FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact:
Nicole Kligerman, New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia
Nicole@www.sanctuaryphiladelphia.org.
200 religious leaders and politicians pledge support to Angela Navarro in civil disobedience to end deportation:
As Angela Navarro completes 30 days in Sanctuary, family and clergy hand deliver
support letters to Immigration officials
WHERE: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office at 1600 Callowhill, Philadelphia
WHEN: Wednesday, December 17 at 4:15pm
WHO: New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, Philadelphia clergy, Angela Navarro’s family
Philadelphia– On Wednesday, December 17, members of Angela Navarro’s family and Philadelphia clergy will hand deliver political, clergy, and public support to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to end Angela’s final deportation order. Through New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, Angela has lived in public civil disobedience in Sanctuary for 30 days at West Kensington Ministry church in North Philadelphia. She will not leave church property until ICE ends her final deportation order. Angela is one of eight undocumented immigrants nation-wide in Sanctuary.
Angela has received public support and letters from Philadelphia City Council members Maria Quinones-Sanchez and James Kenney. She has also received 200 individual letters of support from religious clergy and 6,000 signatures on a public petition.
Angela’s U.S. – born children aged 11 and 9, parents, and Philadelphia clergy will hand deliver all her support materials to Immigration officials. After the personal delivery, clergy will lead supporters in an interfaith Hanukkah ritual symbolizing Angela’s 30 days in Sanctuary.
Although Angela cannot leave West Kensington Ministry to deliver her support letters, she states her goals for the action. “I want Immigration to stop my deportation order immediately. Although it’s not bad to be in Sanctuary fighting my deportation order, I want to win my case so I can feel at home and free in Philadelphia.”
“More than 2000 years ago, Joseph and Mary asked for shelter in order to receive Jesus as a gift from God. Today, I ask for the gift of ending my daughter’s deportation order and all deportations,” shares Maria Turcios, Angela’s mother.
“Angela’s family needs her home with us in Philadelphia,” says Angela’s husband Manrique Fernandez, a U.S. citizen.
Clergy who will be present for the letter delivery and prayer action include Fr. John Olenick from Visitation BVM Parrish, Pastor Aldo Siahaan from Philadelphia Praise Center, Rev. Nikki Kelly Kleinberg of Arch St United Methodist Church, Fr. Tom Higgins of Holy Innocents Parish, Rev. Katie Aikins of Tabernacle United Church, Rabbi Linda Holtzman of Tikkun Olam Chavurah, Pastor Adan Mareina of West Kensington Ministry, Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer who attends Mishkan Shalom Synagogue, and nuns from the orders of the Sisters of Saint Joseph and Medical Mission Sisters.
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New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia (NSM) is an interfaith, multicultural immigrant rights organization. NSM works to express radical welcome for all and ensure that values of dignity, justice, and hospitality are lived out in practice and upheld in policy.