With personal stories and a panel of experts, Wesley United Methodist Church in Aurora hosted “Immigration 101: Welcoming the Stranger” Sunday, Oct. 13.
The free, public, citizens’ workshop was a joint program of the people of faith and the UMC Northern Illinois Conference Advocacy Partners immigration team.
Reverend Tammy Scott, Wesley lead pastor, said the event was designed to clarify facts surrounding immigration and give a theological grounding for action. After welcoming guests, she said, “Hospitality is a reflection of faith. Welcoming strangers is not just a social nicety, it is a reflection of our faith and love for God.
“Each act of kindness towards others is an opportunity to showcase God’s love and grace in our lives.”
Featured Sunday was a panel of experts on immigration moderated by Glenn Dagenais, Wesley governing board member. Panelists were Claudia Smith of Aurora, Wesley congregant and former Bolivian immigrant; Luma Webster, Aurora Rapid Response Team, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights; Shola Yawari, former immigrant; Holly Tseng, World Relief Chicagoland; Jody May, Exodus World Service; Claudia Marchan, Justice for Our Neighbors legal clinics; and Lisa Rogers, UMC Northern Illinois Conference Commission on Religion and Race Advocacy Partners immigration team.
Webster said her team recently responded when ICE agents detained four people in Aurora. She said ICE agents were also seen in Batavia and Naperville. She advised, “If you see ICE or someone being detained call the ICIRR hotline, 855-435-7693.
Rapid response teams are made up of people passionate about creating welcoming congregations and mobilizing church and NIC conference to advocate for just and humane immigration reform. Email advocacy@
umcjustic.org for details.
Agents were reported Thursday, Oct. 9 in Aurora, prompting protests and large gatherings from residents. Mayor John Laesch joined locals who gathered Thursday afternoon to protest ICE “snatchings.”
In a statement Friday, he called them the “unconstitutional deployment of Federal officers [that] resulted in multiple snatchings of community members, targeting, specifically, our City’s strong and diverse Hispanic population.”
Panelists took audience questions after individual presentations. For more information, call 630-896-1033 or visit wesleyumcaurora.org.
—Al Benson