Thread: Pastor facing deportation seeks sanctuary: “I did my time.”

Pastor facing deportation seeks sanctuary: “I did my time.”

July 05, 2017 11:55 AM


José Chicas, center, wipes away tears during a press conference announcing he has been offered sanctuary at the
School for Conversion on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, in Durham, NC. Chicas is a pastor at Iglesia Evangelica in Raleigh
who has been targeted as a “criminal” by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which ordered him to leave his family
and congregation last Tuesday, June 27, 2017. Casey Toth ctoth@heraldsun.com

Read more here: http://www.heraldsun.com/news/local/...#storylink=cpy

DURHAM Calling it a “moment in history,” the Rev. William Barber, president of North Carolina’s chapter of the NAACP, and other pastors called on citizens and members of the faith community to sign a petition and take other action to rescind the ordered deportation of Pastor José Chicas, who since June 27 has taken sanctuary from immigration authorities at the School for Conversion.

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, director of the School for Conversion, called on Immigration and Customs Enforcement “to rescind the deportation order and allow Pastor Chicas to go home. ... No label of ‘criminal’ changes the fact that he is a brother” in Christ.

Chicas, 52, told the crowd gathered Monday at School for Conversion that he wanted to “tell my story.” Speaking through a translator, Chicas said he fled El Salvador’s civil war in 1985. “Like many young people, I made mistakes,” and was charged and pled guilty to driving under the influence and domestic abuse. He later underwent a spiritual conversion, reconciled with his wife, and pastors Iglesia Evangelica in Raleigh.

Because of stepped-up immigration enforcement under the Trump Administration, Chicas’ past record led to the deportation order.

“Because of bad legal advice, I find myself in the situation I am in today,” Chicas said. With his son Ezekiel at his side, who held a sign stating “please don’t send my dad back to El Salvador,” Chicas said, “I do not want to leave my family or church community. I made the difficult decision to enter sanctuary to fight my case.”

He added: “I am not a delinquent. I have been with my wife 25 years. I did my time.” Chicas has four children, three of whom are United States citizens, he said.

“When I heard his story, I recognized the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Wilson-Hartgrove said, calling Chicas’ story one of classic redemption. “One of the things I have noticed is the deep sense of mercy that is in him.” Chicas has prayed for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who have to enforce the order against him, Wilson-Hartgrove said.

Barber said he came to Monday’s press conference as a pastor and president of the Repairers of the Breach. He told Wilson-Hartgrove that if the School for Conversion accepted Chicas for sanctuary, his church in Goldsboro, Greenleaf Christian Church, would welcome his family. “We will be their spiritual sanctuary” as School for Conversion is providing “physical sanctuary” for Rev. Chicas, Barber said.

As the Trump Administration has taken a harder line on deportations and immigration enforcement, Durham has taken a different approach. The Sheriff’s Office, for example, hired a Hispanic liaison to ensure that Spanish-speaking residents will not hesitate to seek help from law enforcement.

Barber condemned the harsher enforcement, not just under Trump, but also Presidents Bush and Obama. “This is a moment in history where we need people of conscience to speak up,” he said. Immigration reform should have been passed years ago, he said. “We need to tell the Congress to do right. We don’t need to keep making this mistake of isolating and other-izing people,” Barber said.

He also called on people of all faiths to take on the plight of immigrants. “It’s time for the church to stand up,” Barber said.

Citing biblical passages from the books of Deuteronomy, Jeremiah, the Gospels and the letters of Paul, Barber took issue with legislators who claim they are concerned with the word of God. The Bible has more to say about treating strangers with dignity than any other issue, he said. Deuteronomy commands, “You shall not deprive an immigrant of justice,” and the letter to the Hebrews states “when you show hospitality to a stranger, you might be attending an angel.”

Barber continued: “We in America should not be building walls on our southern border ... nor should we be using ICE” to break up families. He disputed the notion that immigrants commit crime and take resources from government services. They pay taxes, have spending power and “end up paying into a system they cannot benefit from,” he said.

Barber called Chicas “my brother and colleague in ministry,” and, joining hands with Chicas and Wilson-Hartgrove, proclaimed, in a paraphrase of the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “Our struggles are still one struggle.”

http://www.heraldsun.com/news/local/...159689734.html

Sorry, you couldn't be bothered to come LEGALLY; you broke MORE laws and went to jail, you're STILL committing crimes but you want forgiveness? Hell no!

Deport him and the family... he's right on that point. Don't separate the family, send them with him. Let him preach to the violence and work for HIS Country!

Three anchor babies...who paid for THAT?

Deport him and his WHOLE family is free to go with him. No one stopping them.

Chicas, 52, told the crowd gathered Monday at School for Conversion that he wanted to “tell my story.” Speaking through a translator, Chicas said he fled El Salvador’s civil war in 1985.

If he's been in this country 32 years and he still needs a translator?

Deport him, he knows his language, he'll be right at home.

Bla, bla, bla...... same story over and over again.

It gives me a headach!

Originally Posted by Scott-in-FL

If he's been in this country 32 years and he still needs a translator?

Exactly, my thought also!

He obviously had no interest to become an American.

All the more reason to pack your belongings and leave.

Go breach the word of God in your country where your peoples are killing each other.

"I did my time", yeah, and now it's time for your butt to be kicked back across the line.