Our faith traditions call us to welcome the stranger, but we need your help as a clergy member and/or person of faith to write a letter in support of Angela. Having the public support of clergy and people of faith is instrumental in making sure Angela is not separated from her family and church community.
Angela has received public letters of support from 200 clergy from throughout the country, Congressman Robert Brady, and eleven members of Philadelphia City Council, as well as a petition with over 6,000 signatures from people of faith.
SAMPLE LETTER FOR CLERGY IN SUPPORT OF ANGELA NAVARRO
Dear President Barack Obama
Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson
Field Office Director Thomas Decker
As a faith leader, I am writing you to stop the deportation of our sister, Angela Navarro. Angela is the mother of two U.S. born children, spouse of a U.S. citizen, a leader at her church, and a worker contributing to Philadelphia’s economy. Her employer supports her leadership in the immigrant rights movement. She is a part of her community and the threat of her deportation is a threat to our entire community. Until Angela’s final deportation order ends, New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia will give sanctuary to Angela in West Kensington Ministry Church, one of our 14 member congregations.
Angela has lived with a final order of deportation for over 10 years, after she was apprehended at the US – Mexico border at age 17. Through the civil disobedience of entering Sanctuary, she courageously fights for her fundamental right to remain with her family and demands that President Obama end all deportations.
On November 18, 2014, Angela took the prophetic and bold step to enter into Sanctuary. Angela explains that, “I have taken this decision for my own life, my family, and the entire immigrant community. I have lived in fear for over 10 years and I can’t continue living this way.”
We must stand in solidarity with Angela’s leadership. As people of faith, we cannot witness the inhumanity of deportation and remain silent. All persons and families are sacred and each individual deserves justice, dignity, and hospitality, regardless of their immigration status.
As clergy we stand in solidarity with Angela Navarro and all those who suffer because of the United States unjust immigration policies. Therefore we demand:
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Johnson stop Angela’s deportation
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stop Angela’s deportation.
President Obama end all deportations and create humane immigration policies that reflect our faith values of justice, dignity and hospitality for all.
Sincerely,