Salvadoran Immigrant Takes Sanctuary In Austin Church

AUSTIN, TX — A Salvadoran immigrant has taken sanctuary in a local Austin church to avoid deportation, according to recent reports. He had been living in Austin after fleeing from violence in his home country.

The Austin Sanctuary Network, a multi-faith coalition of pro-immigrant organizations, has been showing support for Alirio Gámez, FOX7 reported, and has been assisting him with his attempts to stay safely in the Austin community.

FOX7 reported that Gámez lived happily in El Salvador before his life was threatened by spreading violence in the Central American country.

In January, El Salvador marked its first day in two years without a murder, the Guardian reported, and in 2015, there were over 100 murders per 100,000 residents—the highest murder rate in the world except for war zones.

These grim statistics are especially troubling for many immigrants who may be deported back to El Salvador amid the Trump administration's increasingly tough policies on immigrants.

FOX7 reported St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Reverend Babs Miller as saying "So we find ourselves gathered here today to say to all who have ears to hear and hearts of loving compassion that treating any human being as inferior and who's life is of no value is wrong. It's just wrong. There are no exceptions. Basic human rights belong to everyone everywhere or they ultimately belong to no one anywhere."

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