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Stay of removal issued for three immigrants who resided in US ‘sanctuary’

RNS Three immigrants who have resided in houses of worship to avoid deportation were granted one-year stays of removal this week, a move faith-based immigrant rights advocates framed as a “Christmas gift” years in the making. Among the immigrants is Jeanette Vizguerra, who has resided at First Unitarian Society of Denver since spring 2019. According […]

She spent three years in church sanctuary in the US. A new documentary tells her story.

US Ohio Columbus Mennonite Church Edith Espinal

RNS Edith Espinal, who spent more than three years in church sanctuary to ride out the Trump administration’s harsh immigration crackdown, is having a pretty good September. Last week, the 44-year-old Mexican native was granted a work permit, giving her hope that she will be able to support herself seven months after securing assurances she […]

Last North Carolina immigrant to take sanctuary at a church goes home

US St Barnabas Episcopal Church Juana Luz Tobar Ortega

RNS Juana Luz Tobar Ortega, who spent nearly four years in church sanctuary at an Episcopal church in Greensboro, North Carolina, will be allowed to go home beginning on Monday. Ortega, 48, is the latest undocumented immigrant to emerge from the network of US churches that harboured people threatened with deportation by the Trump administration. […]

Another man is free to leave US church sanctuary as immigration policies ease

US sanctuary churches Eliseo Jimenez

RNS An undocumented immigrant who had taken refuge in a Raleigh, North Carolina, church for more than three years will now be allowed to leave without the danger of being deported. Eliseo Jimenez, a 42-year-old itinerant laborer who worked in the state’s tobacco fields and later in construction laying floors, has been living at Umstead […]

Immigrant living in US church for years wins temporary reprieve

Bedford, MassachusettsAP A Guatemalan woman who has been living in a Massachusetts church for more than three years to avoid deportation has been granted a reprieve to remain in the country for now. Maria Macario was issued a one-year stay of her deportation by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials during a meeting at its Burlington office […]

Two more leave church sanctuary in US as immigration policies ease

US immigration Alex Garcia

RNS An Ohio woman and a Missouri man who took sanctuary in churches to avoid deportation have been allowed to leave. Miriam Vargas, who along with her two children has been living at First English Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio, was granted an “order of supervision” by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Tuesday, meaning she […]

US court protects woman who took sanctuary in a church from deportation

Sanctuary Decision1

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USRNS Rosa del Carmen Ortez Cruz admits there were days she wanted to stay in bed and hide under the covers. For nearly two years the Honduran native took sanctuary from deportation at Church of Reconciliation, not knowing if she would ever be able to emerge from her confinement. Rosa del […]