The Rev. Chris Craun, rector of St. Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church in Portland, Ore., prays with Francisco Aguirre at the "This is Where I Belong" community rally held at Augustana Lutheran Church. The September 30, 2014, rally was in support of Aguirre who has taken sanctuary in the church following threat of deportation by ICE officials. Aguirre has lived undocumented in Portland for 19 years and is a leader in the immigrants rights community.
Portland Sanctuary seeker, Francisco Aguirre, in the storage room Augustana Lutheran Church has converted into an apartment. Francisco's wife and daughters stay here with him on the weekends.
Portland Sanctuary seeker, Francisco Aguirre, takes a smoke break between meetings. He says he started smoking at the age of 7, after being detained by and forced to work for government forces during El Salvador's civil war.
The Rev. Mark Knutson speaks to Department of Homeland Security officers attempting to gain a meeting to determine why the appointment of Portland Sanctuary seeker, Francisco Aguirre, was canceled without notice.
Francisco Aguirre makes a phone call from a room in the basement of Augustana Lutheran Church in Portland, Ore.
Portland Sanctuary seeker, Francisco Aguirre, and his wife Dora are surrounded by friends outside Aguirre's makeshift apartment in the basement of Augustana Lutheran Church following a support rally at the US Customs and Immigration Services office.
Portland Sanctuary seeker, Francisco Aguirre, and daughter Miranda are reunited at Augustana Lutheran Church following a support rally at the US Customs and Immigration Services office.
Portland Sanctuary seeker, Francisco Aguirre, pours water for Salvadoran Congresswoman Emma Julia Fabian Hernandez during her 20 October 2014 visit.
A breaking news story in Portland, Oregon in the fall of 2014. Francisco Aguirre had been threatened with arrest and deportation by ICE. Awaiting his asylum hearing, he and many others were troubled by the lack of due process. Francisco took refuge in Augustana Lutheran Church - citing the ancient principle of sanctuary - to avoid arrest while his case could be heard. He spent 81 days in sanctuary and received a two-year reprieve of his case in January of 2018.
Christian Century published a long-format article based on Francisco's sanctuary process and that of others around the country. It can be found at this link - https://blog.greggbrekke.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CC-Brekke_Francisgo-Aguirre.pdf