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Arturo Hernandez Garcia, husband and father of two children, was recently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while at work. This development comes as a shock because Hernandez Garcia received a letter from ICE in 2015 stating that he was no longer an enforcement priority. This came after he’d spent nine months living in sanctuary at First Unitarian Church in Denver, Colorado. (CNN – 4.28.17)
In 2014, UU World reported on Hernandez Garcia's stay at First Unitarian Church in Denver.
In an op-ed, Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman reported that ICE explained Hernandez Garcia's detention stating that guidelines from the Obama administration no longer count as there are no longer priorities for enforcement. Goodman also noted First Unitarian Church’s current support of Jeanette Vizguerra, who was recently on Time Magazine's list of 100 Most Influential People of 2017. Goodman urged people to continue the momentum by supporting immigrant rights movements on May 1 and beyond. (Spokesman Review – 4.28.17)
David Chavez-Macias, an undocumented immigrant taking sanctuary in the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Reno, Nevada, was interviewed on his experience living inside the church. Although church members and staff have been kind, he is frustrated with the slow process of deportation proceedings. Chavez-Macias suffers from a potentially life-threatening condition called Marfan Syndrome and says that because of his condition, he owes his life to the United States, where he has lived for the past 31 years. (ThisisReno.com – 4.24.17)
More coverage:
“Actor, Immigration Activist Diane Guerrero Meets Immigrant Taking Refuge in Church” (NBC San Diego – 4.27.17)
“ICE Detains Mexican Man Who Sought Sanctuary in Denver Church for Nine Months” (Democracy Now! – 4.27.17)
"Immigrant in Denver church sanctuary joins in local community gala" (Denver Post – 4.25.17)
UUs marched for science, plan to march for environment
Hundreds gathered at Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Alabama for a rally before marching through downtown Auburn in defense of science and evidence-based policies that uphold the common good. Speakers at the rally expressed concern about the appointment of Scot Pruitt as head of the Environmental Protection Agency and budget cuts for the National Institutes of Health, among many other concerns. (Auburn Villager – 4.27.17)
Members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island in Freeland, Washington, are organizing a local march to coincide with and help amplify the People’s Climate Movement March in Washington, D.C. Congregation member Sandy Shipley said of the effort, “We want to be reflected on a local level and be part of a global movement.” (South Whidbey Record – 4.26.17)
More coverage:
“Hundreds rally for science in Newark” (Delaware Public Media – 4.22.17)
“March for Science sweeps downtown Auburn” (The Plainsman – 4.22.17)