Faith-based community in San Diego create ministry to support migrants

SAN DIEGO (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - As the Trump administration continues its immigration crackdown, more people are stepping up to help.

Asylum-seeking immigrants will get some new allies to help them ward off ICE agents carrying out mass deportations.

The latest effort comes from members of the faith-based community, including the Catholic Diocese. They are rolling out a program for a ministry called "FAITH," which stands for "faithful accompaniment in trust and hope."

A blessing, at the San Diego Diocese's Pastoral Center, for the roughly 50 volunteers supporting asylum seekers during their immigration hearings.

Linda Wagner felt compelled to volunteer saying, "I'm hoping to make it less scary. If it was a migrant standing with a judge in front of me, and ICE behind me, I would want someone somewhere to stand with me."

The new FAITH ministry is all part of an effort to make sure migrants know they're not alone.

"Asylum seekers and families came to this country legally. There was due process. There were policies in place that allowed them to come here," said Dinora Reyna with the San Diego Organizing Project, "Quite frankly, [it's] just immoral for agents to make their own decision about this and take people away without any type of repercussion. So, seeing those contradictions was heartbreaking."

The FAITH ministry pilot program is a continuation of what started about six weeks ago on World Refugee Day.

Faith-based leaders, along with San Diego Bishop Michael Pham, did sort of a test run in federal court on June 20. They say all cases they observed were continued and no arrests were made. They're hoping that precedent continues.

"It is important for human beings to be respected for their dignity. That's why the church teaches that we care for each other," Bishop Pham expressed.

It's personal for Pham not only because some families at the Diocese were impacted by a raid in March at an El Cajon paint company, but also because he says similar enforcement efforts are part of the reason why, as a teen, he and his family fled from Vietnam's regime.

"[They] were very oppressive, who did the same raids as what we saw here and scenes going on. That's why it takes it to another level," Pham shared.

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