New Orleans Shared Parishes Mobilizing Resistance to ICE Enforcement
Presentation by Dr. Sue Weishar, Parish Volunteer and Chairperson of El Pueblo Mississippi; former Policy and Research Fellow, Jesuit Social Research Institute, Loyola University, New Orleans, LA. Center for Migration Studies, March 13 2025 (edited transcript).
A shared parish is one that offers liturgies and services in multiple languages and cultural contexts. Nationally, about 30% of U.S. parishes fit this category, often serving both English- and Spanish-speaking communities. Given the recent escalation of deportation efforts, our response has had to evolve rapidly.
Who is Organizing These Efforts? The newly formed social justice committees at these two parishes are leading the initiative. These committees, created within the past year, include both Latino and Anglo parishioners and operate bilingually. The pastors of both parishes are deeply involved and supportive, as they are closely connected with their immigrant parishioners. As the coordinator, I bring experience from teaching ESL at both parishes, allowing me to bridge connections between immigrant and Anglo members.
Why Are We Doing This? Our actions are rooted in faith. As Christians, we believe in the unity of the Body of Christ: when one part suffers, all suffer. The current aggressive enforcement actions are dehumanizing and violate the dignity of our immigrant sisters and brothers. This situation mirrors past injustices, such as child separation at the border, which the American public successfully resisted. We believe that, as citizens of a democracy, we have the power to stop these abuses.
Our Action Plan Our immediate focus is on education, protection, and solidarity. We have conducted “Know Your Rights” workshops in partnership with Loyola Law School, led by Professor Hiroko Kusuda and retired law professor Bill Quigley. These workshops ensure that immigrant parishioners understand their rights, reducing ICE’s ability to exploit fear and misinformation.
Beyond education, we are developing safety and solidarity plans for three key scenarios:
- ICE Entering the Church During Spanish Mass
- A protocol has been established involving the priest, ushers, and a parish response team.
- The priest will act as the spokesperson, instructing the congregation to remain calm and asserting their legal rights.
- A Solidarity Rapid Response Team, consisting of documented parishioners, will arrive with rosaries, signs, and cell phones to document events and alert the media.
- ICE Waiting Outside the Church
- A protocol similar to the above, with an emphasis on safely escorting parishioners to their vehicles.
- Community members may patrol the surrounding area during Spanish Mass to ensure safety.
- If ICE presence is detected, the Solidarity Rapid Response Team will gather outside the church peacefully.
- ICE Conducting Enforcement at Homes or Workplaces
- A dedicated hotline is being set up for parishioners to report ICE actions.
- A contracted bilingual operator will verify the caller’s connection to the parish and then activate a response team.
- The team will arrive to provide prayerful, visible solidarity, notify media outlets, and ensure any legal support needed.
Future Plans Once our safety plans are fully operational, we will shift our focus toward advocacy. This includes:
- Expanding our solidarity networks by inviting Anglo parishioners from other churches to join.
- Helping additional shared parishes develop response plans.
- Exploring legal support options for immediate response to ICE detentions, including securing attorneys and bond funding.
- Engaging with legislators to oppose mass deportations and support humane immigration policies.
Conclusion Inspired by Pope Francis, we are committed to keeping our hearts open, forging bonds of unity, and advocating for justice. Together, through faith and action, we can resist the injustices targeting our immigrant brothers and sisters. Amen.