St. Barnabas Could Draw 1,000 For 'You Are My Neighbor' Tonight

CHICAGO, IL - Archdiocese of Chicago officials say that 1,000 people are expected to attend a "You Are My Neighbor" event about immigration at St. Barnabas Church in Beverly tonight, March 1. More than 30 faith organizations and immigration advocacy groups will gather at the church at 10134 S. Longwood Dr. from 7-9 p.m., when a series of speakers will discuss the current immigration issues and proposed federal changes, according to a news release from the Archdiocese.

"With the future uncertainty of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and the proposed changes to the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, millions of people are in jeopardy without the legal right to live and work in the United States," according to the release.

"Changes to refugee quotas and proposals that eliminate many of the current legal courses of immigration, including family re-unification, will affect hundreds of thousands more. Aggressive federal raids on immigrant communities have added to the urgency of the issues. Local residents are looking for accurate information and ways to help."

Speakers at the Interfaith event include Rev. Gary Graf, Pastor of St. Procopius Parish, Rev. Don Nevins, Pastor of St. Agnes of Bohemia Parish, Mary Meg McCarthy, Executive Director of National Immigrant Justice Center, Sister Mumbi Kigutha, formerly with UN Agencies, who has worked with refugees both in Africa and the U.S., Irakere Picon, staff attorney with National Immigration Justice Center and himself a DACA recipient and South Side Catholic Peace and Justice group members.

Photo: St. Barnabas Church / Patch file photo by Tim Moran