Kansas City leaders have moral imperative to protect the vulnerable from ICE | Opinion

On behalf of all faith institutions and the community we serve in the Kansas City metropolitan area, I am writing with deep concern, prayerful reflection and moral responsibility regarding the presence and actions of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency within our region.

As a recognized community leader, I am guided by sacred teachings that compel us to uphold human dignity. Many of the individuals and families impacted by immigration enforcement are active members of congregations, workplaces, schools and neighborhoods. They are parents, children, older adults and workers who contribute meaningfully to the social and economic fabric of Kansas City. Interestingly, ICE agents are parents, members of congregations, kids go to schools and care for their elders. With so much in common, why is it so apparent that compassion and empathy is sorely lacking?

I respectfully urge that immigration enforcement efforts be carried out with transparency, restraint and profound respect for human life. We might be a different color. We might have a different nationality. Yet, we are all human beings. To note, I am increasingly concerned by the recent statements and suggestions given by local leaders.

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II wrote in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and acting ICE Director Tom Lyons: “Since Day 1, this administration has fractured communities with ICE raids and severed families with hundreds of thousands of deportations, sweeping up legal residents and American citizens in the process. While we believe strongly in an orderly immigration system, Kansas Citians and I do not want to see the stench of these extreme mass deportation policies centralized in Kansas City.”

Missouri state Rep. Mark Sharp of District 37 shares these guiding principles:

“If you encounter ICE activity: Please exercise extreme caution. If you choose to observe or protest, do so peacefully. Do not escalate already tense situations. If instructed to do something, cooperate.

“How these encounters unfold often determines whether someone goes home safely at the end of the day. My message is simple: be smart, be safe and make it home to your loved ones.

State Rep. Anthony Ealy Jr. of District 36 wrote: “No matter where you stand politically, this is about our community. I grew up here and the people impacted by these actions are our neighbors, classmates, coworkers and family members. We should all understand what’s happening, know our rights and make sure we don’t lose our sense of humanity in the process.”

In 1982, the rap group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five wrote a song titled “The Message,” which includes these lyrics: “Don’t push me, ‘cause I’m close to the edge/I’m trying not to lose my head/It’s like a jungle sometimes/It makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under”

ICE’s practices and policies have people on edge.

Also, in 1982, the Supreme Court ruled that all children residing in the United States have a right to attend public schools, regardless of their immigration status. I applaud Dr. David Buck and the Lee’s Summit School Board for their clear commitment to students and communities — namely how board policies determine how the district manages requests from law enforcement regarding its students.

Let me be clear: I have stood firmly against practices that undermine trust between community members and public agencies as a lead organizer of the initiative fitly called Getting To The Heart of The Matter.

On this day, I call for increased dialogue among faith leaders, community organizations and immigration authorities to ensure that enforcement policies reflect both the rule of law and the moral imperative to protect the vulnerable. We also ask that places of worship continue to be respected as spaces of refuge, prayer and peace.

Kansas City has long been strengthened by the diversity of its people. We offer our prayers for wisdom, mercy and understanding for all involved, and we remain committed to advocating for policies that uphold dignity, unity and hope.

Darron LaMonte Edwards is lead pastor of United Believers Community Church in Kansas City.