The New York Sanctuary Coalition works to protect the rights of undocumented immigrants across New York by providing legal counseling as well as offering sanctuary in throughout across the city. Head minister, Juan Carlos Ruiz, seeks to educate the media about the Coalition’s advocacy in a press conference. Holyrood Episcopal Church in Washington Heights, New York – August 17, 2017.

Juan Carlos Ruiz was approached by young mother, Amanda Morales, who was later taken into hiding in Holyrood Church as part of a NYSC immigrant protection efforts. Holyrood Episcopal Church in Washington Heights, New York – August 17, 2017.

“We’re getting [a lot of] people who have been ripped of by lawyers-- we call them sharks because they just… eat you alive. And people are in this vulnerable position, because they don't know the system, many times they entrust these lawyers and they don’t do anything” remarks Juan Carlos Ruiz. Holyrood Episcopal Church in Washington Heights, New York – August 17, 2017.

Judson Memorial Church hosts the Coalition’s weekly meetings with undocumented immigrants at which dozens of volunteers help to educate immigrants on their rights in America as well as how to protect themselves and their families when facing discrimination, detention, or deportation. Judson Memorial Church in Washington Square Park, New York – August 17, 2017

Heidi Animas, daughter of undocumented immigrant, Myrna Lazcano, regularly visits the church to continue work with the New York Sanctuary Coalition, an organization that reunited Heidi and her mother after Myrna was detained when trying to return to the United States after visiting her parents in Mexico. Judson Memorial Church in Washington Square Park, New York – August 17, 2017

Heidi and her younger sister, Michelle, were separated from their mother for three years before the New York Sanctuary Coalition advocated for her release through protests and campaigns across the country. The two sisters, born in the United States, ride the subway beneath their native city, New York. New York City, New York – August 17, 2017

Minister Juan Carlos Ruiz condemns the immigration system and its unjust treatment of Mexicans and Latin Americas stating, “They basically tell the Mexican government, ‘We’ll give you a million point two per day but you are not going to let anybody come [..] to our doors, and come to enter. You’ve got do as much as you can, we don’t care what you do with them. Don’t let em’ come near us. This is the US Government.” Judson Memorial Church in Washington Square Park, New York – August 17, 2017.

Juan Carlos Ruiz continues, “In Mexico only-- we have about sixty thousand, that's the official number of disappear[ances] in Mexico alone, in the whole nation. So you’re talking about… massive graves. People say that Mexico is a cemetery because anywhere you dig you find pieces of… decomposing bodies killed trying to migrate.” Judson Memorial Church in Washington Square Park, New York – August 17, 2017.

Since his co-founding of the Coalition, Juan Carlos Ruiz has attempted to provide support for hundreds of immigrant families. He has developed programs to help immigrants of all faiths and backgrounds, placing humanity and community support above his Christian missions as a Minister. Judson Memorial Church in Washington Square Park, New York – August 17, 2017.

In addition to legal counseling during weekly meetings, the volunteers serve as supportive peers, listening to immigrants’ experiences and providing consolation to those at risk. Each immigrant who attends the meetings works with the same translator, interviewer, and scribe throughout the entire counseling process. Judson Memorial Church in Washington Square Park, New York – August 17, 2017.

Each new member that comes to the church for legal counseling is given an orientation meeting with Juan Carlos Ruiz in which he explains, “We are each others’ teachers. Your stories teach me then I advocate to help you.” Judson Memorial Church in Washington Square Park, New York – August 17, 2017

A program that started with fewer than a dozen immigrant members and only sixteen volunteers is now expanded to help hundreds of immigrants every week. After being gifted meeting space in lecture halls at New York University, many college students and teachers began volunteering to advocate for and educate each immigrant member. Judson Memorial Church in Washington Square Park, New York. August 17, 2017.

Juan Carlos Ruiz standing outside Judson Memorial Church in Washington Square Park, New York – August 17, 2017.

Members of the New York Sanctuary Coalition and other community advocates gather every Thursday to support those who are checking in with the Immigration & Customs Enforcement at the Jacob K. Javitz Building in Federal Plaza. Jacob K. Javitz Building at Federal Plaza, New York. August 17, 2017.

Volunteers circle the building a total of seven times before chanting in prayer facing the entrance of the building. Jacob K. Javitz Building at Federal Plaza, New York – August 17, 2017.

The prayer reads: Dear god, you are a God of love and you call us to love and to take care of each other so that we can build a society of love, peace, and justice. Jacob K. Javitz Building at Federal Plaza, New York. August 17, 2017.

The prayer continues: In this country founded on principles of liberty and justice, millions of our brothers and sisters live under unfair laws that discriminate against them. Millions of our families are divided and separated; parents and loved ones are deported. Every day, millions of people suffer the pain and anguish of not being able to live in dignity. Jacob K. Javitz Building at Federal Plaza, New York. August 17, 2017.

