North Andover Church Joins in Sanctuary City Network

LOWELL, MA -- The pastor of a North Andover church was one of 20 clergy from different Faith's who met at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Lowell on Tuesday and vowed to help undocumented immigrants, according to The Sun.

Lee Bluemel of the North Parish Unitarian Universalist of North Andover was one of about 20 clergy from area parishes and a synagogue who formally announced the formation of the Merrimack Valley Sanctuary Network, through which they plan to offer shelter, needed supplies, or services to undocumented immigrants who are threatened with deportation, The Sun reports.

According to a press release the network is meant to protect undocumented immigrants from what organizers describe as an unjust policy of mass deportation.

"We offer shelter and protection to those families who are in immediate danger within our community and we ask those who have nothing to fear to stand with us in helping them," the release states.

A sanctuary city is a designation given to a community that limits its cooperation with the government to help protect people who are in this country illegally and want to avoid deportation to their native countries.

President Donald Trump has threatened to cut sanctuary cities' funding as part of his campaign promises to crack down on illegal immigration, but a federal judge on Tuesday blocked any attempt by the administration to withhold such funding.

Those who favor the president's stance on immigration reform claim sanctuary city policies endanger public safety and possibly national security by blocking federal immigration officials.

Other clergy who joined the MVSN include : Rev. Peter Lovett, senior minister at the United Church of Christ (UCC), Rev. Joan MacPherson of Main Street Congregational United Church of Christ in Amesbury, Cantor Vera Broekhuysen of Temple Emanu-El in Haverhill, the Rev. Carlos Ubina of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Lawrence, Rev. Frank Clarkson, Universalist Unitarian Church of Haverhill, and Rev. Ruth Richards, associate pastor, Christ Church United Lowell.

For more on this story read The Sun.