This page provides updates from our church staff regarding immigration enforcement activities and resources for our community, including updates for the congregation, ways to support immigrant families in our area, contact information for our state leaders and a sample letter to email and/or mail. The work we do as a community makes a difference. Thank you!

Immigration Court
A Facebook post from August 19, 2025 by Greg Huffman
Greg serves as the lawyer for the United Methodist conference

Several weeks ago, I did something I had never done before. I went to immigration court. After some discussions with Joel Simpson and Darryl Dayson, both United Methodist clergy, and some discussions with other interested groups, we started talking about what it would mean for clergy to journey with immigrants that had court hearings at immigration court and go with them for prayer, support, and presence. This is called accompaniment. More basically, we talked about simply watching immigration hearings to be a witness and presence in the courtroom. This is called monitoring or courtwatch.

How does the immigration system work? How fair is it? Is the Anglo controlled, English only checking the box system really just or fair? So we picked a day and went. This was all in a swirl of some advocacy groups who serve our immigrant population putting together similar efforts.

Here is what we found and experienced:
1. There is one US immigration court in North Carolina and it serves both all of South Carolina and North Carolina. Do that math.

2. The court facility is not its own building. It is on the 4th floor of an older office building in east Charlotte. Not in good repair, not well maintained. There is one small lobby with 4 small court rooms with limited seating. If you are a lawyer that goes to federal district courts, it is 180 degrees from that sort of facility. It is a testament to how much importance our government places on the immigrant community and their importance. That is true no matter what party you align with. It's wholly inadequate and pathetic from a facility standpoint.

3. Joel and Darryl are UMC clergy. They wore blacks shirts, collars crosses and stoles. The reaction of security and court staff was kind of like how vampires react to garlic and sunlight. We were not welcome.

4. Court starts at 8am. We got there around 7:45 am.

5. All courts in our country are open to the public. Let's be very clear about that. You can walk in to any state or federal district court house in the country, comply with their security requirements at the metal detectors (i.e., no weapons, keep your phones off/or no phones, show your drivers license, etc.), and you get in. Not what happened to us.

6. We were initially denied entry. Security looked at us with some shock. They said we could not enter the court area of the 4th floor. We were told only people with cases on the docket and their family could enter. That is, politely, totally and completely wrong. Courts are open to the public in the United States. Turns out that DHS/DOJ apparently contracts with a private security contractor called Paladin Security. After some debate about courts being public and open, the security did let us through. This is not normal. They did not want us coming in.

7. After the debate, security told us we had to check in with the "filing window". The filing window is basically a person sitting behind a glass window and they serve like a clerk, clocking in court filings for lawyers and immigrants as the come in. It is not normal for the public to be required to "check in" with the filing window. But we did, no need to keep rocking boats.

8. The clerk at the filing window, his eyes kind of bugged out when he saw clergy. We explained we were there to observe hearings. He said, "Stay here". He left and went back into the operational offices. After a 5 or 10 minute wait, he returned and made us give him our names. That's not normal. You don't have to do that. You do not give your name to any security guard or court clerk in any other court in the US. None. Not federal court, not state court. No court run by a judicial branch of government. But that day, to get into immigration court which is run by the executive branch , we did, we gave DOJ our names. He typed our names into his computer and said "Go to Courtroom 3 and no where else".

9. After a quick huddle, we noticed all the courtroom doors were wide open. We could see various hearings going on. But we complied and went to Ct Room 3. It was empty save one Hispanic female. She didn't speak English but apparently thought she had a hearing in that room.

10. We noticed that all the dockets for the day were posted on the wall outside of courtroom 3. There were a ton of cases to hear. But after 15 minutes of waiting in the empty courtroom, Joel adroitly noticed there were no cases set for Courtroom 3 until 1pm. It was 8:30am. We had been intentionally directed to a room with no hearings to cool our jets.

11. We digested that for a couple minutes. Joel and Darryl helped the lady in our room understand she was probably in the wrong room. She started to cry realizing she might be missing her hearing. She left and we hope she found the right room. She was alone. No lawyer, no help. And we didn't speak Spanish.

12. So, we decided to get up without permission and go into other courtrooms to watch hearings. We watched "Master Calendar Hearings." These are hearings that are often like "first appearances" in criminal court. The respondent has received a notice to appear in immigration court. The notice contains certain factual allegations like "You entered the US from Mexico", "You entered on December 13, 2023", "You entered at Eagle Pass, TX", "You entered without permission from a US Border Agent".

13. Immigration judges are not neutral players. They work for USDOJ. Very unlike the civil and criminal court system. The judge would read (by translator) the allegations in the notice to the respondent and ask them to admit or deny the allegation. In civil or criminal court, the plaintiff or prosecutor has the burden of proof, but not so much here. The immigrants would routinely admit the allegations. None of them had lawyers.

