Arizona UCC to provide sanctuary to immigrant family facing deportation

Update – June 26: On Wednesday, June 25, Marco Tulio was granted an order of supervision for one year by Immigration Custom Enforcement, allowing him to stay in the United States with his family.

Marco Tulio is desperately trying to stay in the United States with his wife and children. But complications with Immigration Custom Enforcement (ICE) and other aspects of the legal system make his deportation seem more likely every day. On Wednesday, June 25, advocates from the United Church of Christ and a number of immigrant rights groups will rally together in Arizona to support the Tulio family in their time of desperation by accompanying Tulio to submit one more request for a stay of removal and offering him sanctuary at Shadow Rock UCC in Phoenix.

“Marco Tulio is a human being with a beautiful family doing the best he can do,” said the Rev. Ken Heintzelman, pastor of Shadow Rock UCC. “This is the bottom line which motivates the actions of our congregation.”

Tulio previously had a stay of removal from deportation, but despite numerous attempts to apply for renewal, ICE has refused to accept his applications. On Wednesday, Tulio, joined by clergy including Heintzelman and the Rev. John Dorhauer, conference minister of the Southwest Conference of the UCC, will once again deliver a request for a stay of removal, as well as an order of supervision, which would require Tulio to check into an ICE facility once per year. After submitting his applications, Tulio will take sanctuary at Shadow Rock UCC until ICE grants him deferred action or an order of supervision, ensuring that he can remain in the United States with his family.

“We have long witnessed families unjustly torn apart by an overzealous government agency whose policies are executed with little regard for family security,” said Dorhauer. “I am proud of Shadow Rock UCC, and of the pastor the Rev. Ken Heinzelman, for showing the courage of their convictions and taking Marco Tulio into sanctuary. May it be that he finds in their loving arms the safety that America refused to offer him.”

Shadow Rock UCC was initially involved to offer assistance to other congregations that were in line to provide sanctuary to Tulio, as a sanctuary church option would improve his leverage in the case. But as options – and time – began to run out, Heintzelman felt it was his duty and responsibility to offer his church as the safe space Tulio and his family needed to ensure they could stay together.

“The offer of sanctuary is like a card the legal team has but does not want to play unless they have to,” Heintzelman said. “I understand that part of my pastoral office is to provide sanctuary as a sign of God’s mercy to whoever I discern God has brought to us.”

After much conversation, the board of Shadow Rock UCC voted unanimously on June 17 to support Heintzelman’s offer of sanctuary for Tulio, which will be recognized with a community worship service at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

“Marco’s life is caught up in the machinations of a broken system arbitrarily enforcing unjust laws created by bigotry and unfounded fears,” Heintzelman said. “The congregation of Shadow Rock United Church of Christ wants to stand between Marco Tulio and the system which would rip him away from his family, thus we offer him and his family sanctuary.

“We do not know, nor can we help, every deserving and suffering family that lives under the threat of deportation and devastation, but we do know Marco, his family, and his story,” Heintzelman continued. “We stand with him and act with compassion and justice. All other political, economic, and legal arguments and rhetoric fail in the light of this human family and their need.”