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We are a sanctuary diocese. Every day our congregations welcome everyone, including our neighbors who are immigrants.

We wanted to share important progress in our care for our neighbors— and ask for your prayers and action for critical work right now.  

The last year has been painful.

So many of our neighbors have been targeted by immigration enforcement.

For many years churches and other faith institutions held “sensitive sites” status from the federal government, which meant our spaces and our programs were off-limits to immigration officials. That status was revoked by the current administration in January 2025.

Since then, we’ve fought to have that protected status restored. We are meant to offer communities of safe belonging. Through this time we’ve helped our congregations navigate what safety we could provide.

Organizing matters. Our witness made a difference. 

Yesterday, we joined Governor Kathy Hochul as she signed legislation restoring sensitive sites status to houses of worship, schools, libraries, and hospitals.  

This law means all our churches have protection from intrusion by immigration enforcement.  We are sanctuary once more.

The legislation also prohibits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officers and bans law enforcement from wearing masks.

And, we still have much work to do.

Yesterday we also joined a prayer vigil at Delaney Hall, the detention center outside of Newark. We’ve visited the center several times because members of our diocesan community were detained there.

Over 300 people in immigration detention at Delaney Hall have organized a labor and hunger strike to protest basic conditions, including rotten food, lack of medical care, and unsanitary living facilities.  They’ve written letters describing their situation. We’ve seen first-hand the conditions they’re citing.

There’s significant tension. Detainees have been beaten and tear-gassed this week. Faith leaders and community organizers standing vigil outside have been attacked, too.

We can help. We're inviting the entire Diocese to join those inside the facility in a solidarity fast by contributing what you would spend on food in one day to support the families of those who are detained. (For example, if you spend $40/day on food - donate $40).

You can donate here.

Our goal is to provide 300 families with at least one day’s food.

Donations will go to family members whose lives have been devastated by having a loved one (sometimes a breadwinner) detained. The families have asked for support for groceries, rent, and other basic needs. 

You are also invited to join faith leaders in an ongoing witness at Delaney Hall. You can sign up for non-violence de-escalation training here.

Organizing matters. Our witness makes a difference.

“Jesus said, be kind to strangers.”

Someone was holding up that sign yesterday at the vigil outside Delaney Hall.

I’m grateful our clergy and congregations live that practice every day, in every region of the Diocese, to offer safe belonging for our neighbors.  

I’m also grateful to Governor Hochul for her commitment to the new protections.

Thanks to Vice-Chancellor Mary Rothwell Davis for her leadership, to Public Witness Task Force chair Anne Marie Witchger and special projects coordinator Ashley Gonzalez for organizing, to the Rev. Hank Tuell and the Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer for leadership in the witness for Delaney Hall.

Pray for neighbors detained, afraid, or separated from their families. Pray for our continued care and witness. We are sanctuary.

Grace & Peace,

The Rt. Rev. Matthew Heyd

Bishop of New York