By Rev. Cameron Trimble
We’ve entered a new and sobering chapter in American life.
Recent legislation has dramatically increased the resources allocated to immigration enforcement, creating an unprecedented expansion of federal power. With over $170 billion authorized for immigration control—including significant increases to detention facilities, surveillance tools, and enforcement personnel—we’re watching a system grow whose reach is wider and deeper than anything we’ve seen before.
While this may feel abstract, its impact is not.
Many of the people who will be targeted by this system are not strangers. They are our neighbors, our coworkers, our students, and yes—our congregation members. Despite what political rhetoric suggests, a growing percentage of immigration arrests target people with no criminal history. Detention centers are being planned or expanded across the country. And we’re hearing early signs of rhetoric that justifies the dehumanization of undocumented individuals as expendable labor or security threats. These are dangerous narratives—and we’ve seen where they can lead.
As people of faith, we are not powerless in the face of this. But we are being called to clarity, compassion, and courage.
Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, writing during one of history’s most troubling eras, offered this reflection:
“The Church has an unconditional obligation to the victims of any ordering of society, even if they do not belong to the Christian community.”
That calling remains true today.
Listen to my friend and colleague, Brian McLaren, walk through the danger we face:
In times like these, our congregations can serve as vital centers of moral clarity, community resilience, and practical support. We don’t need to do everything. But we are being invited to discern what we can do—and to do it faithfully.
Five Practical Steps Congregations Can Take Now
- Partner with Local Immigrant Justice Organizations
You don’t have to start from scratch. Many excellent nonprofits are already working to provide legal aid, advocacy, and emergency support to immigrant families. Reach out, listen, and ask what your congregation can do to assist. - Educate Your Community
Host learning sessions to help your congregation understand the current laws, know the rights of immigrants and allies, and prepare to respond in ways that are both compassionate and legally informed. Invite trusted voices to guide the conversation. - Create a Rapid Response Plan
While congregational buildings may no longer offer legal protection, your people can still organize to show up. Build a phone tree, create a care team, and make sure your congregation knows how to mobilize if someone in your community is at risk of detention. - Be a Public Voice for Justice
Use your pulpit, newsletter, and social media platforms to speak clearly about your values. Let your community know you are a congregation that stands with immigrants and is prepared to accompany those at risk. - Care for the Caregivers
This work is emotionally and spiritually demanding. Build in rhythms of care, prayer, and rest for your leaders and volunteers. Sustainable resistance requires inner renewal.
This is not about taking sides. It’s about taking responsibility for the wellbeing of our communities.
It’s about remembering that when someone is afraid to pick up their child from school, or to show up to worship, or to go to the hospital for care—that is our concern.
It’s about embodying the kind of faith that doesn’t turn away when it matters most.
We at Convergence are here to help. Through our Healthy Communication and Conflict Transformation trainings, strategic consulting, and upcoming Movement Chaplaincy Training, we are equipping congregations to show up faithfully in a complicated time—with compassion, courage, and resilience.
Let’s be the kind of faith communities that people turn to—not just in belief, but in practice.
Because when people are in danger, our calling is to protect.
When systems sow fear, our calling is to root ourselves in love.
And when the moment calls for clarity, our calling is to speak—and act—with care and conviction.
Let’s find our footing together. Let’s be ready.
Here are some resources that might be helpful: