Latino evangelical churches gear up to face possible immigration enforcement in churches

By DEEPA BHARATH
Updated 9:49 AM CST, February 7, 2025

Bishop Ebli De La Rosa says his motto right now is “to prepare for the worst and pray for the best.”

De La Rosa, who oversees Church of God of Prophecy congregations in nine southeastern states, says he has had to respond quickly to the Trump administration’s new orders, which have thrown out policies that restricted immigration enforcement in sensitive locations such as schools and houses of worship.

This move has imperiled 32 of the Latino evangelical denomination’s 70 pastors who are here without legal status and serve in some of the region’s most vulnerable communities, De La Rosa said. The bishop has instructed each congregation with endangered pastors to prepare three laypeople to take over, should their leader be deported. He has also told them to livestream every service, and to “keep recording even if something happens.”

“Some of my pastors are holding services with doors locked because they are scared that immigration agents will burst through the door at any moment,” he said. “I feel so bad and so helpless that I can do nothing more for them.”

More:
https://apnews.com/article/latino-evangelical-churches-florida-trump-immigration-45c423716ca30f77598657f1c4952933