Sanctuary

Last week I went to La Luz del Mundo Church in South Tucson to help members there write letters in support of Francisco Perez who has an order of deportation. He is the father of 5 US citizen children, the youngest being 9 months. I  was deeply moved by the experience and the expressions of support written by so many members of that church. Again and again friends told of how he has helped at church fundraisers and with the church remodeling; how he has helped older members of the church and how he has helped numerous others with auto repairs and transportation. A generous and kind man who gently held his baby daughter and walked among the congregants as they waited close by to sign the letters to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As I sat typing, two members of St. Francis in the Foothills came to tell the volunteers that the members of that congregation had voted to take Francisco into sanctuary.  He will be living within the walls of the church until Immigration grants a stay of his deportation order.