14. The import of admitting that you entered the US within the last 2 years without permission means you are subject to expedited removal without any judicial process. ICE can pick you up tomorrow, throw you in detention , put on a plane to where ever they want, and you are gone. No matter if you have kids, a job, a house, a spouse, a life. Gone.

15. The judges could not take their eyes of Joel and Darryl. They were fixated. Gazes kept coming back to them in their collars, crosses and stoles. I don't think the judges liked it. But, immigrants looked at them to not quite knowing what to make of them.
16. We had heard from other advocacy groups in other states that one refrain they heard over and over from immigrants at court was "Dónde están los sacerdotes?!?!" Where are the priests?!?! In their countries which have seen political and social violence and repression and fascism, the priests are always out front protecting the people.

17. We stayed a couple hours and left. ICE wasn't there arresting people that day.

18. My takeaways were this: a) DHS and DOJ do not want the public, particularly clergy, coming into the immigration courts; b) they are training security and staff to obstruct entry and to be obstructive generally; c) Clergy presence matters and makes a tremendous impact, just simple visible presence; d) you as a citizen should go and watch but know your name will be entered into a database and very likely your face will be scanned into a new facial recognition system that is up on the wall in the left hand corner by the filing window. It is a horrible system and a shamefully horrible and unfair system. I don't think that is anything new but it has been made worse.

I've been a lawyer for almost 30 years. I've never seen a more unfair, slanted system in my life. There is no way someone with limited English can navigate it without a lawyer. None. And lawyers are too expensive for these people in almost every case. I'm ashamed to say it took me more than 50 years to go see what happens at immigration court. But, you should go. See for yourself.

July 27, 2025

Lunch & Learn with Mr. Jeremy McKinney, Attorney At Law, McKinney Immigration Law

Jeremy L. McKinney is a North Carolina Board Certified Immigration Law Specialist and founder of McKinney Immigration Law in Greensboro. He was the 2022-2023 AILA National President, a former chair of AILA’s EOIR and ICE Liaison Committees, and currently serves on the AILA Board of Governors (BOG). He testified before Congress in both 2020 and 2023 on the need for an independent immigration court system. McKinney is a former U.S. Army Captain and trial counsel.

What Should We Do?: Preparing for an Immigration Emergency

Part One – How Did We Get Here?

1. A system stuck in the past

Congress last overhauled immigration in 1996. Since then, life, labor markets, and global migration patterns changed. The law didn’t. Attempts to reform and update our laws by Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barrack Obama both failed to get through Congress.

People who overstayed and then leave to “fix it” get slammed by three‑year, ten‑year, even permanent bars. So they don’t leave.

For millions, there isn’t a visa line to stand in. H‑2A is seasonal farm work. H‑2B is capped and “temporary.” Construction, hospitality, landscaping—year‑round industries—have nothing that actually fits.

Hundreds of thousands live in legal limbo under programs like DACA, TPS, or humanitarian parole: allowed to be here and work but blocked from any stable end point.

2. The White House chose all‑out restrictionism

I’ve practiced under Democrats and Republicans. Every president had a mix—some generous, some harsh. Until now. This administration is not just cracking down on unauthorized immigration; it is choking off lawful immigration too. If there’s a doorway, they’re nailing it shut. If there’s discretion to show mercy, they’re scrapping it.

They gutted prosecutorial discretion, moved to terminate TPS and parole programs mid‑stream, yanked deferred action from abused and abandoned kids waiting in the SIJ backlog, pushed a birthright citizenship executive order, rolled out civil fines, and argued that long‑time residents who crossed a border years ago can’t even ask a judge for bond.

3. Weaponizing harsh laws to maximize fear

Expedited removal is now nationwide: if you can’t prove two years here, an officer—not a judge—can order you out.

ICE is pushing mandatory detention arguments for anyone who entered without inspection.

Agents are showing up masked, unmarked, and grabbing people off sidewalks. The message is: be afraid.

4. Panic is the point

If parents are too scared to send kids to school or answer the door, the government “wins” without court orders. Our job is to flip that script: get informed, get organized, stay calm.

Part Two – What Should We Do?

A. Know Your Rights (for everyone)

•Do not open the door unless you see a warrant signed by a judge with the correct name and address. ICE’s own forms are not enough. Talk through the door.

•You have the right to stay silent. Give your name if state law requires. You do not have to discuss where you were born, how you entered, or your status.

•Do not sign anything you do not understand, especially anything waiving a hearing or labeled voluntary departure. Ask for a lawyer.

•Carry a small Know Your Rights card. NILC, ACLU, and others have printable cards in multiple languages. Hand them out here at church.

•If stopped in public, ask if you are free to leave. If yes, walk away calmly. If not, say you are remaining silent and want a lawyer, then stop talking.

