SAN DIEGO — From Baltimore to San Diego and beyond, the Catholic Church delivered a powerful message to immigrants: “You are not alone!”
That chant in English and Spanish reverberated outside the federal building downtown, where several hundred faithful from across the region gathered the night of Nov. 13 for a prayer vigil to shed light on the inhumane treatment of immigrants and to call for access by elected officials to the basement, which is being used for detention.
The multigenerational crowd illuminated the darkness with small lights as they heard testimonies, walked in procession around the building and prayed together under occasional raindrops.
The vigil was organized by FAITH ministry on the feast day of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first naturalized U.S. citizen to attain sainthood in the Catholic Church and the patron saint of immigrants. The ministry organizes clergy, religious, lay faithful and others to accompany migrants to their immigration court hearings at the federal building. It’s a collaboration of the Diocese of San Diego, the San Diego Organizing Project and Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.
There’s growing concern that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are holding immigrants in the basement of the building for extended periods of time without food or adequate care.
“We are calling for inspections, transparency and for every person to be treated with dignity and care,” said one of the community members who spoke.
U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas told the crowd that he and other members of Congress had twice been denied access to the basement, preventing them from being able to fulfill their oversight responsibilities. He vowed to continue fighting for access.
He had been able to inspect the Otay Mesa Detention Center, he said, and found conditions to be sanitary for the immigrants being held there.
However, “It is the saddest thing in the world to see the people there,” he said. “It’s inhumane how families have been ripped apart. It’s incredibly immoral.”
Another speaker was Silvina, from Christ the King Parish, whose last name was not given.
“It’s very difficult for me to return to this place because, on Oct. 9, they separated my family here,” she said, struggling to hold back the tears.
She said her husband had attended his immigration court hearing that day, and the judge told him that his case would be continued until January. “We were happy,” she said.
“Then they sent him to the second floor and would not allow him to leave,” she continued, referring to ICE officers. “They did not care what the judge had ruled. He was our family’s provider.”
Bishop Michael Pham and Auxiliary Bishops Ramón Bejarano and Felipe Pulido arrived at the vigil from the airport, where they had just flown in from Baltimore. They had attended the fall assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops there.
“We’re grateful for all who have gathered together here — including clergy and interfaith leaders. We are part of one human family, standing up for one another,” Bishop Pham said.
He told the crowd that the U.S. bishops had just issued a Special Message and read a part of it.
“To our immigrant brothers and sisters, we stand with you in your suffering, since, when one member suffers, all suffer. You are not alone!
“We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people,” he continued, as the crowd applauded. “We pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement …
“As disciples of the Lord, we remain men and women of hope, and hope does not disappoint!”
Bishop Bejarano thanked those on hand for “being a peaceful, loud voice” for the voiceless. He emphasized that “every human person has a dignity that needs to be respected by everyone.”
Then he noted that Christmas was coming up.
“Please do not forget all of those who are detained,” he said. “Do something.”
He suggested individuals could go outside of a detention center and pray or sing carols for those being held there.
“Let them know that they are not alone.”
