Florida Campus Police & ICE, Columbia Activist Released from Detention, Chinese Students Deported, Detained and Afraid
Rev. William Barber is Arrested, ProPublica Tracks Civil Rights Rollbacks
Friends! Psalm 139 says that God is with us wherever we are. So please know that you are not alone. And for the many who are fearful, uncertain, yet clinging to hope and faith, may you be encouraged by His promises that never fail. If you need a concrete reminder of that, please join us next Friday at 12pm for our session on how to meet the needs of those vulnerable to detainment, detention and deportation – especially students.
Here are 5 things we believe are worth your time:
SCRIPTURE AND PRAYER
Reverend Barber is Arrested at the Capitol
Reverend William Barber is the leader of the Poor People’s Campaign, founder of the Repairers of the Breach, and Moral Mondays. He was arrested alongside Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and others at the US Capitol this week. I encourage you to hear his words, prayers and intercession. There is a reason that “prophetic, moral witness” has power and this is what that looks like. I pray that these words ground, empower and embolden you to love your friends and enemies deeply. “Hope begins when you and me decide not to believe the lies that we have been told.”
STATISTICS
ProPublica’s Report on Education Cuts
The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has closed investigations into abuses against Black students in California and Native Americans in South Dakota. These are just two mentioned by ProPublica as more than 90% of civil rights cases brought were dismissed without inquiry in March and April. They are closing offices and firing lawyers and with their remaining staff they are targeting the LGBTQIA+ community. The OCR has abandoned its traditional focus on protecting students from discrimination based on disability, race, and gender. Instead, it is now prioritizing cases aligned with Trump administration goals, such as limiting the rights of transgender students, ending diversity initiatives, and investigating alleged discrimination against White students. We pray for the many students, parents, friends and advocates that are fearful, anxious and uncertain in this season and that truth-tellers and justice seekers would prevail.
STORIES
Florida Campus Police Commit to Partner with ICE
Fear and uncertainty for vulnerable populations reached new levels in Florida as 15 universities want agreements with ICE to enforce immigration policies. Three have already agreed, most state government officials are in support, and this leaves many students and university officials very concerned. This is especially problematic as “the arrest of Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, an American citizen who was detained earlier this month and falsely accused of illegally entering Florida as an “unauthorized alien” was widely publicized. I, like so many, know and believe that there must be a better way to build, have and keep thriving communities.
Mohsen Mahdawi is released from detention
Mohsen Mahdawi is a legal resident of the United States and a judge sided with him to ensure that he cannot be detained or deported for exercising his rights to free speech. Mohsen, like so many international students are leveraging their voices, at great risk to their safety and future, in the fight against the occupation of Palestine and genocide in Gaza. The United States is arguing that his protests stoked antisemitism and oppose US foreign policy. Yet, this is not a crime, nor has he been charged with one. We rejoice that Mahdawi is no longer in prison, pray for his continued freedom to study and speak his mind, and long for all political prisoners held in detention unjustly to be released.
Chinese Students Interrogated, Deported and Afraid
US border authorities are increasingly denying entry and deporting Chinese students and researchers, causing significant disruption to scientific work and raising concerns about discrimination and the future of US-China academic cooperation. Ethnically Chinese scientists in the US report feeling increasingly unwelcome, with one professor noting, “This is really the first time I’ve thought, OK, you’re an American but you’re not exactly an American.” The reasons for refusals are often unclear, and scrutiny has broadened to fields like medical sciences and students have been banned from re-entering the US for five years. I pray that vital work is not disrupted, students are able to complete their work, and these points of conflict don’t lead to more strife, division and violence.
Last week, I wrote about singing to my daughters. “Talitha-Cumi” is a simple song that reminds us that Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead. We serve a God that specializes in doing impossible things. I hope that the reality that Our God specializes in the impossible gives you profound trust in Him as we pray for and press into places that feel so overwhelming and hard.
In Christ and for His Glory,
jonathan
