This task force, often abbreviated as “IJTF,” works under the Outreach Committee to sustain and engage Wellington’s faith commitment to systemic immigrant justice.
In the 1980s, Wellington was one of the lead congregations in the nation-wide Sanctuary Movement, when over 500 faith communities opened their doors to Central Americans fleeing devastating wars. The movement was also a vehicle to speak out against the US government’s unjust policies toward Central America and its people.
Forty years later, the need for this work is greater than ever. Through the IJTF, Wellington continues to be involved in the sanctuary movement, both locally and nationally. We reaffirmed our commitment to be a Sanctuary Congregation in 2017, and since then have sponsored and supported three asylum seeking families, and actively engaged with immigrants fighting deportation cases.
In March 2020, Wellington, as an Immigrant Welcoming Congregation, became a founding participant of the Sanctuary Working Group (SWG). Initially, a handful of organizations helped the SWG respond to the needs of migrants housed in dangerous detention conditions. The SWG has now grown to over forty-five faith communities and non-profit organizations dedicated to finding sustainable housing, case management, and access to legal services for newly arrived asylum-seekers. In June of 2023, the SWG became a program of Wellington, and in January of 2024, with generous funding from the MacArthur Foundation, was able to hire staff!
The IJTF also has provided support for Wellington’s co-sponsorship of the annual El Pueblo Canta immigrant justice fundraiser.