History Sanctuary movement

1 history

1.1 central american conflict
1.2 public sanctuary
1.3 historical parallels

history
central american conflict

between 1980 , 1991, 1 million central americans crossed u.s. border seeking asylum. fleeing political repression , violence caused civil wars in guatemala , el salvador, though had fled nicaragua in wake of 1979 nicaraguan revolution. in el salvador, military had killed on 10,000 people 1980, including archbishop oscar romero , 4 u.s. churchwomen. in guatemala, government-backed paramilitary groups killed 50,000, disappeared 100,000 , perpetrated 626 village massacres. official policy under reagan administration hindered central americans obtaining asylum status. congress forbade foreign aid countries committing human rights abuses, and, @ same time, u.s. provided funds, training , arms salvadoran , guatemalan governments. because admitting these governments abuses bar u.s. providing further aid, reagan administration instead argued central americans “economic migrants” fleeing poverty, not governmental repression. consequently, central americans stood little chance within u.s. immigration system, asylum granted based on proof of “well-founded fear” of persecution. prior beginning of reagan administration, congress had passed refugee act incorporated international definition of political asylum law – formerly granted refugee status fleeing communism. however, reagan administration retained discretion under law , prevented legal recognition of central american claims. visa approval rates guatemalans , salvadorans hovered somewhere under 3 percent in 1984, compared sixty percent approval rate iranians, forty percent afghans fleeing soviet invasion, thirty-two percent poles, twelve percent nicaraguans escaping sandinistas , one-hundred percent cubans. in 1983, 1 guatemalan granted asylum in united states.

many central americans found way united states placed in detention centers , sent home. many protested move, claiming face severe dangers upon return. american civil liberties union study in 1985 reported 130 deported salvadorans found disappeared, tortured, or killed.

public sanctuary

the sanctuary movement formed reaction these policies. originated along border mexico. first church declare sanctuary central american refugees southside presbyterian church in tucson, arizona. movement sparked increased presence of central american appearing @ us-mexico border. in 1980, jim corbett, jim dudley, john fife , other residents of tucson, arizona, began providing legal, financial , material aid central american refugees.

sanctuary drew on many aspects of christian theology, centered on compassionate concern fleeing violent civil wars raging in guatemala , el salvador, met routine deportation in united states. jim corbett recounts, tradition of quaker faith, , involvement in civil war-era underground railroad assisted fugitive slaves, – in part – compelled him take action. others such gary cook, associate pastor of central presbyterian church in massillon, ohio, simple experience of personal interaction desperate families required conscientious response: re conservative group of folks politically. once encountered refugees face face, couldn t justify not taking them in. quaker jim dudley recalled face-to-face experience of coming across man on side of road on outskirts of tucson. after picking hitchhiker, dudley learned salvadoran attempting make san francisco. border patrol agents stopped car , identified man illegal alien , arrested him. man s distress, fear , likelihood summarily deported left dudley uneasy interaction , prompted him investigate further.

on march 24, 1982, second anniversary of archbishop oscar romero s assassination, john fife, minister of southside presbyterian church in tucson, after garnering support of congregation, declared congregation public sanctuary. outside church building posted 2 banners read: “this sanctuary oppressed of central america,” , “immigration: not profane sanctuary of god.” several other churches, synagogues , student groups across country followed suit, , 1985 sanctuary became national movement 5 hundred member-sites across united states.

movement members likened sanctuary underground railroad of 19th century: central americans flee countries, under extremely dangerous circumstances, travel through mexico , find safe haven in sanctuary community in united states or canada. give picture of how phenomenon worked in practice, refugees coming through tucson make nogales (the nearest border town in mexico), on foot, , find refuge @ el sanctuario de nuestra señora de guadalupe (sanctuary of our lady of guadalupe) catholic church. padre ramón dagoberto quiñones, head priest @ guadalupe, travel short distance across border sacred heart catholic church, steeple visible across border in mexico. there find shelter, food, legal advice , perhaps little money. 2 churches kept in constant contact, , priests , lay people traveled between parishes.

