Recent Immigration and Sanctuary News

Living Sanctuary Team • July 30, 2021

As Many Americans Get COVID-19 Vaccines and Financial Support, Undocumented Immigrants Keep Falling Through the Cracks  “The Migration Policy Institute, a nonprofit think tank in Washington, D.C., reported in January that 9.3 million unauthorized immigrants whose income meets the threshold for COVID-19 aid are blocked from accessing it, and also can’t apply for federal programs that provide cash and food assistance.”


The reason many Guatemalans are coming to the border? A profound hunger crisis.

“Guatemala now has the sixth-highest rate of chronic malnutrition in the world. The number of acute cases in children, according to one new Guatemalan government study, doubled between 2019 and 2020.”

 

“In a new report, the World Food Program  predicts  428,000 Guatemalans will have reached a “Phase 4” level of food-insecurity emergency this year — the highest before famine.”

 

CREW sues ICE for records on immigrants tortured into accepting deportation “ICE’s sibling agency, the US Customs and Border Patrol, has recently received flack for reportedly attempting “to sabotage the Biden administration,” by intentionally slowing down the processing of detained migrant children into the US.”

 

The House Passes Two Immigration Bills. But Will Broader Immigration Reform Be Possible? “For immigration advocates, who have waited years for the government to move forward with substantive immigration policy, Democrats’ control of both houses offers a rare—and perhaps fleeting—chance, though they will still need buy-in from Republicans in the Senate to bypass a 60-vote threshold.”

Border Crisis? VP Harris leads on immigration; Asian American divide  “As details about the employees emerged, so too did another narrative:  the story of the wealth divide among people of Asian descent in America — a community often viewed by outsiders as monolithic and whose economic disparities have long been misunderstood ,” writes a team from The New York Times in a beautifully woven investigative feature of immigrant striving and devastating, divergent outcomes in Atlanta.

Amid Awakening, Asian-Americans Are Still Taking Shape as a Political Force s “Divided by generation, ethnicity and class, but currently galvanized by a surge of racially motivated attacks, Asian-Americans are growing rapidly as political players.” “For years, Asian-Americans were among the least likely of any racial or ethnic group to vote or to join community or advocacy groups. Today they are surging into public life, running for office in record numbers, and turning out to vote unlike ever before. They are now the fastest-growing group in the American electorate .”

 

Migratory Notes from Medium.com  – “…an informed weekly guide to rapidly changing immigration news…:”

By Rev. Marci Glass May 13, 2026
The apostle Paul experienced hardships for his preaching. He was imprisoned, kicked out of towns, and suffered harm. He was willing to talk about his struggles, but he never stopped there. It can be easy to see our struggles as the conclusion of a story. It can be more challenging to see them as a part of a bigger story. In Paul's letter to the Philippians, Paul reminds us to look for the bigger thread that weaves our stories together, and, in the midst of his suffering, he makes the decision to rejoice.
A vast purple mountain range covered in fog at dusk. The sun is setting a bright gold sunset behind.
By Guest Preacher Rev. Dr. Victor Aloyo May 3, 2026
In a city crowded with idols and an altar dedicated to an unknown god, the Apostle Paul discovered that humanity's deepest restlessness is itself a longing for the One in whom we live, move, and have our being.
A colorful scene of Paul & Silas' prison encounter - © Paul Oman Fine Art
By Rev. Victor Floyd April 26, 2026
When the earthquake opens every door and every chain falls loose, Paul and Silas don’t run. That inexplicable refusal — we are all here — is what converts a jailer, and what might yet convert us.
Restored (The Conversion of Saul), Lisle Gwynn Garrity ] © A Sanctified Art
By Rev. Marci Glass April 19, 2026
Paul’s conversion is one of the most dramatic stories in scripture. But if you had told 20 year old Paul that 2000 years later we would know him as the most prolific writer about Jesus, he would not have believed it. What a second act! Do we give people space to live their second acts?
3 boys in Bible study writing down something on a piece of paper - the text reads ‘doubting as faith
By Rev. Joann Lee April 12, 2026
On this Confirmation Sunday, we read about Thomas, the disciple who doubted and would not believe until he saw Jesus with his own eyes. He is usually viewed negatively, but certainity is the very opposite of faith. Without our doubts, how can we profess to have faith?
A bunch of wildflowers in dusk lighting, the text reads ‘while it was still dark’
By Rev. Marci Glass April 5, 2026
Mary went to the tomb on Easter morning while it was still dark. She encountered the living Christ not after day had dawned, not when things were looking hopeful, but while it was still dark. What might the Easter story have to say to our world today? Where is resurrection in our midst?
A palm leaf with text that says ‘enough is enough’
By Rev. Marci Glass March 29, 2026
What we get before Palm Sunday in John’s gospel is the story of people who are ALL IN, saying enough is enough if a culture of violence wants to keep people in their graves. Enough is enough if generosity and abundance are scorned. Enough is enough if talking about new life is threatening to people in power . They lead
Ecco Homo by Caravaggio, c 1605. Jesus on trial
By Rev. Marci Glass March 22, 2026
In this passage from John's gospel, we're reminded that while the occupying Roman government murdered Jesus, they did so with the encouragement of Jesus' own people. What does this story have to say for how we live together, how we acknowledge our mistakes, and how we are called to be faithful today?
A road sign that reads ‘good choice, bad choice’
By Rev. Joann Lee March 15, 2026
After Pilate examines Jesus, he finds no fault in him. And yet, he offers the crowd a choice any way: release Jesus or Barabbas? The crowd chooses Barabbas, a convicted criminal over Jesus. How do we continue to choose Barabbas over Jesus still today?
A big starry night sky with the sun setting and the Milky Way galaxy. The text reads “I AM (not)
By Rev. Marci Glass March 8, 2026
In today's reading, Peter denies Jesus three times. Peter isn’t any worse than any other sheep in God’s flock. Here, at least, he’s also not better. We are people, like Peter, who deny. We deny our connectedness. We divide into “us and them”. We seek easy answers to complicated questions.
More Posts