Support and
solidarity has been overwhelming for Nury Chavarria, who took
sanctuary at the Iglesia de Dios Pentacostal church on July 20
rather than be deported and separated from her four dependent
children, all U.S. citizens, one with cerebral palsy.
Her courage in refusing to allow her
family to be broken apart has sparked state and national response.
Donations of food and other necessities and assistance for her
children on a go-fund-me page have been pouring in.
Just 36 hours after Chavarria began
sanctuary, a diverse crowd of over 250 from across the street and
across the state, clergy and elected officials filled the empty lot
next to the church in the Fair Haven neighborhood for a vigil and
rally. Every speaker emphasized to the Chavarria family that they
are not alone.
A common theme, reflecting the spirited
and powerful gathering, was that this is just the beginning of a new
level of unity and solidarity to end deportations and win a fair and
just immigration policy.
"I want you to know, Nury, that
New Haven is with you," said Mayor Toni Harp, who was elected
this year as president of the national African American Mayor's
Association. Calling the treatment of Chavarria and her children
"cruel and inhumane," Harp said she is "standing in
protest to work together for solutions, for justice for Nury."
"It is a foreign concept to me
that a woman who has lived in Connecticut 24 years, worked in
Connecticut, raised a family in Connecticut, must now leave
Connecticut — her home, her job and her children — to satisfy
discrimination and baseless fear in the hearts of some Americans,”
said Harp.
Mayor Harry Rilling of Norwalk, where
Chavarria and her children live, assured everyone that his city is
providing the necessary services to ensure that the children can stay
in their home, have food on the table and continue their education.
"I too, am ashamed of what our immigration laws are doing to
this wonderful woman," he said.
At one point Chavarria briefly came out
to the fence surrounding the church to express her appreciation to
everyone. "Si Se Puede," was the chant in response.
Chavarria left Guatemala 24 years ago
at age 19 seeking asylum in the U.S. She did not receive asylum but
stayed, working as a housekeeper and raising her children. She has no
criminal record, and has consistently complied with required annual
visits to the office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
When Chavarria went to ICE for her
annual check-in this year, things were different. She was denied the
usual stay of deportation and asked for further documentation. She
provided that along with communications of support from all three
members of Congress.
But the stay was not granted. Instead,
she was fitted with an ankle monitor and ordered to return to
Guatemala in two days where she would not be eligible to apply for a
visit to her children for ten years. Lawyers' appeals got no
response.
For months churches and immigrant
organizations in New Haven have been preparing for the eventuality of
unjust deportation cases. Chavarria decided not to leave her
children. Instead she sought sanctuary at the church.
As the news broke, Governor Dannel
Malloy left the capitol to visit Chavarria. Speaking to national
media in front of the church he warned, "This case stands in
stark contrast to what everyone has been told, that ICE is only
going after the 'bad guys'....The greater wrong is when the American
people are lied to about what the government is doing. Then each and
every one of our rights is damaged."
Standing next to Malloy, Chavarria's
nine year old daughter Hayley made a direct plea to President Trump
on behalf of her mother. "She’s not a criminal. She has a
positive attitude about everything. I want her to stay because I love
her so much. My message to President Trump is don’t separate my
family.”
U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and
Chris Murphy along with Rep. Rosa DeLauro also came to the church to
decry ICE's decision as unjust and to pledge to continue to seek a
stay of deportation on humanitarian grounds.
At the vigil and rally Pastor Hector
Luis Otero welcomed the crowd on behalf of his congregation. "To
feel the spirit of unity is a great honor," he said. "All
we want is for Nury to be able to continue caring for her children."
Local clergy who formed the New
Sanctuary Movement this year in the wake of Trump's immigration
policies helped prepare the rally.
Rabbi Herb Brockman of Temple Mishkan Israel called Chavarria a
hero. “Nury is not just a victim. Her courage to stand up for
justice should inspire us, for it is our justice as well as it is
hers that is at stake....It is the conscience of our nation as well
as hers that is under threat," he said
Asking everyone to look around, he concluded, "Her example
has brought our community together. Her example has demonstrated
remarkable strength and length…. She may even get to change our
laws."
Before the vigil Hayley Chavarria and other children put the
finishing touches on a giant banner provided by rePublicArt.org.
Performers led everyone in song including Las Cafeteras who were in
New Haven on tour from Los Angeles.
Around the country, threats and fear of mass deportations are
rising. The movement around Chavarria takes on added significance in
this context. It is a product of the resistance to Trump along with
years of consistent grass roots organizing for immigrant and workers
rights by the Connecticut Immigrant Rights Alliance (CIRA), Unidad
Latina en Accion (ULA) and other local groups.
Kica Matos, national director of
immigrant rights and racial justice at the Center for Community
Change, lives down the street from the church and has been a leader
with Chavarria's case.
Indicating that there are 13 other
immigrants who have taken sanctuary at churches around the country,
she told local media that the case of Nury Chavarria and her four
children has received national attention because it has shocked the
conscience of most Americans.