over years of movement, active until 1996, activists developed number of coordinated routes transporting individuals designated public sanctuaries, communities accepted them. @ first part of effort credible claims canada, landed immigrant status became available once refugee turned him/herself in on canadian soil. u.s. government convinced new conservative government tighten border , exclude more central american refugees. led many more u.s. churches becoming welcoming sanctuaries. prospective candidates or families matched numerous factors community prepared house them , assist them make political statements recounting personal history. not willing public speaking, example, matched community not interested in doing level of organizing or located in rural area little public effort possible. volunteers drove refugees exchange points transported next night s lodging, until reached destination. system highly decentralized; despite pre-organization, ad hoc; , different groups found varying methods providing publicity or secrecy protection.

once refugees found safe-haven in sanctuary community, u.s. congregations, student groups , activists invited central americans share beliefs , experiences community. refugees invited pulpit give testimonies during church services, congregations held special central american peace nights stories shared , information given, , central americans , north americans talked , openly, whether through bible studies, meetings or rallies. 1 congregant of tucson s southside presbyterian church remembers:

on given night there might 2 twenty-five [refugees] sleeping in church. congregation set one-room apartment them behind chapel. when full, slept on foam pads in sunday school wing.

the denominational make-up of movement diverse, including presbyterian, quakers, unitarian, catholic, , jewish congregations. approximately 10% of declared sanctuaries on university campuses , 1% on seminaries. following sampling of official statements issued major denominations within u.s.

the presbyterian church:

the presbyterian church recommends general assembly support congregations , individuals provide sanctuary asylum seekers way of showing christian compassion them , stressing need change in our government s policies , actions; , other congregations challenged take stance. 1983.

the american lutheran church:

resolved, american lutheran church @ 1984 general convention…offer support , encouragement congregations have chosen become refugee sanctuaries. 1984.

the american baptist churches in u.s.a.:

therefore, commend american baptist churches following:…that respect churches that, responding leading of god s spirit, providing sanctuary refugees fleeing suffering , death in central america. 1984.

the rabbinical assembly:

the rabbinical assembly endorses concept of sanctuary provided synagogues, churches , other communities of faith in united states. 1984.

secular groups embraced sanctuary movement, such amnesty international, americas watch (which later become human rights watch), legal aid groups, liberal members of congress , student organizations (the university of california particularly active). op-eds appeared in major national periodicals such new york times, washington post , time magazine. entire city of berkeley, california, declared sanctuary. writer barbara kingsolver popularized movement in 1998 novel bean trees, in provides fictional account of sanctuary member housing refugees in tucson home.

this movement has been succeeded in 2000s movement of churches , other houses of worship shelter immigrants in danger of deportation. new sanctuary movement network of houses of worship facilitates effort. new sanctuary movement allows u.s. officials catholic churches without permission of catholic officials.</ref> philip marfleet (2011), understanding sanctuary , journal of refugee studies 24(3).</ref>

from late 1980s continuing 2000s, there have been instances of churches providing sanctuary short periods migrants facing deportation germany, france, belgium, netherlands, norway, switzerland, australia, united states, , canada, among other nations. 1983 2003, canada experienced 36 sanctuary incidents.

the new sanctuary movement organization estimates @ least 600,000 people in united states have @ least 1 family member in danger of deportation.

the movement declared 1984 winner of letelier-moffitt human rights award.

historical parallels

the church place of refuge

the sanctuary movement traced roots ancient judaic tradition of sanctuary. movement member mary ann lundy phrased it, “the idea comes original judeo-christian concept of sanctuary, persons fleeing law go places of worship , protected.” in old testament, god commanded moses set aside cities , places of refuge in canaan persecuted seek asylum. concept can found in ancient roman law, medieval canon law , british common law. movement members appealed u.s. history, including abolitionist movement , underground railroad of nineteenth century, housing of jews during world war ii, idea of u.s. safe haven immigrants , civil rights struggles of 1960s. sanctuary congregations, provided justification acting against federal laws, , many members saw part of larger transnational community. corbett wrote in 1983:

because refugees here, new exodus has begun. enforced exiles being joined north american religious people voluntarily exiling civil law without justice. undocumented refugees , outlawed christians , jews forming new exodus community takes god acts in history. public sanctuary act refuses leave foreign policy ambassadors , generals , compassion limits of law. new exodus community beginning live love demands justice , acts power , authority love carries. authority rooted deep in judeo-christian tradition , history itself.