B. Registration vs. Constitutional rights

Federal law still says most non‑citizens 18 and over must register and carry proof of that registration at all times. That means a green card, I‑94 printout, EAD, advance parole document—whatever fits your status. Carrying it does not waive your right to silence or to keep your door closed.

If an officer lawfully demands to see it, you can show it through a window or under a door without letting them in or answering extra questions.

Many clients carry a high‑quality copy and a photo on their phone, keeping the original safe at home. That’s a calculated risk; prosecutions for not carrying the original are rare, but losing the only original can be a nightmare.

Undocumented folks generally cannot “register” without self‑incrimination—talk to a lawyer before doing anything.

Everyone should still file the AR‑11 address change within ten days of moving.

Bottom line to remember and repeat: carry your papers, assert your rights.

C. Family emergency plans

•Get powers of attorney and childcare consent forms in place so a trusted adult can pick up kids and make decisions.

•Build a go‑packet: copies of passports, birth certificates, A‑numbers, medical info, proof of years in the U.S. Give copies to someone you trust.

•Line up access to money for bond or emergencies.

D. Congregational action

Here’s what a church can do right now:

•Host regular KYR workshops in English, Spanish, and other needed languages with local partners.

•Create a rapid‑response phone or text tree. Train volunteers to document safely, verify warrants, and link families to lawyers.

•Be a sanctuary in practice. Even if DHS says there are no protected areas, you can set your own access rules and require judicial warrants. Train greeters and ushers on how to respond if officers show up.

•Support real legal help and bond money. Recommend vetted options:

1.Carolina Migrant Network – NC Immigrant Bond & Legal Defense Fund

2.Siembra NC Deportation Defense/Bond Fund

3.Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy’s Immigrant Justice Program (legal services, not bond; still vital)

4.Freedom for Immigrants National Bond Fund

5.National Bail Fund Network – Immigration list (to locate vetted local funds)

6.RAICES Bond Fund

•Fight scams. Only licensed attorneys or DOJ‑accredited reps can give legal advice. Help folks verify credentials before they pay anyone.

E. Advocacy

Call and visit your representatives with concrete asks: roll back nationwide expedited removal, restore prosecutorial discretion, reinstate parole programs, stop the civil fines rule, bring back protected areas, and fund counsel for children. Faith communities carrying real stories move needle‑averse politicians.

The title of this talk was a question. The answer is: prepare, educate, stand next to people when the knock comes, and refuse to let fear do the government’s work.

July 10, 2025

Please follow this link to read important updates from Val.

A Provocation and A Confession
Bishop Ken Carter
From a Facebook post, June 16, 2025

Here goes. The few friends I might offend with this *truth* are less important than the nation I hope my daughters and granddaughters continue to live in. I am on the side of life and not death. So, naming it:

+ The police this week became the secret police in L.A.

+ The military turned on our own citizens.

+ The sad reality of the assassination of Speaker Melissa Hortman, scout volunteer and Sunday school teacher, was, and this is not easy for me to say: I was not surprised that the killer a) had attended MAGA rallies and b was active in an evangelical church. If this proves not to be the case I will retract this.

+Dehumanization, Violence and Jesus is a toxic mix.

+There is no bi-partisan response from government to this, no humane or meaningful response from elite institutions such as corporations, universities and law firms.

+Massive, multi-million person non-violent gatherings of public witness were held across the nation on Saturday. This is healthy and is protected in our *constitution*: freedom of speech, the right to assemble (first amendment).

+If this is the administration of your dreams, write about it on your own FB page and I will learn from you. I have blindspots. And if Jesus is relevant to any of this, begin with the beatitudes (Matthew 5).

+The way of the cross is non-violence, peace and the beloved community.

+Lastly, my inner work is to be less violent, more peaceful and more committed to the beloved community, even when I might prefer to detach and go it alone. I have work to do.

+So if you have read this far—-red or blue, people of faith or no faith, young or old—let’s pivot from this ugly moment in the United States. We must name the reality in order to be clear about how we live in an alternative way—do not be conformed by the world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds (Romans 12).

+All appearances to the contrary, let there be peace on earth. Let it begin with me.

May 22, 2025 

Dear Friends,

We at First UMC have been dedicated to assisting immigrants and refugees for decades—from supplying office space and resources for the Cambodian congregation to providing time, energy, and resources to so many families arriving to pursue dreams of stability as they flee war, famine, and poverty in so many regions of the world. We assist because we know that each person is a beloved child of God and deserves dignity, respect, and the possibility of abundant life.