The walk, despite having originated from the Bible story of the Battle of Jericho, is lead by an interfaith minister and supports immigrants of all faiths and backgrounds. Jacob K. Javitz Building at Federal Plaza, New York. August 17, 2017.

Director and organizer of the New York Sanctuary Coalition, Ravidutt Ragbir, has organized the Jericho walks for the past four years. Ravi explains, “If you know anyone, anyone who’s undocumented, anyone who is an immigrant, tell them they don't have to be afraid because even if they get picked up by ICE, it doesn’t mean we will let them be deported.” Jacob K. Javitz Building at Federal Plaza, New York. August 17, 2017.

Minister Juan Carlos Ruiz explains that the New York Sanctuary Coalition feels it is extraordinarily important to show support for those checking-in with ICE because, “Immigration law, it’s extremely complicated and for this reason people get lost in the process of their court hearing and their necessity of papers and words to say to the judge.’ Jacob K. Javitz Building at Federal Plaza, New York. August 17, 2017

On this day in August, one member of the New York Sanctuary Coalition was unexpectedly detained while checking-in, leaving his family and the Coalition panicked as they tried to locate their loved one and prevent his deportation. Jacob K. Javitz Building at Federal Plaza, New York. August 17, 2017.

Ravi tells the volunteers before beginning the Jericho walk on Thursday August 17, 2017 not to accept the unjust policies that have perpetuated racist stereotypes about all different immigrant communities. These assumptions have led to political, economic, and social discrimination in recent decades. Jacob K. Javitz Building at Federal Plaza, New York. August 17, 2017.

The Jacob K. Javitz building was recently placed under construction because it was discovered that the building has begun sinking into the city streets, paralleling the story of the Israeli victory at Jericho. Jacob K. Javitz Building at Federal Plaza, New York. August 17, 2017.

The prayer ends: We know that you are a fair God and that you have listened to our prayers, We know that, in the fullness of time, you will bring down these walls of injustice. We know that you will help us soften the hearts of our government, politicians, and all people so that, very soon, we can have a new immigration law that protects the dignity of all. Jacob K. Javitz Building at Federal Plaza, New York. August 17, 2017.

In the 1980s, hundreds of churches joined together in the "sanctuary movement” to save Central American political refugees from deportation. They managed to offer some de facto protection since the immigration authorities wanted to avoid the spectacle of church raids. Today churches are not subject to prosecution for harboring undocumented peoples, attracting immigrants to seek protection through this process.
Holyrood Episcopal Church in Washington Heights, New York. August 17, 2017

After being ordered to report to the Javitz building to be detained and deported, mother of three living in Long Island, Amanda Morales, approached Juan Carlos Ruiz about taking sanctuary in a Manhattan church to avoid detainment. Holyrood Episcopal Church in Washington Heights, New York. August 17, 2017

Amanda spends her days in sanctuary meeting with different newspapers and media sources in between playing with her children in their new home in the church library. Holyrood Episcopal Church in Washington Heights, New York. August 17, 2017.

Amanda and her two-year-old son David share a yogurt at lunch time in the church kitchen before he returns to watching his favorite TV show, Dora the Explorer. Holyrood Episcopal Church in Washington Heights, New York – August 17, 2017.

Amanda’s oldest daughter Dulce (9) shares, “Sometimes at night I start to cry because I just miss my dad.” She continues, “I don’t like when mom has to talk to the cameras. It feels really weird.” Holyrood Episcopal Church in Washington Heights, New York. August 17, 2017.

Gabriela (8) explores her fantasy world through Minecraft in which she built her two-story house next to a lake and trees. Dulce works on her own tablet, modeling Minecraft universe after her new home in the church. Holyrood Episcopal Church in Washington Heights, New York. August 17, 2017.

Everyday life in sanctuary. Holyrood Episcopal Church in Washington Heights, New York. August 17, 2017.

The makeshift sleeping arrangements for the family in the sanctuary. Holyrood Episcopal Church in Washington Heights, New York. August 17, 2017

Amanda explains how she received her deportation order, “In 2012 I was driving and I hit a car behind and did not bring license. I told the police that I wanted them to give them my ID or something or license, and what I gave them was my passport and they kept it , And as I was taken to the hospital I did not have time to ask them where my ID was, and after a few days the letter of deportation came to me through that. The prosecutor decided that I could not be in this country [US] anymore, that I I had to leave.” Holyrood Episcopal Church in Washington Heights, New York. August 17, 2017.

Children's drawings. Holyrood Episcopal Church in Washington Heights, New York – August 17, 2017.

Amanda with two of her children. Holyrood Episcopal Church in Washington Heights, New York. August 17, 2017.