Some Arizona churches are offering sanctuary to Central American migrants facing deportation.
According to Christian Today, the churches are responding to new policies being enforced by the Department of Homeland Security. The new policies mandate the deportation of illegal immigrants who have stayed in the country after being ordered to leave by a judge.
One hundred twenty-one illegal immigrants were taken into custody over the weekend, and though none of them were in Arizona, the Arizona churches have offered to shelter them.
Shadow Rock United Church of Christ in Phoenix is one of the churches offering refuge to the migrants.
"Migration is a natural human phenomenon that when people are hungry they move where the food is, when they are thirsty, they move where the water is and where there is violence, they move away from the violence," said Rev. Ken Heintzelman, the head pastor of Shadow Rock.
"What we have done with our laws is we have criminalized a natural human phenomenon, and that is wrong. That's immoral."
Despite the churches’ efforts, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson remains firmly committed to the policies to deport the illegal immigrants.
“I have said publicly for months that individuals who constitute enforcement priorities, including families and unaccompanied children, will be removed,” stated Johnson.
Publication date: January 6, 2016
