Churches emerge as important refuge for immigrants

Martha Lorena Rivera of Alamogordo had been checking in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since 2011 to renew a stay of removal she said she’s been given annually for humanitarian reasons. In past years she received approval in the mail, but this year was different. On the morning of Oct. 10, her “world came […]

Churches emerge as important refuge for immigrants

Martha Lorena Rivera of Alamogordo had been checking in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since 2011 to renew a stay of removal she said she’s been given annually for humanitarian reasons. In past years she received approval in the mail, but this year was different.

On the morning of Oct. 10, her “world came down,” she said in an interview with New Mexico In Depth. When she presented her application in late September at the El Paso ICE processing center, agents gave her a follow-up appointment for two weeks later.

This story originally appeared at New Mexico In Depth.

Rivera was nervous, dropping her daughter at school before heading to El Paso for the appointment. She was denied, and no reason was given. The mother of three was granted a few days to sort out plans for her 8-year-old daughter, Bella. After placing a tracking device on her ankle, ICE allowed Rivera to turn herself in by Oct. 16.

Rivera said those extra days just weren’t enough time to get her affairs in order. Her daughter Bella is a U.S. citizen who has underdeveloped lungs and is a special needs student. Rivera separated from her spouse in 2009, and she is the only caregiver for Bella, who has never lived in Mexico.

Rivera has two older children, a son in Dallas, and a daughter who is a student at the University of New Mexico who is registered in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

During the few days ICE gave her to wrap up her affairs, Rivera did not eat or sleep.

“But in front of my daughter, I was strong. However, she knew something was happening,” Rivera said.

Rivera looked for a sanctuary in Alamogordo, but couldn’t find anyplace that would let her in. What came next was an answer to her prayers. A friend called her.

“God put this person in my path,” Rivera said.

Rivera shared her situation with her friend, who answered by referring her to “Café.”

“Why would I want coffee?” she said as she chuckled. “No, seriously, that is what I thought!”

New Mexico Communidades en Accion y de Fé (CAFé) is a Las Cruces-based multifaith community group that shifted most of its focus to supporting local immigrant communities when Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election, taking seriously indications he’d move to deport undocumented immigrants.

CAFé took on Rivera’s case, and immediately contacted Father Tom Smith at Holy Cross Retreat Center in Las Cruces.

Rivera is the second person to receive sanctuary at the center and at least the third immigrant to seek refuge in a church in New Mexico this year. She will be staying at Holy Cross until her case is heard.

Call of the Gospel drives church to provide refuge

“It’s the call of the Gospel,” said Smith, in an interview, about why Holy Cross took Rivera in. “…we are to provide food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, and care for those in need. … These are people who can not return to their home because immigration officials would pick them up, they know where they live, and they would be deported.”

Smith said his hope is two-fold: to raise awareness about the plight of those in fear of deportation, and to help local people recognize the unfairness and lack of necessity to deport such people. He draws a distinction between Rivera and one other immigrant currently provided refuge at Holy Cross, Jorge Taborda, and those who may have committed criminal acts.

“If they were running away from the law, as a criminal, I’d say I’m sorry we’ll not accept you,” he said.“That’s not the case” in Rivera and Taborda’s plight.

Smith said Holy Cross has the support of Bishop Oscar Cantú of the Diocese of Las Cruces as well as Franciscan church leaders in Rome.

Smith expects that more people threatened with deportation may come to the center for help, but he said it only has room for eight people and some space has been reserved by groups seeking to hold retreats there. And, he is clear to say that immigrants seeking refuge at Holy Cross are still threatened with deportation.

“People use the term sanctuary, we choose to use Franciscan hospitality because sanctuary seems to imply that they are safe,” Smith said. “But if immigration officials come with a search warrant, with their name, and signed by a judge, I cannot do anything about that.”

No reason given for deportation

Rivera meets all the qualifications set forth by the Department of Homeland Security for a stay of removal, according to Johana Bencomo, CAFé community organizer, who noted Rivera’s annual approvals since 2011.

ICE provides a number of factors that can determine the denial of an application:

• Failure to submit medical documentation that supports your reason for this request, if applicable
• Failure to submit your statement or summary that explains why you submitted this request
• Record of criminal activity
• Threat to self or others
• Inaccurate, incomplete or untruthful information
• Not currently under a final order of deportation or removal
• Discretion of the Field Office Director or design

There have been no changes to Rivera’s application, according to Bencomo.

New Mexico In Depth sought answers from the agency, but a spokesperson at the El Paso processing center refused to comment about Rivera’s case.

“In Martha’s case, we are working to engage our members of Congress like Senator Heinrich, Senator Udall, even Congressman Pearce to advocate on her behalf,” Bencomo said.

In the meantime, Rivera’s son, a citizen through marriage, has petitioned for his mother to gain residency.

“What I want to ask from the community is to support us, because it’s obvious that not everyone does, but those who do, I ask for them to be our voice, to talk for us and to defend us,” Rivera said.

Films were produced by Xchelzin Peña, who holds New Mexico In Depth’s 2017/2018 fellowship for a current or recently graduated journalism student at New Mexico State University.

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

A New Mexico-based LGBTQ rights organization endorsed 15 candidates for state House and Senate seats for the 2024 elections.  Marshall Martinez, executive director of…
Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pocket vetoed two bills the legislature passed this legislative session: one changing the Cybersecurity Act and the other concerning law…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…
Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republican-backed legislation in the U.S. Congress would make it harder for the government to designate new national monuments. The proposed Congressional Oversight of the…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News Four years after hospitals in New York City overflowed with covid-19 patients, emergency physician Sonya Stokes remains shaken by…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
Senators introduce legislation to aid abortion providers

Senators introduce legislation to aid abortion providers

Sen. Martin Heinrih and other Senate colleagues introduced abortion rights legislation into the U.S. Senate on Thursday. The Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
Senators introduce legislation to aid abortion providers

Senators introduce legislation to aid abortion providers

Sen. Martin Heinrih and other Senate colleagues introduced abortion rights legislation into the U.S. Senate on Thursday. The Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support…
New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid announced on Wednesday that it will cover the cost of Opill, the first oral contraception approved for over-the-counter use. It is…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

The Navajo Nation and San Juan County reached an agreement Monday about commission districts after the tribe alleged that its members were not adequately…
MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

New Mexico’s 2022 election was ranked most well-run in the country by Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Election Data and Science Lab’s Elections Performance Index.…
Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Ex-GOP candidate allegedly hired people to kill witnesses in shootings of homes of Democratix politicians

Ex-GOP candidate allegedly hired people to kill witnesses in shootings of homes of Democratix politicians

Republican failed state house candidate Solomon Peña is facing more federal charges, this time on a murder-for-hire scheme.  Peña allegedly tried to hire two…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report