Our friend and leader Hilda Ramirez has received a letter from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The letter says she owes the government $303,620 for "willfully" failing to leave the United States. ICE is intimidating and psychologically abusing Hilda and her son Ivan who have taken sanctuary at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas. They are reviving a McCarthy era law that has never been used like this. Others taking sanctuary have received similar letters, and it appears ICE is setting the groundwork to justify raiding churches. It will take more resources than we currently have to fight this injustice. Please help us by donating to our campaign.
The Austin Sanctuary Network is building a national information campaign and a legal strategy to fight these absurd fines and to help keep churches safe from punitive action by ICE. We’re working with immigration attorneys and lawmakers across the country to stop this abuse, and ASN members will travel to Washington DC to build support. We need donations to fund both the legal fight and the lobbying effort.
Will you help? Hilda is determined to fight for justice for those who live and work in our communities under the threat of deportation. She wants her human rights to be respected and needs freedom for herself and her son!