Religious leaders have held a rally to voice concerns that notorious anti-immigration squads will launch raids near the England team’s World Cup HQ during the tournament
Religious leaders in the town where England have their World Cup HQ fear notorious anti-immigrant ICE squads will specifically target the area during the tournament. They said they expect Donald Trump’s agents to increase their presence with England staying at the Inn at Meadowbrook hotel in Johnson County just outside Kansas City. Now Johnson County churches and organisations have come together at a rally to express their fears of what will happen at the World Cup which starts next month. They said there are growing fears that ICE – the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency – will use the World Cup as an excuse to carry out raids.
Carolyne Muriu said: “It should be a moment of celebration, but it’s becoming a moment of fear for a lot of immigrants. So we have to make plans to protect ourselves.” Muriu, a representative for Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation, added: “We have to take the lead to take care of ourselves, because systems are not taking care of us.”
Rabbi Moti Rieber, with the Kansas Interfaith Action, said at the rally: “It’s important to keep this issue in the public eye and for predominantly white houses in faith to rise up together and say ‘Immigrants are our neighbours.’
“They are not strangers, but integral parts of our communities and our lives, where we will witness and speak up for justice for them.” Thomas Tuchel’s squad will arrive in Kansas in early June and remain there while they still in the tournament. Local authorities are hoping to use the World Cup to promote the very best side of their region – and not be marred by any increased ICE activity. ICE have thousands of agents working across the country targeting undocumented immigrants.
Their actions have caused fear throughout many communities and led to several high profile incidents. A total of 18 people have died while being held in ICE custody already this year.
In Johnston County they were delighted by the numbers that turned up at this latest rally.
Social justice advocates like Saaliha Khan said the mixtures of people of different races, religions and backgrounds at the vigil gives her hope for the future.
She added: “We’re sending one strong message that love will overcome hate, and that our immigrant brothers and sisters should know that they are not in this alone, despite the fear mongering that’s happening.
“We are here to stand beside you, care for you, protect you, and work for justice, no matter what that looks like. It’s so powerful. It’s inspiring, it’s grounding, it’s heart-wrenching and heartwarming. You know, as a person of colour, as a Muslim, as a Kansan, as an American.”
Four nations will be making their world cup debuts: Cape Verde, Curacao, Uzbekistan and Jordan. The World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico starts on June 10th and ends with the final in New York City on Sunday 19th July.
