Family separation, hidden in plain sight

Last June people of faith filled the church of Christ Our Light in Cherry Hill. We gathered to protest the policy of family separation practiced on our southern border and to pray for a more just and humane response to families seeking asylum.

Unfortunately, we are sometimes slow to realize that this practice continues in our cities and parishes. While previous immigration policy prioritized undocumented immigrants with a criminal history, today anyone in this country without documentation is subject to deportation. Knowing that, many immigrant families live in fear of family separation. Our last successful effort at comprehensive immigration reform occurred in 1986. Most people who have come here without papers since then have had no opportunity to adjust their status.

On Palm Sunday, people of Saint Joachim Parish, Bellmawr, joined Father Ken Hallahan in praying God’s blessing on a woman named Alejandra and her 3-year-old son as they prepared to return to Mexico under what is called “voluntary departure.” Her immigration plea was denied and she faced deportation.

Her husband remains behind to work to support the family.

Alejandra had lived in the United States for 12 years. Her involvement with ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) began when she was in a traffic accident seven years ago. Because she was driving without a license, she was held responsible regardless of the circumstances that caused the accident. Those seven years included incredible legal fees, countless reports to the Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and several appearances in Immigration Court.

Alejandra is a wife, mother and daughter who came here seeking a better life for herself and her family. Her son, born here, is a United States citizen.

She has been a member of a faith community and a responsible resident of the townships in which she has resided. She lived in a state where the Assembly hesitates to act on introduced legislation (A4743) that would allow undocumented immigrants and other vulnerable members of our society to apply for an alternative driver’s license. She lived 12 years in a country unable to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

In our diocese there are many parishioners like Alejandra who live in fear, victims of our failure to act on their behalf. During this Easter Season may we, like the first disciples, come back to life, more aware of the fear and sufferings of the people around us, and more courageous in acting to bring them the Good News of welcome and family unity.

Sister Veronica Roche, SSJ, now retired, served for many years as pastoral associate at Saint Joseph Pro-Cathedral Parish, Camden.