Undocumented Immigrant Seeks Sanctuary from Deportation in W. Kensington Church
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- An undocumented immigrant from Honduras has moved into a West Kensington church for sanctuary purposes, hoping that US immigration officials will lift a final deportation order and allow her to stay in this country with her family.
Angela Navarro, 27, has a husband and two children, ages 9 and 11, all of whom are US citizens. But she is not. She is hoping that action promised by President Obama will keep her from being sent back to Honduras.
Obama has recently expressed exasperation with Congress for failing to take action to fix the US' immigration policy, which he and other politicians have acknowledged is "broken." He says he is ready to take action on the issue via executive order if Congress fails to act in a timely fashion.
Today, a vigil was held at the church on Navarro's behalf.
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Under a banner that read "Sanctuary Not Deportation," supporters gathered at the Norris Square United Presbyterian Church for song and prayer.
They are calling for an end to deportations such as Navarro's. She had been given a final deportation order and says she fears daily that she will be sent back to Honduras.
Through an interpreter, Navarro said she is hoping she and all others facing deportation get to stay in this country:
"Please end all, not just some, deportations, and please stop with the constant fear that Immigration can come arrest us and deport us."
