A: You need a lot less information than you think you do! You do not need to understand the ins-and-outs of the U.S. immigration system, asylum, or deportation. You definitely do not need to know (and should not ask) anyone’s specific immigration status at your church. All you really need is a clear understanding of the church’s rights, and the rights of people inside the church. These same rights can and should be asserted whether someone is at risk or not.

A: Although there is no one process that works for every congregation, there are some steps that should apply in most cases. 

First of all, bring your request to the decision-making body of your congregation. In Episcopal Churches this will likely be the vestry, as well as the Rector/Priest. Be prepared to answer questions, and to provide educational resources and be empathetic if some members are skeptical or worried about legality. For Episcopal Churches, you can turn to both Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Episcopal Diocese of MA to emphasize that these actions are supported by the larger Church, nationally and locally.

Once a decision is made to move forward with a protocol and signage, adapt the samples here or others you find elsewhere to your specific congregation and complete your church’s regular process for new policies and procedures. Not every church will want as thorough a policy as the samples here. You may have reasons to adopt one but not all of the policies. We recommend that signage for doors be sturdier than regular paper - at least laminated, or even professionally printed to match other church signage. 

Make sure that all employees and volunteers that may be staffing the entrances are trained and comfortable with the protocol, and have a chance to ask questions. You may want to incorporate live role-playing. If you don’t have answers to their questions, you can bring them to us at Episcopal City Mission by emailing admin@ecmteam.us.

In congregational newsletters and services, include a brief announcement about the new protocol and signage and why they are being put in place. 

Check in periodically with your team, and make sure that any new staff or volunteers that join are informed as part of their on-boarding process.

While being prepared in case of ICE presence is important, the likelihood of this occurring remains low. Make sure to keep the tone calm and treat this as any other form of emergency preparedness (such as a fire) - highly unlikely but important in the off chance it ever does occur. 

A: Episcopal City Mission highly encourages every Parish to take steps to be well-informed and prepared so that churches can continue to meet their religious call to welcome the stranger and to meet the needs of the vulnerable. As houses of worship, we have a wide range of people who participate in our activities and come through our buildings. Our signs communicate clearly what we believe and value. Signage about ICE should not just be associated with places where there are people at risk, or that could be an invitation for certain communities to be targeted.

Additionally, when a critical mass of Episcopal Churches know their rights when it comes to serving the immigrant community,  it is more protective for all Episcopal Churches and especially for those who have members who may be targeted or feel vulnerable to immigration enforcement. As directed by our faith, we want all of our churches to be places of welcome. Enacting policies that help to deter interference with our call allows us to better be able to put our faith in action. If we have a reputation as a denomination that is informed and prepared, we create a larger deterrent for ICE to try raiding any Episcopal Church. Think of this as a form of emergency preparedness, similar to fire safety plans. It’s unlikely to happen, but you definitely want to be ready if it does.

A: You are only legally required to allow ICE officers into private spaces (see public/private space section below) within your building or grounds if, and only if, they have a judicial warrant signed by a judge or magistrate. This is different from an “ICE warrant” which agents may present as a “warrant” but it does not hold the same weight. See the examples provided and Click here for a step-by-step guide on validating a judicial warrant.

All staff and volunteers monitoring entry to the building can be trained to know the difference between the two documents, or you can have a central point of contact on-site who is contacted to review any “warrant” before admitting entry. Make sure that your central point of contact is a U.S. Citizen, and it’s helpful to also have an immigration attorney lined up who can be called.

Church staff members and individuals are not required to answer if ICE agents enter the congregation and ask questions. The right to remain silent always applies, and no one is obligated to answer questions from ICE. For suggested responses for your staff and volunteers, see the sample “Privacy and Information Sharing” protocols below. It is always acceptable to refuse to answer questions and clearly state, instead, “I am exercising my right to remain silent.”