Episcopalians commit to protecting immigrants as incoming Trump administration eyes crackdowns

[Episcopal News Service] Episcopalians across the United States are committing to protecting and supporting immigrants after President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated Jan. 20, following a campaign in which Trump amplified anti-immigrant rhetoric, vowed to deport millions of immigrants and embraced false and dehumanizing stereotypes about immigrant communities.

“All of us who live along the [U.S.-Mexico] border are deeply concerned and passionate about how to care for our neighbors … and we’re deeply concerned about anything that might not recognize that every person is created in God’s image and deserves to have their human dignity respected,” San Diego Bishop Susan Brown Snook told Episcopal News Service in a phone interview. Her Southern California diocese is one of four Episcopal dioceses touching the border, along with Arizona, Rio Grande and West Texas.

In December, Snook signed a joint statement with Arizona Bishop Jennifer Reddall, Navajoland Bishop Barry Beisner and other Christian leaders with jurisdiction in Arizona to call for dignified immigration reform while also expressing concern for the mistreatment of undocumented people and the raiding of places of worship to arrest and deport migrants.

“As immigration and migration are driven by complex factors, oftentimes resulting in life-or-death situations, the rights of those fleeing disaster, hunger, conflict, violence or war are urgent and compelling,” the Dec. 23 letter said. “Therefore, grounded by the demands of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and love of our neighbors—our deeply held religious beliefs—we urge our elected officials and community leaders to stand with us to protect family unity and human dignity by refusing to participate in any deportation efforts which violate these most basic human rights.”

Beisner, whose missionary diocese includes a portion of northern Arizona, said Christian leaders are “bearing public witness to core Gospel values” in the region.

“God bless, protect and sustain them in their work to help us all to live the promises of our Baptismal Covenant,” Beisner told ENS in an email.

Earlier this month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill seeking to detain and deport undocumented migrants charged with minor crimes and to empower state authorities to compel federal enforcement. The bill is named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at the University of Georgia, who was killed in 2024 by an undocumented migrant from Venezuela. Some immigration advocates say the bill exploits personal tragedy to escalate anti-immigrant rhetoric while doing nothing productive to improve public safety. 

In the months leading up to the presidential election last November, migrant families and cities with significant migrant populations had expressed growing alarm at anti-immigrant sentiments that were resulting in threats of violence.

After the election, officials in Los Angeles, California, responded by voting to adopt a “Sanctuary City” ordinance, which would prevent city resources and personnel from being used to help federal immigration enforcement. Los Angeles Bishop John Harvey Taylor and other faith leaders have expressed their support for the ordinance. Other existing sanctuary cities include Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

Some Episcopal dioceses, including Chicago and New York, have designated themselves sanctuary dioceses.

“By declaring ourselves a sanctuary diocese, we are affirming what we already know–that we are committed to supporting our local communities. We provide care for everyone,” New York Bishop Matthew C. Heyd said in a Jan. 10 letter to the diocese. “This support does not depend on any person’s immigration status, but on the inherent dignity of every human being–everyone is made in the image of God.”

These latest developments come as global resettlement needs have increased in recent years. The refugees who are resettled in the United States typically are fleeing war, persecution and other hardships in their home countries. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, estimates there are more than 47.3 million such refugees worldwide, and tens of millions more have been displaced within their home countries.

Episcopal Migration Ministries, or EMM, is one of 10 agencies with contracts to facilitate refugee resettlement on behalf of the U.S. State Department, and each year, it welcomes thousands of refugees through its 13 affiliates nationwide. For the past two years, it also has been authorized to assist arriving individuals and families through congregations and other groups that volunteer to serve as remote placement community partners.

EMM has also expanded its outreach to asylum-seekers in recent years through its Neighbor to Neighbor program because the federal government doesn’t offer them the same financial assistance it does for refugees. Although the terms migrants and asylum-seekers are often used interchangeably, not all migrants are asylum-seekers. The latter are people seeking protection from persecution or violence but who haven’t yet been legally recognized as refugees.

Washington National Cathedral’s sanctuary ministry has been a Neighbor to Neighbor partner since 2021. During a Jan. 8 webinar, members of the cathedral’s ministry and EMM leaders shared how Episcopalians can support immigrants in their congregations and in their communities by helping them develop a family preparedness plan.

For example, Diane Paulsell, a National Cathedral parishioner who volunteers with the sanctuary ministry and Neighbor to Neighbor program, said during the webinar that collecting contact information and emergency phone numbers – schools, doctors, child care programs, attorneys, consulate, etc. – is especially important for migrant families with children who are enrolled in school.

“It’s important that children know who they should call if their parent doesn’t come to pick them up for school,” Paulsell said. “If the parents don’t come home from work or they’re otherwise detained, that’s something that everybody in the family should know as part of their emergency plan.”

Presenters also shared links to additional resources. A recording of the webinar is available to watch here.

EMM will continue to regularly host educational webinars with up-to-date information on immigration news and policy. The next webinar, titled “Walking With: Migrant Accompaniment for Ministry Leaders in 2025 and Beyond,” will take place Jan. 17 from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern.

Coinciding with Inauguration Day and Trump’s first week in office, the Episcopal Migration Caucus is calling on Episcopalians to partake in the caucus’ Migration with Dignity Action Week, Jan. 20-26. During the week, Episcopalians, congregations and Episcopal-affiliated organizations are encouraged to participate in prayer vigils, protests at federal detention facilities and participate in donation drives, educational events and fundraisers. Further action is also strongly encouraged beyond Jan. 26.

“We implore all Episcopalians to take action now to prepare and protect immigrant families and communities,” the Episcopal Migration Caucus said in a Dec. 16 press release. “We are concerned for all those who will be more vulnerable to harm, especially children in constant fear of separation from loved ones, deportation, or imprisonment.”

The Episcopal Church has a long history of advocating for comprehensive immigration reform. Episcopalians interested in learning more about the church’s advocacy efforts can visit the Episcopal Public Policy Network’s website.

-Shireen Korkzan is a reporter and assistant editor for Episcopal News Service. She can be reached at skorkzan@episcopalchurch.org.