Thursday, November 3, 2022 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Anderson Hall
Come early for coffee & donuts and stay for a Meet-and-Greet.
Catholic Social Teaching
The Most Reverend Eduardo Nevares Auxiliary Bishop Diocese of Phoenix
“How are you?”
Sister Norma Pimentel Executive Director, Catholic Charities, Rio Grande Valley (video)
Adults
Rich Leveille Holy Cross Visitor at Florence Detention Center
Children in Mesa
Sister Nancy Wellmeier, Sisters of School of Notre Dame de Namur
Their Stories: Working and Studying While Living in Fear of Detention and Deportation
Jose Patiño
M.Ed., Director, Education and External Affairs, Aliento
Daniela Chavira
3rd Year GMU Psychology
Maria Benitez
1st Year ASU Kinesiology
Angel Palazuelos
3rd Year ASU Biomedical Engineering
A Justice and Peace Ministry Story: OBSERVING IMMIGRATION DETENTION COURT
In July 2018, a one-year-old named Johan, along with his case worker, showed up in Immigration Court in Phoenix, drinking a bottle of milk and playing with a purple ball as he waited for the judge. Another Holy Cross parishioner and I set out right away to observe immigration court. She was confident, having helped another parishioner win release from detention, while I felt intimidated entering the courts housed in prisons in Florence and Eloy. We saw no babies in court, but one case deeply affected each of us as we were aware of men in our community who were arrested, detained, and deported,leaving behind grieving families, such as the family blocked out in this picture with me.The defendant that day had worked here 25 years. His three adult children and their mother joined us on the bench at the back of the courtroom. As soon as they saw their father, the children started sniffling, as did we. The decision was to deport him on the next available bus. We were the last ones allowed to leave, and were not able to catch up with the family to have them get word to their father to go to the Kino Border Initiative as soon as he arrived in Nogales, Sonora.
In five days that summer, I saw hearings for 26 immigrants. The defendants sat in profile and never looked our way, but as they were escorted out they always acknowledged our presence with a slight nod or brief smile. I don’t have the words to describe that moment of connection. Immigration attorneys tell me that observing immigration detention court not only helps the migrants feel that someone cares, but also helps the process. – Pat Stoneburner
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