Immigration and Faith Leaders Unite to Address Concerns
Standing before a gathering of interfaith leaders, the Rev. George Mason invoked the words of the late Pope Francis on Monday, urging federal officials to recognize the “deep moral concern” reverberating through immigrant communities nationwide, including in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
“Migrants, he said, and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity,” Mason said during a news conference organized by an advocacy arm of Faith Commons, an interfaith group he founded. “Each migrant has a name, a face and a story. It’s not just about migrants. It’s about our humanity.”
Background on the Issue
Mason’s remarks outside Kessler Park United Methodist Church in Dallas come amid a broader national reckoning over the Trump administration’s approach to immigration, which has included expanded deportations, restrictions on asylum claims and efforts aimed at limiting legal immigration.
It also comes in response to recent enforcement actions against immigrants in North Texas, including the case of Neri Jose Alvarado Borges, a 25-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker who was deported last month.
A Call to Action
Recent reports of immigrants in D-FW facing enforcement actions prompted the news conference, where Mason announced the group would begin holding regular vigils outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Dallas office. The office, which oversees North Texas and Oklahoma, recorded more immigration arrests than any other ICE field office in the country last fiscal year, according to federal data.
Among the cases drawing the group to speak publicly was Alvarado Borges, who sought asylum in the U.S. after fleeing Venezuela, where he feared he would be kidnapped or killed for protesting that country’s president, Nicolás Maduro.
The Story of Neri Alvarado Borges
Alvarado Borges worked at bakeries in Lewisville and Dallas at the time of his arrest, the owner, Juan Enrique Hernández, told The Dallas Morning News.
Neri Alvarado Borges was working for Latin Market Venezuelan Treats, which has locations in Far North Dallas and Lewisville, before he was deported to El Salvador’s Centro de Confinamiento Contra el Terrorismo last month.(Alvarado family / Courtesy)
Homeland Security Investigations officers arrested Alvarado Borges in late February. Just over a week later, an immigration judge issued a final order of removal, and on March 15, he was deported to El Salvador on a charter flight, according to Dexter Henson, an ICE spokesperson.
Response from ICE and Faith Leaders
Henson said in a statement Monday that Alvarado Borges illegally entered the United States near El Paso in April of last year. The statement says Alvarado Borges was subject to removal proceedings as a result.
Henson did not respond to questions about Alvarado Borges’ background or his asylum claim, including whether he had a criminal history. A complaint filed by a Border Patrol agent in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas lists no prior criminal or immigration history.
“As faith leaders, we cannot keep silent while innocent neighbors are illegally abducted, detained, and disappeared,” Rabbi Nancy Kasten, Chief Relationship Officer at Faith Commons, said in a news release.
A Message of Hope and Accountability
Speaking at the news conference, the Rev. Eric Folkerth, a pastor of Kessler Park UMC, said the local stories of “harm being done” to immigrant communities in D-FW “demands accountability of our government to due process for all people.”
“The Bible says we should treat and welcome the immigrant, not harm them. Some Americans don’t want to hear that, but that’s what the Bible says,” Folkerth said. “The Bible says we should treat immigrants under the same law as we do citizens. Some Americans may not want to hear that, but that’s what the Bible says.”
Conclusion
The story of Neri Alvarado Borges and the efforts of faith leaders to bring attention to the issue of immigration highlight the need for a more compassionate and just approach to immigration policy. By working together, we can create a system that treats all individuals with dignity and respect, regardless of their country of origin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about the issue of immigration and the story of Neri Alvarado Borges:
Q: What is the current state of immigration policy in the United States?
A: The current state of immigration policy in the United States is complex and constantly evolving. The Trump administration has implemented various policies aimed at restricting immigration, including expanded deportations and restrictions on asylum claims.
Q: What is the story of Neri Alvarado Borges?
A: Neri Alvarado Borges is a 25-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker who was deported to El Salvador last month. He had been working at bakeries in Lewisville and Dallas and had sought asylum in the U.S. after fleeing Venezuela, where he feared he would be kidnapped or killed for protesting the country’s president.
Q: What are faith leaders doing to address the issue of immigration?
A: Faith leaders, such as the Rev. George Mason and Rabbi Nancy Kasten, are speaking out against the current state of immigration policy and advocating for a more compassionate and just approach. They are also working to raise awareness about the issue and to support immigrant communities.
