avenues for acquiring legal residency, work permits, and citizenship; consideration of the impact of deportation policies on families.

Yes, Byron, I remember your telling me about your vigils for that group of detained Chinese immigrants. People like you are examples for the rest of us! I read you review on the website (by the way, thanks for your words about my book on immigration!). There is a lot to ponder about the AMerican Dream and what it really means and for whom...... Keep up the great work at Hearts & Minds.