ATLANTA — In late January, simply after President Donald Trump was sworn into workplace for his second time period, a Honduran father of three was apprehended by immigration officers exterior the doorway of his church in Tucker, Ga.
Wilson Velásquez’s arrest heralded a interval of intensified immigration enforcement beneath the Trump administration. Since returning to the White Home, Trump has expanded the pool of immigrants liable to deportation, and overseen roughly 1,500 immigration arrests in Georgia alone.
Among the many coverage modifications emboldening U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a directive that now permits brokers to conduct arrests in faculties, church buildings and hospitals — “sensitive” locations beforehand deemed largely off-limits for immigration enforcement.
The aftermath of Velásquez’s arrest throughout a Sunday service at Fuente de Vida Church remains to be reverberating throughout metro Atlanta church buildings with giant immigrant congregations. A number of native pastors advised The Atlanta Journal-Structure that attendance has dropped as immigrants restrict their actions in an effort to decrease their publicity to ICE. Not solely does this newfound worry constrain individuals’s capacity to train their religion, the non secular leaders mentioned, it prevents them from accessing an area that gives connection in addition to a variety of social companies — from English courses to job placement.
“Church becomes this link between the country of origin and this country, and we help them assimilate into the culture of this country, because it’s obviously a brand-new system to what they left behind,” mentioned Rev. Eli Chavez of Iglesia Monte Sinai in Norcross.
Chavez mentioned a bunch of younger Guatemalans from his congregation had been lately arrested and are actually in ICE detention.
Rev. Ventura Ruiz is on the helm of the Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Lawrenceville. Based over 20 years in the past, the church expanded rapidly in recent times, as Lawrenceville drew many current arrivals from the border, possibly even essentially the most out of any group in Georgia, based on immigration court docket knowledge. That progress prompted the congregation to hunt a much bigger gathering area. Final 12 months, it started renting services from Lawrenceville’s Central Baptist Church.
Attendance declining
Ruiz mentioned attendance at his weekly service vastly outnumbers that of the English-language service held in the identical constructing. However modifications in immigration enforcement derailed that congregation’s upward trajectory.
Earlier than Trump’s inauguration, round 160 individuals would come to Sunday service, Ruiz mentioned. Now, that quantity averages fewer than 120, he mentioned. That’s a 25 % decline.
At the least one individual from his congregation determined to self-deport and return to his house nation of Nicaragua, Ruiz mentioned.
The top later this month of immigration protections granted beneath a Biden humanitarian parole program may also have an effect on many church members, Ruiz mentioned, and probably result in extra departures.
“We’re hoping for the best, but we’re preparing for the worst,” he mentioned.
Over at St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, additionally in Lawrenceville, Rev. Fabio Sotelo says attendance has decreased by about 20 %.
“There are families that have limited themselves to going out (only) when it’s really essential. They’re even cutting down on the days and the hours they work,” he mentioned. “I can’t simply say: ‘You must come in (to church).’ They have to decide how and when they come.”
Remarkably, the Tucker church rocked by the January ICE arrest has not registered a big dip in attendance, pastor Luis Ortiz mentioned.
Ortiz mentioned the comb with immigration enforcement has impressed members to proceed gathering and search non secular steerage. Members of the congregation are additionally moved by his personal story.
Ortiz mentioned he immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador years in the past with a sound visa, however didn’t return house when that visa expired and now finds himself residing within the nation with out authorized standing. But he continues to train his function as his church’s most seen member.
“In front of the congregation, I am strong. But when I’m alone, I feel weak. No one is more scared than me,” he mentioned. “On the church all of us grew to become decided to proceed to come back.
“Even though we had immigration agents here, we’ve kept our heads high. No matter what, we will continue to be here.”
Ortiz added: “People are very scared. But with or without fear, we have to seek spiritual help from God.”
Among the many individuals who have continued attending church regardless of missing standing is Velásquez’s spouse, Kenia. Ortiz says she hasn’t missed a single Sunday service since her husband was arrested.
