Deportation Defense Response Team requests help with legal funding and expertise, offers webinar

The Deportation Defense Response Team, an initiative of Church of the Brethren districts, has received many requests for legal expertise and funding to support immigrants in local communities. Legal services for vulnerable neighbors will ensure these individuals are advocated for and their rights are protected. The team is requesting help with legal funding and expertise from Church of the Brethren members and congregations.

Also, the team is planning a series of online events, see more information below.

Requests of church members and congregations

The Deportation Defense Response Team is recognizing a great need for vulnerable church members and neighbors, and is reaching out with two requests:

Congregations are requested to respond through special offerings or other fundraising. Gifts can be sent to the team through the Atlantic Southeast District office. The team will distribute donations to members of the Church of the Brethren who are facing immigration challenges and are in need of legal support. For more information contact atlanticsoutheastcob@gmail.com
The team wishes to connect with any Church of the Brethren lawyer with willingness to help fellow church members navigate immigration forms and situations, and wishes to connect with people who are not lawyers but who are familiar with immigration law, forms, etc. This involvement may range from consultation to representation, pro bono or at reduced cost. Recognizing that some lawyers with willingness to help may not be familiar with immigration law, the team is seeking to organize a legal orientation session for lawyers who want to help. Contact migrantjustice@onearthpeace.org

The team’s hope through these communal efforts as a church body is to offer one way we may “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8).

Online events

Today, Friday, May 30, at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern time), a webinar with updates on immigration law from a lawyer will be held primarily in Haitian Creole and Spanish at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82030877284?pwd=pvb0fJ8K1F8ioyQpwIPHKd8zi1Mmey.1; for more information contact ddrcobcoordinator@gmail.com.

A weekly Zoom prayer meeting to pray for immigrants who are detained, for those at risk of detention and deportation, and for all who are supporting them, is planned for Thursdays at 12 noon (Eastern time). The team invites participants to bring stories, experiences, questions, concerns, prayers, poems, and liturgy to share. Go to https://www.onearthpeace.org/2025_06_05_prayer_gathering_for_immigrant_justice_20250605

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