Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) stands in solidarity with the communities in Minnesota and across the country who are being terrorized by violence perpetrated by the federal government and ICE, and by the policies that make this harm possible. What we are witnessing is not isolated or accidental: it is the result of systems that dehumanize immigrants, criminalize Indigenous, Black, and Brown communities, and target LGBTQ+ people—especially trans and gender-diverse people—as disposable.
We name this clearly:
ICE raids, unlawful stops, arrests, and detentions, police violence, militarized policing, and the use of lethal force are acts of violence. They are moral failures. They are incompatible with the gospel and with any faith tradition that claims to honor the sacred worth of every person.
This is not about “maintaining order.”
This is about empire, as it has always done, using fear and violence to enforce a false gospel, one that sanctifies white supremacy, white Christian nationalism, and corporate power.
Our faith demands more than carefully worded concern. Our baptismal vows call us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. That includes government policies and systems designed to cause real harm.
We grieve every life lost and every life scarred by ICE enforcement and neglect in 2026, including those killed during enforcement actions, those who died while in ICE custody, and those who have survived detention, abuse, and dehumanization that amount to torture. We honor the named and the unnamed, the stories that reach national headlines and the ones never given public space. Every life taken is a sacred loss. No death is invisible to God, even when it is ignored by systems of power.
ICE is acting unlawfully and inhumanely. ICE must be held accountable, abolished, and the entire structure revisited and dismantled.
We call on:
- The church to name ICE, police violence, and unjust policies without hesitation.
- Congregations to become places of refuge, sanctuary, protection, and accompaniment.
- People of faith to show up through protest, advocacy, and community care.
- Leaders and officials to be held accountable for policies that separate families and endanger lives.
We also name that those who speak out, protest, and stand in the gap for their neighbors are increasingly being met with intimidation, surveillance, and violence in many communities. When truth-telling is punished and solidarity is treated as a threat, injustice is not only taking place—it is being prioritized and protected.
Fear within targeted communities is not weakness. It is a rational response to real and present danger. We honor the courage of those who continue to resist, organize, and survive.
The church does not exist to preserve comfort or institutional safety. It exists to tell the truth, protect the vulnerable, and confront systems that deny God’s image in any person. Silence is not neutrality; it is complicity.
This is a moment for holy courage.
This is a moment for clarity.
This is a moment to act.
RMN commits to standing with immigrants, Indigenous communities, Black communities, Brown communities, LGBTQ+ people, and all who are being targeted by systems of harm. We will continue to name injustice and work for a church and world where dignity is defended and love is made visible through action—in our churches, in our streets, and in our public witness.