Stay of Removal Granted / Suspensión de deportacion otorgada

Rosa Gutierrez Lopez is temporarily free! Last Thursday ICE approved a 60-day stay of removal that allows her to move freely in Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia. Rosa entered Sanctuary at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda, MD, on Dec. 10, 2018, after being told by ICE that she would be deported, leaving behind her three young children. Through CAN and Cedar Lane UU, Rosa was able to take sanctuary at the church and was eventually joined there by her children.

The news of Rosa’s freedom comes after much long and hard work by Rosa, her lawyer, and a team of committed volunteers. Over the last 18 months, the team called and met with lawmakers, held them accountable and presented several petitions for a stay of removal to ICE that were previously rejected. Due to a change in ICE policy for stays based on safe distancing during the pandemic, Rosa and her lawyer were finally able to file her stay by mail.

Let’s celebrate this joyful moment of change in the lives of Rosa and her three children! Rosa is hosting a ZOOM party for all of us on Monday, June 8, at 11 a.m. Sign up here to receive the ZOOM link.

 The stay requires Rosa to check in regularly with ICE, which she did at the Baltimore ICE office on Monday. The stay also requires Rosa to continue wearing an ankle monitor. She must appear at the Baltimore ICE field office monthly, starting July 13.

While we are thrilled that Rosa will be able to live more freely over the next 2 months, we acknowledge that the ICE check-ins will be very stressful for her and her children. She will continue to live at Cedar Lane UU during this time, where the Congregation Action Network community of volunteers has become part of her family. 

Through it all, Rosa was our leader. Rosa’s calm and faithful presence and her positive attitude helped to guide our actions with elected officials, ICE, and the media. She modeled her Christian faith and embodied the words of Zen teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, “When we have peace and joy in ourselves, our peace and joy will radiate throughout the cosmos.” Following Rosa’s lead, we approached all our interactions with those in power with civility and respect appealing to their compassion and sense of justice. Rosa also has been a supportive friend to other undocumented immigrants in the DC area and has become an outspoken organizer and advocate for the network of almost 50 immigrants who are languishing in Sanctuary in faith communities across the country due to this country’s deeply broken immigration system. 

Now is the time for gratitude and celebration. During this period of relative freedom, Rosa will be able to work, drive, shop for her family, visit friends, and experience a relaxed joy with her children while she awaits the opening of her asylum case. 

With love and gratitude,
Rosa Gutierrez Lopez and the CAN Support Team