By Rev. Cruz Edwin Santos
What urgent needs must our churches address to help seek justice for immigrants? Why is strategizing for immigrants more than just preparation for the difficult journey ahead?
Our recent Sanctuary (Everywhere) workshop was held on April 30, 2025. This virtual event over Zoom was a significant step forward in our collective efforts to support immigrant families across our connection. The training was led by Pastor Keren Rodríguez, representing the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ), whose expertise and pastoral presence guided us through challenging but necessary conversations.
We were blessed to have 17 registered participants from multiple United Methodist Conferences, including the Pacific Northwest (PNW), Oregon-Idaho (OR-ID), Mountain Sky, and Desert Southwest. This diversity of voices enriched our dialogue, helping us see the shared struggles and the unique realities immigrant communities face in different regions.
Sanctuary (Everywhere) offered a safe and brave space to learn, reflect, and grow together. We explored how to walk alongside our immigrant siblings with dignity, advocacy, and faith in the face of growing uncertainty and fear. Through meaningful questions and concrete examples, participants shared their ministry experiences, giving voice to the pain and resilience of the communities they serve.
About 17 attendees were present at the virtual event, “Sanctuary (Everywhere)”. This experience provided an opportunity to learn, reflect, and grow together in support for immigrant justice and advocacy. Truly, we are not alone. 
Why Sanctuary? Sanctuary protection is not unprecedented. During the era of slavery, Harriet Tubman’s Underground Railroad helped runaway slaves find freedom in friendly areas of the US and Canada. How can we as a church community provide safety and security for immigrant families? 
ICE and “Sensitive Locations” What does this mean for churches? What Did ICE’s “Sensitive Locations” Memo Do? Can ICE enter my house of worship to arrest people? What happens if they have a court order? What happens if they find a way in? Answers to these important questions regarding immigrant rights will be helpful for local church communities and families during moments of real tensions with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 
Sanctuary as a movement can extend to these areas: in physical places of worship, streets, campuses, cities, counties and states. As a church community we are committed to providing sanctuary everywhere.
During our time together, we identified several urgent needs that we must address as a church committed to justice and accompaniment:
- Emergency Fund for Passport Costs
Many immigrant parents cannot afford the cost of U.S. passports for their children who are American citizens. Creating a dedicated emergency fund would offer these families immediate relief and peace of mind. - Strengthening Rapid Response Teams
Local teams need more training, coordination, and support to respond quickly and effectively when families face sudden detentions or threats of deportation. - Mental Health Workshops
The emotional and psychological toll on immigrants and those who accompany them is immense. Providing culturally sensitive mental health resources is a growing and urgent need. - Protection Plans for Pastors and Ministry Leaders
Our clergy are often on the frontlines of this work. It is vital to equip them with legal, spiritual, and organizational strategies to protect themselves and their ministries. - Rapid Response Training for English-Speaking Communities
Expanding this work beyond Spanish-speaking spaces ensures that all allies, regardless of language, can engage and act effectively in solidarity. - Building Advocacy Networks in Idaho
Idaho remains a state without sanctuary protections. We need to begin organizing and advocating for policies that respect the dignity and rights of immigrants there.
Workshops like Sanctuary (Everywhere) remind us that preparation is not just about strategy but spiritual grounding, shared courage, and the reassurance that we are not alone. We are walking this journey together, as a church shaped by love, justice, and the call to be sanctuary in every sense of the word.
Thank you for your continued commitment to walking alongside our immigrant communities.
For more information or to get involved in upcoming trainings and advocacy work, please contact the Office of Hispanic/Latinx Ministries of The PNW Conference at cesantos@pnwumc.org.
- Connect and engage with our Hispanic/Latinx Ministry on Facebook.
- Learn about our Hispanic/Latinx Ministry on the PNW Conference website.
The Rev. Cruz Edwin Santos serves as the Director of Hispanic/Latinx Ministry for The Pacific Northwest Conference of The United Methodist Church.
