January 26, 2026
Dear Friends,
I am sure you have been watching and reading the news. With heavy hearts yet clear eyes, we continue to witness the attacks on immigrant communities across the country. The most recent killings by ICE of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have moved the abusive behavior to a new and deadly level. It is behavior that is wholly unworthy of the people of this country and our Constitution.
Over the past year, we have seen a historic number of fatalities due to immigration enforcement and detention. We cannot accept the targeting of any portion of our nation’s population.
We are called to visibly live out a culture of life, even as there is a surge in the culture of death on our streets. Love and respect for every human – each of whom carries the imago dei – the Image of God – is a heart changing path. It is a world changing way, it is Jesus’ Way and he alone is our Truth and our Life.
Our response of love will include:
- Prayer
- Acts of Service
- And for some of us, Advocating
Pray – prayer is powerful, especially when groups are committed to the same intention. We’ve included a few prayers below that are useful in these moments. Pray for those in leadership, pray for all citizens. Add special prayers into your weekly Prayers of the People.
A Prayer for the Just Use of Our Court System
A Prayer for All Victims of ICE’s Violence and Raids
Invite your healing prayer group to pray for peace and safety in Minnesota and all immigrant communities. Pray also for the workers of ICE. No matter what, Christians pray for those who feel like enemies. We do it because Christ commanded us to. We practice all prayer only by the grace he has given us.
Acts of Service: Keep sending food and support to food banks.
Assist a neighbor who is in need. Help out at your local library or school. Help with an ESL class. Discover what is already happening in your town and help out. Sign up to receive our Diocesan ENews for weekly tools and stories of Good News.
For those who Advocate: Now is the time for our Diocese, to speak out for justice, accountability, and oversight over the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) actions. We must call for an end to this approach to immigration enforcement, and push for comprehensive reform centering humane practices, rule of law, and human rights.
As a Diocese we have been responding with care, with resources to assist migrant families who are in need, and many congregations are already active in supporting new refugees. We have sent a letter to Presiding Bishop Rowe regarding our Convention resolution to urge the national church to move forward with the Migration with Dignity Resolution passed at the General Convention 2024.
Additionally, on Tuesday January 27, Congress is considering the Department of Homeland Security spending bill, which includes more funding for ICE. There are several ways to act now for the dignity of all people, especially those being targeted by immigration enforcement.
Make a Call
Citizens can influence political matters and decisions directly by calling their representative or Senator. 5 Calls will provide educational resources and scripts you may choose to read over the phone to concisely convey your thoughts on specific issues. And many callers go off-script, which is often more powerful, to illustrate how a particular issue impacts their everyday life.
Message your Senator or Representative
This resource from The Episcopal Church provides the ability to compose a message to your Senator or Representative.
However you choose to act, I encourage you to be prayerful, lean into the vows we made at our baptism, and lean on the strength of God who hold us all in his hand. Pray for our beloved country and all who inhabit it.
+Bishop Megan
Prayer For All Victims of ICE’s Violence and Raids
God of abundant life, who judges injustice, hears the cry of the oppressed, and calls your people to bear witness to your life-giving righteousness, we pray for all who have died because of our present immigration system. We pray for the victims of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s violence on the streets of American cities. We pray, too, for those who have died trying to find a path to a better life for themselves and their loved ones. Send your Spirit upon all those who grieve and sit in fear, and grant governing authorities the wisdom to safeguard due process, fairness, and human dignity. Grant this, Lord, for the sake of Jesus Christ, your only Son. Amen.
