ICE agents scatter as SD Bishop Pham, other clergy visit immigration court

[j brown's body]

"Eight immigration courts line the fourth-floor hallway of the downtown Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building. On the walls: boot prints of ICE agents. But on World Refugee Day, masked immigration agents weren’t leaning against the off-white walls, waiting to grab people. They scattered Friday after seeing a clergy delegation led by Bishop-elect Michael Pham. “Like the story of Moses and Exodus, the Red Sea parted,” said observer Scott Reid of the immigrant-aiding San Diego Organizing Project. Said another observer: “We’ve never seen the hallways cleared out so quickly.” The result: Nobody was detained as immigration lawyers said would happen.

Jesuit priest Scott Santorosa, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in San Diego, briefed camera crews and other media members who weren’t allowed into the federal building. (Several reporters entered, including me, but didn’t view the court proceedings.) “Our presence made a difference,” Santorosa said, quoting an immigration lawyer saying their client was given more time to prepare for another hearing.

Pham said a government lawyer struck up a chat in the restroom. “He introduced himself to me,” Pham told reporters. “He feels conflicted with the situation. He knows his morals and his values.”"

Link

They chose first, to be humans, before being subjects.

 

[dseag2]

This is awesome!

 

[bomberfox]

"Eight immigration courts line the fourth-floor hallway of the downtown Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building. On the walls: boot prints of ICE agents. But on World Refugee Day, masked immigration agents weren’t leaning against the off-white walls, waiting to grab people. They scattered Friday after seeing a clergy delegation led by Bishop-elect Michael Pham. “Like the story of Moses and Exodus, the Red Sea parted,” said observer Scott Reid of the immigrant-aiding San Diego Organizing Project. Said another observer: “We’ve never seen the hallways cleared out so quickly.” The result: Nobody was detained as immigration lawyers said would happen.

Jesuit priest Scott Santorosa, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in San Diego, briefed camera crews and other media members who weren’t allowed into the federal building. (Several reporters entered, including me, but didn’t view the court proceedings.) “Our presence made a difference,” Santorosa said, quoting an immigration lawyer saying their client was given more time to prepare for another hearing.

Pham said a government lawyer struck up a chat in the restroom. “He introduced himself to me,” Pham told reporters. “He feels conflicted with the situation. He knows his morals and his values.”"

Link

They chose first, to be humans, before being subjects.

Woot woot!