In early 2017 we were out to lunch with some friends on a Sunday afternoon. Actually, we were celebrating the baptisms of one friend with her son and nephew. What was a day of joy became shadowed by a text one person at the table received that told of an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raid in our neighborhood. Lucretia and I moved into an area of town about 4 years ago that is largely Hispanic with most families who are first generation from Mexico. Most are Permanent Residents or were born in the states but some came to our area without papers across the border into Texas. They came to work and make a better life for themselves and their families. Some had come across legally but lost that status when they were unable to afford the expense of renewing their status. In any case, we didn't ask questions about status for the people we met. After living in community with these families, we earned their trust and were sometimes told bits and pieces about what they were going through.
This turned out to be one of the days that brought change to our lives in a big way. On hearing the news of the raid, two of our friends got up from the table to make quick calls to family to warn them to stay home or avoid driving to the area of the raid. The expressions of fear were plainly seen in the faces of these friends. Their loved ones might face deportation if detained by ICE. Their families could be torn apart in a single afternoon. We were aware of this possibility but until this day had not really grasped the constant presence of fear that our friends experienced.
Later that afternoon, Lucretia received a desperate phone call from another neighbor who had also heard about the raid and was tearfully relating how this had her family in a state of panic. We saw how little we really knew about this situation or how to respond to our friends. I began searching the internet for resources and our attention became focused on learning more about this issue. Isn't it amazing how we can be exposed to news and information in large amounts, but until we have an interest in a topic it's as if we couldn't see or hear what was going on around us. We happened on a news segment on the undocumented (Illegal Aliens) in California and how a Catholic church was trying to help them know their rights. I gathered enough information online that we felt we could open a dialog with those in our community and invited a few others from churches and schools who seemed interested in learning more.
Our first gathering was less about giving out information than listening to each other. Gathered that evening were two young men who would later get their DACA status (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), two sisters who have lived in the states all their lives - one born here and the other with Permanent Residence status, and three clergy representatives. We decided to continue this dialog as we gathered more information and that we would get back together as we learned more. One church leader suggested that a group in San Antonio, the Interfaith Welcome Coalition might be a good source for information so Lucretia and I made plans to attend their next meeting.
