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Immigration Arrests Hamper Church’s Outreach Efforts
WORTHINGTON, MN (December 19, 2006) – The mass arrests of suspected undocumented workers by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during a raid at the local Swift & Co. meat packing plant here last week likely will hurt the ability of First Covenant Church and other congregations to reach out to the Hispanic community, says Pastor John Stewart.
Stewart says 230 people from the local plant remain detained, arrested as part of raids across the country at five of Swift’s operations. Approximately 1,300 people were arrested in the raids.
The arrests shocked some Worthington residents. “A lot of churches here have been trying to build bridges,” Stewart says. He doesn’t know what the long-term effect will be on those relationships.
“The biggest thing for us is the trust level now,” Stewart says. “There’s a real distrust by the Hispanics. That’s what we’re hearing over and over.”
A bilingual Bible study involving Anglos from his church and Hispanics from other congregations had to be canceled because two of the Hispanic members were not at home. Stewart says it is unknown whether the participants were arrested or are in hiding.
None of the people arrested or their immediate families attend First Covenant, says Stewart.
Last year, the church sponsored Las Posadas, a Mexican Christmas celebration and was scheduled to have another this year. Stewart is unsure what effect the raids will have. A lot of Latinos “have gone underground,” Stewart says. According to news reports, school attendance had dropped dramatically and most people in stores on Wednesday were Anglos.
Stewart says the raid has caused financial hardships for many families, explaining that those arrested generally were the primary wage earners. “People are worried about food and shelter.
“The community has really rallied to help people,” Stewart continues. “One of the pantries is allowing people to pick up food for those who are afraid to come in, although its policy generally is for recipients to pick up their own goods.”
Stewart saw the roughly 15 buses outside the plant that were used to transport those who were arrested. “It’s ugly to watch people being loaded onto the buses,” Stewart says.
Stewart emphasizes that he doesn’t support illegal immigration, but that Christ calls the church to serve all people. “What we’re doing is helping people who have been displaced,” he says. “I don’t think we can turn our backs on these people.”
“If someone is against what we’re doing, what kind of support can you give our church that is constructive?” Stewart asks. Tomas Ivens, pastor of the new Esperanza Covenant Church in Grand Rapids, says he supports the efforts of the Worthington congregation. “The Bible says we should love our neighbor.”
The pastor is critical of the government’s approach. “It’s very much a hypocritical game that gets played,” Stewart argues. “(Authorities) let it go and let it go and then all of a sudden there is something like this. The federal government left, and we’re left picking up the pieces.”
Stewart says he believes enough non-perishable food items are available, but funds are needed to pay for non-perishable food and other goods. For more information, call Stewart at 507-376-5109.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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