NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — As President Donald Trump’s administration proceeds with deportations, one Nashville group is working to protect immigrants at places of worship.
They are not doing it alone; religious leaders are at the heart of this conversation.
In January, Trump declared a national emergency and issued several executive orders on immigration — including “enhanced vetting” of visa applicants, redefining birthright citizenship, enhancing border security and more.
This was followed by a decision that no longer required U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to avoid churches, hospitals and schools when making arrests.
On Monday, a federal judge temporarily blocked that rule in houses of worship for Quakers and a handful of other religious groups. However, a Nashville coalition is still fighting to ensure that religious leaders are educated on procedures and policies that could impact their congregations.
“Churches have always been considered safe places,” Deacon Harry Guess with St. Vincent De Paul Church said. “The congregants come to their church or temple or mosque with that expectation.”
“You’re worried if, in fact, ICE is going to come in and try to detain your father[or] your child,” Quentin Dickerson, Senior Pastor of United Family Fellowship and Hamilton Church, said.
On Thursday night, Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH) hosted a seminar to educate church leaders of all denominations on what to do if ICE appears at their doors.
“This may be what is legal, but if it’s not right, then that is where we should be,” Guess said.
NOAH discussed how to recognize immigration detainers and judicial warrants, clarify church leadership’s responsibilities and went over up-to-date policies for undocumented children.
The Senior Pastor at United Family Fellowship and Hamilton Church told News 2 this is a conversation that needs to be had in every religious space.
“In our demographic of our church, we have over 18 nationalities,” Dickerson said. “[We want] to make sure people know what is going on, know their rights, but also feel safe….When they are not showing up to worship, that first of all hurts their faith because how can you grow if you are not hearing the word of God? But also secondary to that, it is hurting the church in response because people are missing their neighbors.”
A NOAH representative told News 2 it seems like it’s been a constant battle against Tennessee bills like one allowing schools to opt out of enrolling undocumented students, as well as executive orders that target vulnerable communities.
“This is just a way to inform people that these bills are so hurtful [..] and open the way for more discrimination,” NOAH organizer Katerine Avila Pastor said.
Guess said it is time for church leadership to take action.
“This is a time that we just need to pray,” Dickerson concluded. “We, as pastors, really have to do our due diligence [and] open up our newspaper to see what’s going on in the world.”
More than 50 Nashville religious congregation leaders registered to attend Thursday night’s meeting.
