With Saint Juan Diego, we stand together under the mantle of Our Lady of Guadalupe walking in solidarity with our immigrant and refugee brothers and sisters.
Our Lady of Guadalupe St. Juan Diego Parish Photo – John M. Kingery (c) 2017
The Journey:
For one week Sunday September 30 to Saturday October 6, rural Oregonians, members of faith communities, immigrant and long-time residents of our state will march together from Sheridan Federal Prison (FCI Sheridan) to the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility (NORCOR) in The Dalles. Both FCI Sheridan and NORCOR–a regional jail–hold contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), renting beds to ICE for detention of immigrants and refugees seeking asylum.
You are invited to participate in one or more days or one the many community events. Every day we will walk or caravan and hold community gatherings or public events in the evening. Large events will take place in Sheridan, Portland and The Dalles. To learn more go to Sheridan to Norcor
Co-sponsors are the Rural Organizing Project, Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ), PCUN, Unidos Bridging Communities, Hood River Latino Network, Gorge Ecumenical Ministries, and CAUSA. Parishioners John Kingery and Mary Davidson have represented St. Juan Diego at IMIrJ meetings and events. Matt and Jennifer Farrenkopf attended the Sheridan vigil with 1200 others.
Background:
Currently, Sheridan is detaining over 100 individuals from 16 different countries. William Teesdale, chief investigator with the Federal Public Defender’s Office, filed a declaration – “Detainees reported heart problems, a gunshot wound, a broken leg, rashes, allergic reactions and severe sore throats. Detainees reported trying to tell the prison guards about their medical concerns, but being unable to communicate adequately in English.”
Albert Mukete from Cameroon and recently released detainee stated, “It is a privilege to speak with you. I am very grateful and thankful for everything. Your prayers and support are making a difference. It is working.” He fled Cameroon in 2014 after his brother was killed, his mother and sister beaten and arrested. His and his grandfather’s home reduced to ashes.
We have heard the stories of detainees at NORCOR where 20 to 30 detainees are. One detainee, Jorge, had his pillow removed. It was replaced by a mattress with a built-in pillow. That mattress was eventually removed. He has no place to lay his head, and he longs to talk with his 16-year-old daughter; he has two other children, 8 and 11. Phone calls are expensive. Access to family and spiritual support is severely limited at Sheridan and NORCOR.
Our prayerful, spiritual and peaceful presence is making a difference. Over $6,000 has been raised for phone calls. Sixty detainees have been released to the faith community. Catholic Mass, Protestant and Sikh services have taken place at Sheridan. Jails in Springfield and Josephine County have terminated their contracts with ICE
Faith Teaches:
“The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself.” Leviticus 19:34
Catholic Social Teaching:
Immigration and Movement of People.
Right to Migrate: People have the right to migrate to sustain their lives and the lives of their families.
Right to Regulate: Countries have the right to regulate borders and control immigration.
Just and Mercy: Enforcement must be done with justice and mercy.
Targeted: U.S. enforcement interventions and resources should be narrowly‐tailored, focusing on the dangerous and criminal elements.
Proportional: Enforcement of immigration laws should not feature unnecessary penalties or rely upon unnecessary force… Because immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, the civil enforcement of immigration laws should remain in the hands of the federal government not transferred further to local or state law enforcement authorities whose role is maintaining public safety and fighting crime.
Humane: In any enforcement action, the human rights and dignity of the person should be preserved and respected to the greatest extent possible.
Spiritual Leaders:
Pope Francis in his World Day of Peace 2018 Message has called us to turn “a contemplative gaze” to immigrants and refugees by welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating.
Archbishop Alexander K. Sample – Archbishop Sample stands up for immigrants – 2016.
“It does not matter to me from where you have come, when you came, or whether you have the proper documents or not. You are loved.”
“We must condemn all expressions of racial bigotry and hatred and efforts to marginalize any among us. I call upon you, my brothers and sisters and all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Portland to be beacons of hope and light and to be leaders in promoting an environment of respect and reverence during the days, months and years ahead. We must take the lead in ensuring our Hispanic brothers and sisters that we will not accept expressions of bigotry and racism. “