Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (“IM4HI”), a group of clergy members and people of faith, currently holds daily vigils outside the Concord Immigration Courthouse, which is housed within a large privately-owned office building. The courthouse has been a site of ICE terror tactics and violations of due process, and we are compelled by our faith to provide encouragement to those who come to court in fear.  

We seek to create a comforting presence outside the courthouse, by offering non-denominational support, informational resources, food and compassion to families attending immigration court. These actions of hospitality and welcome are core expressions of our faith.

Despite our efforts to explain our purpose to them, building security has consistently interfered with our vigil presence.  These actions have denied immigrants a neutral space to receive information and human compassion, and instead have created a hostile zone for immigrants and vigil members alike.  

Building security’s actions violate our rights to free expression and to practice our faith outside the courthouse. 

Preventing clergy members, people of faith, and other concerned community members from providing support and resources to immigrants attending immigration court defies our community values. As a member of the community, I stand with IM4HI and the immigrant community, who deserve a space for free expression and compassion outside what will soon be the only operational immigration court in Northern California.

I strongly urge Sierra Pacific Properties, Inc., which leases space to the federal government to operate the Concord Immigration Court, to allow IM4HI to conduct their vigil in the large publicly-accessible space outside the building and to allow IM4HI vigil members the same access to the court and building facilities as any other member of the public.  

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