San Juan Bautista in the News: ICE Policy Sparks Fear in Tucson Congregation
A Grand Canyon Synod congregation was featured on Tucson’s KGUN 9 News as new ICE policies create fear among worshippers. San Juan Bautista Lutheran Church in Tucson has seen attendance drop sharply as concerns grow over the possibility of deportations inside churches. Read or watch the full news story and learn how congregations are responding to these unsettling developments.
A recent KGUN 9 News story has highlighted the growing fear among immigrant communities as new federal immigration policies take effect. The report focuses on San Juan Bautista Lutheran Church in South Tucson, a congregation of the Grand Canyon Synod, where ICE’s newly expanded authority to arrest individuals inside churches has deeply unsettled worshippers.
Since the executive order authorizing mass deportations was signed on January 20, Pastor Mateo Chavez has seen his congregation’s attendance decline sharply—from 80 people at the start of the year to just 41 last Sunday. “Being a Spanish-speaking congregation in South Tucson, it’s an unsettling feeling,” he shared in the interview.
For years, churches have been places of sanctuary—where people come to worship, seek refuge, and experience God’s love without fear. This new policy, which allows law enforcement to enter places of worship without traditional protections, raises profound concerns. Pastor Mateo and his congregation have posted signs reminding ICE agents that they need a warrant to enter the church, a small but significant stand in the face of uncertainty.
The Office of the Bishop has heard reports from other ELCA synods and denominations across Arizona and the Southwest that congregations are experiencing similar drops in attendance, as fear keeps families away from their places of worship. We encourage our congregations to remain steadfast in their commitment to being places of welcome and to support those who feel vulnerable in this moment.
The ELCA has long affirmed the dignity of immigrants and refugees, and this moment calls us again to action. As people of faith, we are called to love our neighbors, stand for justice, and be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. We invite you to pray for those affected, educate your congregations about their rights, and connect with organizations providing direct support.
To read or watch the full KGUN 9 News story about San Juan Bautista, visit: KGUN 9 News – “It’s unsettling”: Local pastor weighs in on potential ICE deportations in churches.
For resources on how your congregation can respond, visit ELCA Advocacy and AMMPARO Migrant Ministry, view our Church & Society blog posts, or contact the Office of the Bishop.