Catholic Sisters and Friends Stand with Migrants at Delaney Hall
On October 22, members of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace (CSJP) and Peace Ministries joined a prayerful public witness outside Delaney Hall, the private for-profit immigrant detention center in Newark. The prayer service was organized by One Church, One Family, a nationwide movement of U.S. Catholics calling people of faith to publicly demonstrate solidarity with migrant families, asylum seekers and refugees. The Delaney Hall prayer vigil was one of more than 50 such events taking place in 22 states.
“As Catholics and people of deep faith, we reject the culture of fear and silence that dehumanizes, and we choose instead to stand with migrants,” said Sister Bethany Welch, Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Coordinator for the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. “We have participation committed from several parishes, religious communities and their sponsored ministries, clergy, and local organizations.”
“Delaney Hall houses more than 1,000 of our migrant brothers and sisters awaiting due process and review of their civil legal status,” said Sister Susan Francois, Assistant Congregation Leader. “Delaney is run by GEO corporation under a 15-year $1 billion contract with the federal government. I regularly volunteer during visiting hours to provide support to family members trying to visit their loved ones. Just this past Sunday, I met a woman who was trying to locate her husband. The ICE website stated he was at Delaney Hall, but the guards told her he was not on their list. She was stuck standing outside the gates, in tears out of concern for her husband, desperate to know that he was safe. It was heartbreaking.”
Family members are only allowed to visit loved ones in detention during limited visitation hours on the weekend, holidays, and Tuesday and Thursday evenings. “Visitors are forced to wait outside on an active driveway for hours at a time and in all sorts of weather, including thunderstorms,” said Kathy O’Leary from Pax Christi New Jersey. “Delaney Hall does not provide an indoor waiting area, but volunteers are there each visiting day with chairs, umbrellas, blankets, refreshments, and toys for the kids. We continue to reach out to GEO and legislators to demand a safe indoor waiting area for visitors. Winter is coming, and we are worried for their safety.”
“By our presence outside Delaney Hall on October 22, we add our prayerful support to the families and our brothers and sisters in detention,” said Marselys Lucero, the CSJP Director of Peace through Justice, who helped organize the event. “Together, our voices send a powerful message in defense of the dignity of our neighbors, family members, fellow parishioners, classmates, coworkers and friends.”
More than 150 people attended the vigil, including Bishops Manuel Cruz and Gregory Studerus from the Archdiocese of Newark, as well as members of the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell, Jesuits East, Maryknoll Sisters, Newark Abbey, Sisters of Charity of New York, Sisters of Christian Charity, Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia, Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, and the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
