Originally posted on the LAMA newsletter.

Arizona faith leaders meet with Senator Ruben Gallego and team on May 6, 2026 regarding ICE and Immigration policies.

On Wednesday, May 6, Solveig Muus at LAMA joined faith leaders for a meeting with Senator Ruben Gallego to express our deep concerns about immigration practices and policies impacting communities across Arizona and the nation. The gathering was convened by Rev. Dr. Katie Sexton of the Arizona Faith Network.

Representing diverse faith traditions and community organizations, we shared stories from our communities, lifted up the human impact of detention and deportation policies, and called on Senator Gallego and our elected leaders to partner with us in protecting human dignity, transparency, safety, and compassionate immigration reform.

We are grateful for Senator Gallego’s commitment to protecting vulnerable communities across Arizona—not only through votes and legislation, but by continuing to show up, listen, and work alongside faith leaders, immigrant communities, and local advocates who see the human impact of federal policy every day. We urge him to keep using his voice and office to defend the dignity, safety, and due process of immigrants, asylum seekers, Dreamers, children, families, and all who are living in fear.

Below are Solveig’s prepared remarks:

Senator Gallego, thank you for making time to hear directly from faith communities.

As director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Arizona, what we call LAMA, I represent the Rev. Deborah Hutterer, Bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The synod includes congregations across Arizona, the Navajo Nation, southern Nevada, and parts of Utah. In Arizona, that’s more than 25,000 people in 73 congregations. I’ve spoken with leaders from Our Saviour’s, San Juan Bautista, Mount Zion and Faith La Fe Lutheran churches in Tucson and Phoenix, as well as Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, serving all of Arizona.

From a Lutheran perspective, immigration is not only a policy issue. It is a human issue, a moral issue, and a matter of faith. We believe every person is created in the image of God and carries God-given dignity. That includes immigrants, asylum seekers, refugees, Dreamers, mixed-status families, and people who are simply trying to live, work, worship, and raise children in peace.

What we are hearing is fear. Even when ICE is not physically present in a congregation, people are afraid because they know what is happening in other communities, including places like Minneapolis. They hear stories, they see raids, they worry about being separated from their children, and they begin to ask whether church, school, work, or even the grocery store is safe. That fear is crippling our worshiping communities; the burdens of keeping in contact with parishioners who are afraid of being picked up at any moment, of feeding and supporting families already on the margins and not qualifying for food assistance, medical benefits, or a vote, is overwhelming.

Our Lutheran communities may not all agree on every border-security funding question. But we do find common ground here: migrants are not threats to be managed; they are neighbors to be seen, respected, and protected from harm.

Arizona knows the gifts immigrants bring. They strengthen our churches, care for our elders, start businesses, serve in our communities, raise families, and enrich the moral and cultural life of this state.

Lutherans also have a long, practical history in this work. Through Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, which employs 400 people in Maricopa, Pima, Cochise and Santa Cruz Counties – or did, until the number of refugees allowed in the U.S. was reduced from 100,000 in 2024 to 7,500 in 2026 – and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, now Global Refuge, we have helped resettle refugees, accompany asylum seekers, and welcome people fleeing violence and persecution for generations. Since 1939, to be exact. This is not new for us. It is part of who we are.

So our ask is simple: please use your voice and your relationships in Congress to reestablish a fair and functioning asylum system. Speak up for immigrants, Dreamers, asylum seekers, and the churches walking beside them. Create a meaningful legislation allowing churches to be true sanctuaries of protection from those persecuting immigrants. And help Congress remember that safety and human dignity must never be treated as opposites. They belong together. Thank you.

Pastors and leaders from Tucson congregations Iglesia Lutheran San Juan Bautista, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church and Mount Zion Lutheran Church, as well as Faith La Fe Lutheran Church in Phoenix, and Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, contributed their experiences, stories and ideas for LAMA’s response. Thank you!