BY XIMENA LOEZA

CV Journalism Collaborative

Lifting their voices in song, prayer and solidarity, faith leaders from across the northern San Joaquin Valley congregated in front of a sprawling building at the end of an industrial cul-de-sac in Stockton this week. 

Over a dozen clergy members from across the Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties gathered Tuesday with community members at the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement office on San Juan Avenue in Stockton for a demonstration and prayer vigil in support of immigrant families across the Central Valley being affected by ongoing ICE raids. 

Though it was planned for two weeks, the vigil became more pressing when dozens of immigrants were detained after reporting for check-ins many considered unusual this past Saturday, a time when the office is normally closed. About 50 immigrants reported for check-ins to the center earlier that day, and roughly 24 were detained, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Stockton Pastor Trena Turner of Victory in Praise Church led chants of unity that echoed through the crowd of more than 20 people: “Solid as a rock, rooted like a tree, I am here standing strong, in my rightful place.” 

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Stories shared symbolized both spiritual grounding and collective defiance, like those of Stockton-based Rev. Nelson Rabell-González of Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina. Families of those who were detained or deported refused to lose hope, he said. 

“Fear will not have the last word,” he said. “Love will. Justice will. Solidarity will.”

The clergy marched together hand-in-hand to the doors of the ICE facility singing “This Little Light of Mine.” They hoped to enter and pray over the detainees inside. No one answered their requests, so they shared a prayer at the door instead.

Modesto resident Griselda Rojas organized the vigil along with clergy for Faith in the Valley, a grassroots community organization that runs the local rapid response network Valley Watch Network. Rojas said the presence of community matters for those detained. 

“When people walk into that building, they may feel alone,” she said, “but they have a community outside waiting for them.”

Rev. Andrew Sampson, with Modesto Church of the Brethren, has noticed fear and anxiety rippling through his immigrant constituents. He said through their conversations, he feels their heartbreak.

“I came today after hearing the stories from people who had or whose parents had fled their homes to come to the United States, they had sought refuge in a country that provided asylum and protection from the violence in their countries and the promise of a better life, and so a place that had been unknown and strange when they first arrived became home,” Sampson said to the crowd of demonstrators. “Homes where families were raised, meals were shared, laughter was heard and homes now where families are scared.”

Like Rojas, Sampson said he hopes detainees know they have support. 

“There is a community that is gathered behind them, that they’re not by themselves,” he said.

Catholic Diocese of Stockton staff member José López works with farmworkers across Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties for the Migrant Pastoral Office. López stressed the importance of informing and mobilizing the community to take action and be civically engaged. 

“There is much fear …if a family member is arrested, like the father or mother, then the family becomes disintegrated” López said in Spanish.  “We are here united to raise the voice for those who have no voice, like our undocumented brothers and sisters.” 

At the end of the vigil, a demonstrator began putting the symbolic marigolds, also known as cempasúchil, into the fences next to the Stockton ICE facility. Marigolds are seen as sacred flowers in Mexican culture, and it is thought that their strong scent and vibrant color helps guide the dead into the afterlife.

Their symbolism comes from the Aztec legend of Xochitl and Huitzilin, a story of love and tragedy where their love and connection is reincarnated into the sunny marigold flowers. With its bright orange coloring, marigolds represent the sun in Mexican culture and symbolizes the fragility of life. 

For more information on the Faith in the Valley’s Valley Watch Network, which provides support and resources for those facing immigration enforcement actions, visit their site at faithinthevalley.org or call the 24/7 rapid response hotline at (559) 206-0151.

— Ximena Loeza is the bilingual communities reporter for The Modesto Focus,  a project of the nonprofit Central Valley Journalism Collaborative. Contact her at ximena@cvlocaljournalism.org.