Faith leaders denounce ICE cruelty in downtown Houston prayer vigils

Outraged by ongoing raids, family separations, and rampant cruelty against our immigrant brothers and sisters, a coalition of more than a dozen Episcopal churches is holding prayer vigils on Wednesdays, Dec. 3, 10, and 17, at 1 p.m. outside the ICE Detention Facility in downtown Houston.

The vigils are both a spiritual act of solidarity and a public declaration that Episcopal faith leaders will no longer remain silent in the face of the violence, trauma, and moral injustice carried out by ICE officials.

“Our immigrant brothers and sisters are living in constant fear — afraid to go to school, to work, even to church, terrified of being kidnapped and ripped away from their families,” said Rev. Hannah E. Atkins Romero of Trinity Episcopal Church, who formed The Migration with Dignity Coalition.

Attendance at the coalition’s Hispanic Congregations has dropped 60 percent as families fear venturing from their homes. Dozens of parishioners have had a family member who was arrested, deported, or lost their job.

So, in this season of Advent, the coalition is hosting three prayer vigils throughout December, starting Dec. 3. This sacred time reminds us that the Holy Family was migrants, forced to flee persecution after Jesus was born.

During Advent, we prepare for the incarnation of Christ and reflect on the dignity of all human beings — we are called to seek and serve Christ in each other.

“We want to stop the mistreatment of immigrants, stop the hate, stop the abuse,” Rev. Romero said. “We want to be witness that our immigrant brothers and sisters are not alone, that we stand up for them and condemn the scare tactics of ICE.”

Though the coalition is currently made up of Episcopal churches, Rev. Romero is hopeful it will grow to include leaders and members of all faiths.

The vigil will include prayers, reflections, moments of silence, and brief remarks from faith leaders. Participants of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome.

An emergency fund to assist families in our congregations affected by deportations has been created by The Commission on Hispanic-Latino Ministries of the Diocese of Texas. The Migration with Dignity Fund will provide emergency housing assistance, food, and transportation for those families in need. You can donate here.

Event Details

What: Prayer Vigil for Immigrants Facing Persecution
When: Dec. 10, at 1 p.m.
Where: ICE Detention Facility, 1200 Texas Ave.
Who: The Migration with Dignity Coalition

For more information, please contact Rev. Ryan Hawthorne at 609 865-7195 Rector@graceinhouston.org or Rev. Hannah E. Atkins Romero at 713-447-9995 rector@trinitymidtown.org

Photos of the first vigil can be found at The Episcopal Diocese of Texas website at epicenter.org.