These past days we have witnessed an increase in ICE activity that we believe violates our biblical mandate to welcome the stranger. Earlier in the week we received news that ICE had detained a father of three children, and his brother and sister-in-law. This left the three children with their mother who had just returned from surgery the day before. The 12 year old daughter is now trying to manage caregiving and running the household. We have joined with many others to provide for their immediate needs—several have covered utilities, and advocates are requesting food and Wal-Mart gift certificates. First UMC is covering their rent with funds from our Refugee Ministries account.

On Tuesday, 11 ICE vehicles pulled into the parking lot of Central UMC on Albemarle Road as the children in the bilingual preschool were about to be dismissed. The staff brought them back inside, and each parent came in one by one to retrieve their child. One car was pulled over and the person questioned for about 30 minutes, and then allowed to continue on. The intimidation tactic succeeded: a third of the children did not come back to school on Wednesday.

Our Metro District Superintendent called a clergy meeting Wednesday morning to brief us on this incident and to help us prepare for possible ICE presence on our campuses. We already have a policy in place that only the ministerial staff is allowed to speak to ICE agents, and they are not allowed in any of our private spaces—which include our parking lots, CDC, offices, etc. If they want to worship, we can ask them to leave their weapons and badges in their vehicles. If they do come in, the main requirement is that we record everything, and go on record as denying them access if they don’t have the proper documentation. We now have new signs around the building designating our campus as private space.
 
We are in some chilling times! But there are some hopeful signs: our County Commissioners decried the actions of ICE around schools and churches, and are uniting with other groups to find alternatives to this intimidation and lack of due process.

Please join with others in our denomination in contacting our elected officials and requesting their support of efforts to limit the activity of ICE agents in our county, and in our country.

Blessings,
Val

The Charlotte Observer online, By Ryan Oehrli, May 23, 2025

Methodists to ICE in Charlotte: Our churches are not your staging ground

A local Methodist conference criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement for its presence at an east Charlotte church this week. Armed agents “staged an operation” at Central United Methodist Church when preschoolers were being picked up, according to a statement from the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church.

“While no one was detained and the agents eventually departed without incident, their presence on sacred ground disrupted the peace and instilled fear among staff, children, families, and congregants,” the statement said. Carolina Migrant Network, an organization that provides legal services, notified the public about ICE’s presence there on Tuesday. At a county commission meeting that evening, Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell called on ICE to “respect sensitive locations,” including the church. A spokesperson for ICE has not commented on the agency’s presence there. The Charlotte Observer again reached out Friday morning. “ICE enforcement activity on our church property interferes with our ability to welcome the stranger, serve our neighbors, and carry out the ministries that are central to our faith,” the conference said. “Churches should not be staging grounds for law enforcement. They are sacred spaces where the hurting find healing, the hungry are fed, and families — regardless of immigration status — come seeking peace.” Conference is already suing In February, that Huntersville-based conference joined dozens of Christian and Jewish denominations in suing the federal government.

The conference “faces an imminent risk of an immigration enforcement action at its churches,” according to the lawsuit. “Several of WNCC’s congregations have a heavy percentage of immigrant members and immigrants who benefit from social service ministries — such as ESL classes, soup kitchens, food pantries, clothing pantries, mobile showers, and tutoring programs — that they provide on their church campuses.” The conference has said it joined the lawsuit not for partisan reasons but because ICE of rescinding a policy that protected churches, and put congregations “at imminent risk of ICE raids that would disrupt worship, community service, and pastoral care.”

NC Governor Josh Stein


NC Senator Thom Tillis


NC Senator Ted Budd


NC Representative Alma Adams

NC General Assembly Main Contact Information

  • General Information: (919) 733-4111

  • Website: www.ncleg.gov

NC Key Leadership Contacts

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles

Sample letter to the NC leaders; feel free to copy and/or edit

As members of the United Methodist Church in North Carolina, we write with deep concern about reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations targeting schools in our communities. We urgently request your immediate action to protect our children and preserve the sanctity of educational spaces.

Schools must remain safe havens for all children, regardless of immigration status. When ICE conducts enforcement activities at or near schools, it creates an atmosphere of fear that disrupts learning, traumatizes students, and undermines the fundamental purpose of education. Children should never fear that attending school could result in family separation.

We ask you to:

  • Publicly oppose ICE enforcement activities at schools, school bus stops, and school-sponsored events

  • Work with federal authorities to reinstate and strengthen sensitive locations policies that protect educational institutions

  • Support legislation that formally designates schools as protected spaces

  • Advocate for comprehensive immigration reform that addresses root causes of family separation

Our faith calls us to welcome the stranger and protect the vulnerable. Every child deserves to learn in an environment free from fear. We trust in your leadership to stand with our communities and ensure that North Carolina's schools remain places of safety, learning, and hope for all children.

We respectfully request a response outlining the steps you will take to address this critical issue affecting our students, families, and communities.

In faith and solidarity,