friday reflection 16 june 2017

Engage in a rapid response team for immigration raids

For allies of those facing an immigration raid, one way to assist is as part of a rapid response team. Teams have been organized across the nation, often by interfaith coalitions supported by community organizers such as PICO.

Rapid response teams serve many purposes:

• Demonstrate solidarity with those in fear through prayerful ministry of presence
  
• Prayerful witness of deportation actions through video and note documentation;
  
• Shine a light on what happens in an ICE raid
  
  

As with all of activities we have presented, training with the participation of an attorney specializing in immigration matters should precede any participation in a rapid response team. In our diocese, Faith in the Valley organizations are active in larger communities, and have provided excellent leadership in providing training and coordination for Rapid Response Teams.

Some notes of caution:

1. Training with consultation of an immigration attorney is an essential first step.
   
2. Do not interfere, physically, verbally, or with your body language. The primary purpose is to stand in prayerful witness and to document.
   
3. If questioned, state that you are an observer.
   
4. DO NOT assert yourself as a representative of any of the parties involved.
   
5. Try to determine what the family needs, and relay the information back to dispatch.
   
6. NEVER post anything online, which could have serious consequences.
   
7. Do not give the family false hope.
   

Articles and Resources:

Newsweek article on deportation resistance of faith communities, specifically Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles: Overview on Rapid Response Teams from PICO:

• http://www.piconetwork.org/community-tools/Rapid-Response-Teams_overview.pdf
  

From Interfaith Immigration:

• http://www.interfaithimmigration.org/2017/02/11/raids-rapid-response/
  

http://www.newsweek.com/california-resisting-trump-immigration-policies-593379
Fresno Bee article about Rapid Response Team kick-off organized by Faith in Fresno:

• http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article137049963.html
  

San Jose Mercury News article about Migra Watch Hotline

• http://www.sanjoseinside.com/2017/04/11/new-hotline-aims-to-defend-people-from-immigration-raids/
  

Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, Sacred Resistance video training

• http://www.lasacredresistance.org/video-training.html
  

If you have any questions or contributions, please email me at DeaconNancy@diosanjoaquin.org.

Deacon Nancy