Stretch Goal- Housing for Ana (description below)

Consistent with the Unitarian Universalist principles affirming the inherent worth and dignity of every person with justice, equity, and compassion in human relations, and the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; we declare ourselves as a Sanctuary Congregation in alignment with the Iowa Sanctuary Movement.

In July, 2020 a person from Central America seeking asylum in the United States was released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention and arrived in the Quad Cities. The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) arranged for the asylum seeker to be released, with the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities (UUCQC) as their sponsor.

It is legal to enter this country to seek asylum, but in recent years many black and brown asylum seekers have been removed from the United States while awaiting decisions on their cases. Others have been locked in detention centers where they have little or no access to legal or other help and are now in danger of contracting Covid-19.

Support during the legal process, which is expected to take a year or more, is being provided by the Sanctuary Project of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation and the Quad Cities Sanctuary Coalition. This person is living with a member family of the Congregation, so current housing costs are covered. All other needs and legal fees are being provided through community fundraising. The asylum seeker is taking the opportunity to learn English and how to navigate in this new culture.

It is estimated that supporting one person for a year will cost $10,000, of which at least $5,000 is for legal fees. Due to more ICE appointments than initially anticipated, transportation costs for each 350 mile round-trip appointment have increased our funding needs by at least $2,000.

Please join us opening your heart in the support of our guest asylum seeker by making a donation today.

Stretch Goals