Welcoming Asylum Seekers: A Community Effort

Bethany’s Thoughts, Prayers, Actions committee has been considering how our congregation can address the issue of immigrants seeking asylum in the USA. We decided that an ecumenical approach would be best, and an opportunity arose when St. Mary Episcopal Church (Crystal Lake) and St. Ann Episcopal Church (Woodstock) invited us to partner with them.

Last spring, we formed a planning team called “Neighbors McHenry County,” which began training on the issues and requirements for immigrants. Members from other churches, particularly Resurrection Catholic Church (Woodstock), have joined us. Many team members have prior experience resettling refugees. This time, our goal is to resettle one asylum-seeking family with support from the Illinois Community for Displaced Immigrants (ICDI), which handles vetting and case support. The ICDI model suggests that a one-year commitment is typically sufficient for resettlement, with a budget of $35,000 to $40,000.

The planning team has secured an apartment in Crystal Lake, and furnishings have been generously donated. Initial funds have also been raised, including a contribution from Bethany’s Nancy Peterson Memorial.

The asylum process requires obtaining approval before the family can receive a work permit, meaning we will need to provide several months of support for their rent and other expenses.

It is crucial to note that many asylum seekers have endured difficult experiences, often lacking stability and trust. Therefore, one key issue is to respect their privacy, particularly in the beginning. It will be up to them to decide whether to share their names, address, and other personal information.

Fast forward to today: a family from Venezuela arrived in early October—dad, mom, a 12-year-old son, a 6-year-old daughter, and a 5-month-old baby.