From Paul Welch, Office of Social Action Ministry “Illegal?”

From Paul Welch, Office of Social Action Ministry “Illegal?”

In the 1850s after the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act, bounty hunters and federal marshals

searched throughout the North to capture runaway slaves. In Syracuse, abolitionists stormed the Syracuse police station and freed “Jerry”, a run away slave, and helped him to Canada.

This past Thursday a group of immigrant defenders helped Jeremy, a Frenchman who

lived for 20 years in Syracuse with his gay partner, escape ICE agents and escorted him to

Canada and then onto France. Jeremy did not update his visa because of  fears around the

legality of gay marriage and the onerous visa requirements.  Jeremy and Rick as valued

members of the Hawley Green neighborhood with a local business received incredible support in their escape to Canada.

How do you think Our Father views these two cases?