Undocumented Man Seeks Sanctuary In Maplewood Church

MAPLEWOOD, MO — Alex Garcia, an undocumented immigrant from Honduras, fled his home country more than a decade ago, seeking work and an escape from a country wracked by drug violence and political instability. Now, he's been caught up in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Immigration and Customs Enforcement notified Garcia in September that he would be sent back to Honduras, separated from his wife and children who are American citizens.

But rather than leave the country, Garcia has taken advantage of a tradition dating back to the fifth century — claiming sanctuary in a church. Though churches in the United States don't enjoy the same legal protections as their medieval counterparts, ICE tends to avoid enforcement actions in "sensitive locations," including schools, health care facilities and places of worship.

Pastor Rebecca Turner of Maplewood's Christ Church United Church of Christ told the paper there was no way she could turn Garcia away. A new feature in the the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tells the 36-year-old construction worker's story and how he ended up at her church.

“Jesus says that when someone comes to us in need, we are to treat him as Jesus himself," Turner said. "If we don’t provide, it’s, in essence, turning Jesus away.”

Read more from the Post-Dispatch.

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