That day, she used her sermon to pave the way for their journey together. “Let’s honor their right to have this case heard and a decision based on the merits because then it would be very clear, as it has to the community, that he has a right to stay.”. Turner ended her sermon Sunday by telling listeners that though they are weary of fighting immigration authorities, they are not weary of caring for the Garcia family and standing together against injustice. Keach is a friend of Rev. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. On Monday, he will have lived the last three of those years inside Christ Church United Church of Christ. Relationships. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com, Carly Garcia, wife of Honduran immigrant Alex Garcia, and Rebecca Turner, pastor at Christ Church UCC in Maplewood, communicate with local officials who tried but who were denied by the office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in downtown St. Louis to file a renewed request to stay his deportation on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2019, at City Hall. With the help of immigration attorneys, Garcia was twice granted a one-year reprieve to stay in the country. Garcia is one of about 45 undocumented immigrants living in sanctuary in U.S. churches, based on a 2011 ICE policy designating “sensitive locations” where officials would not likely enforce immigration laws. quotes, But the request was denied by ICE’s regional office, which said Garcia “exhausted his due process.”. John said officials won’t even consider the Garcias’ request on the merits, and are simply denying them a chance to submit an application for a temporary stay. It's immoral, it's unjust, it's un-American,” Sara John, program coordinator at St. Louis Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America, or IFCLA, who speaks at a rally and news conference in support of Honduran immigrant Alex Garcia, before the office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in downtown St. Louis denied a renewed request by local officials to stay his deportation on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2019, at City Hall. We have no records of past relationships for Alex Garcia.. About. Photo by Hillary Levin, hlevin@post-dispatch.com, "We made a commitment to this family and we will take care of them. Reporter covering breaking news and crime by night. But in 2017, under a new presidential administration, his third request was denied. Christ Church Pastor Rebecca Turner used her sermon to tell how the fight began and how it will continue. Already a subscriber? AriannaLee, 4, soaks up the final minutes of a weekend family visit, snuggling with her dad Alex Garcia while watching cartoons on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, at Christ Church in Maplewood. Alex Garcia is a 38 year old Spanish Actor. to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. “I asked you the question, ‘How will we know what God wants us to do?’” Turner said. Garcia, a refugee and father from Honduras has been living in sanctuary at a Maplewood church since 2017. Three years ago, she had just become the congregation’s full-time permanent pastor, she recalled. Login Log in or Activate your account. Help keep Alex Garcia profile up to date. “It’s been exhausting,” John said. Log in or Activate your account. Now I think sanctuary describes who we are much more than what we do.”. A construction worker from Honduras, Garcia, 38, crossed into the U.S. after fleeing crime and poverty in his hometown in 2004. Photo by Hillary Levin, hlevin@post-dispatch.com, From left, Carly Garcia, Alex Garcia, and Sara John, executive director of St. Louis IFCLA (Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America) laugh over Alex correcting a reporter asking about his age at a press conference, Friday, July 12, 2019, at Christ Church United Church of Christ, the Maplewood church that has given him sanctuary since 2017. Michele Munz is a health reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay on Friday introduced legislation that he said could free Garcia, a Honduran refugee. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com, From left, Christ Church United Church of Christ Rev. Becky Turner, who sits with children dressed as the nativity scene during mass on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, at Christ Church in Maplewood. In February, Greenberg, pastors at Christ United, and St. Louis aldermen Annie Rice and Megan Green applied to the St. Louis office for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security discretion that would allow Garcia to take steps toward legal citizenship. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com, Rebecca Turner, pastor at Christ Church UCC in Maplewood, speaks at a rally and press conference in support of Honduran immigrant Alex Garcia, before the office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in downtown St. Louis denied a renewed request by local officials to stay his deportation on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2019, at City Hall. Alex Garcia, a refugee and father from Honduras has been living in sanctuary at a Maplewood church since 2017. Meanwhile, advocates, including Clay and Greenberg, and even Poplar Bluff neighbors who consider themselves supporters of President Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies, have fought to keep Garcia in the U.S. A bill introduced last year by Clay would change Garcia’s immigration status to permanent legal resident and would rescind all orders of removal.
Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com, Carly Garcia, the wife of Honduran immigrant Alex Garcia, wipes away tears upon hearing to the office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in downtown St. Louis denied a renewed request by local officials to stay the deportation of husband, during a rally for support on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2019, at City Hall. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com, Carly Garcia, the wife of Honduran immigrant Alex Garcia, wipes away tears after hearing the office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement denied a renewed request by local officials to stay the deportation of her husband. “We’re praying that this will be the year that we will win,” John said. Garcia, a refugee and father from Honduras has been living in sanctuary at a Maplewood church since 2017. Honduran immigrant and father marks three years of sanctuary in Maplewood church. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com, AriannaLee, 4, Maddux,11, and Xander Garcia ,6, listen to Rev.