Brethren bits

— Iglesia des los Hermanos Comunidad de Fe (Church of the Brethren Community of Faith) in the Dominican Republic has sent a letter of concern about the current situation of Haitian undocumented immigrants in the DR. The letter said, in part: “Currently the mass deportation has been activated again, entering the houses in the different sectors in the city and in the provinces…. Immigration agents detain them regardless of their health status. Pregnant women are put on the truck and taken to the detention center to be deported without a doctor with them in case one has labor contractions. Women who give birth or give birth at medical centers are deported with day-old babies, many with cesarean surgery. Pastors in the faith community are calling the board asking what we can do, and we understand their concerns and afflictions.” The letter shared that in one Church of the Brethren congregation that was targeted, people had to flee to the mountains to avoid being detained by immigration agents, and in another congregation the agents entered the homes of some members “and it is really difficult.” Many members of Haitian background would like to return to Haiti but cannot because of that country’s situation with gangs and political and social instability, the letter said.

A letter of response from David Steele, general secretary of the Church of the Brethren in the US, and Sharon Brugger Norton, executive director of Global Mission, said, in part: “We are heartbroken to hear of this horrible development among the people of Haitian descent. It seems many immigration forces in the world are making people’s lives worse, not better. Attacking people who need health services and pregnant women and women with babies is unthinkable and inexcusable as we are all humans, deserving of basic dignity and respect. We stand with you in our hearts and in our prayers.”

— Brethren Disaster Ministries is encouraging church members to take action in response to an alert from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Week of Compassion calling for supportive public comments regarding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its importance in the lives of those who have suffered from disasters. Said an announcement: “In its first days in office, the administration issued Executive Order 14180 calling for an examination of the effectiveness and efficiency of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The executive order also calls for the formation of a FEMA Review Council that has recently issued a Request for Information from the public to gain a better understanding of their experiences with FEMA during disasters…. We know FEMA is not a perfect system, as no system is ever perfect…. Yet FEMA is a vital part of our nation’s disaster response and recovery efforts, and undercutting it addresses none of the challenges. Making significant cuts and realignments to FEMA beyond what has already been done and suggested by the Secretary of Homeland Security, will lead to further inefficiencies, confusion, and worse recovery outcomes for communities across the nation.” Week of Compassion recommends that: FEMA should be maintained at an operational level that ensures adequate support of local communities across multiple disasters in varied locations; FEMA should continue in its role of supporting states, territories, and tribes, and should not significantly shift funding or operations to them, which would result in vastly unequal capacities for response and recovery across the nation; FEMA should invest more in mitigation prior to disasters and as part of recovery; FEMA should establish a consistent set of response and recovery programs, funded through regular appropriations, and activated through a uniform and transparent process. Public comment is due by May 15 at www.regulations.gov/document/DHS-2025-0013-0001

The latest Messenger playlist was created by Marissa Witkovsky-Eldred of the FaithX and Brethren Volunteer Service staff. The topic is “Hope.” Go to www.brethren.org/messenger/playlists/sunshine